Here’s some images which I forgot I had on the PC. I believe they’re from the USAF official site.
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Caption: Pilots of the 332nd Fighter Group, “Tuskegee Airmen,” the elite, all-African American 332nd Fighter Group at Ramitelli, Italy., from left to right, Lt. Dempsey W. Morgran, Lt. Carroll S. Woods, Lt. Robert H. Nelron, Jr., Capt. Andrew D. Turner, and Lt. Clarence P. Lester. (U.S. Air Force photo)
When viewed full size, this first image is pretty ratty lookin’ but if reduced in size it’s not bad.
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Caption: Maj. James A. Ellison returns the salute of Mac Ross of Dayton, Ohio, as he passes down the line during review of the first class of Tuskegee cadets; flight line at U.S. Army Air Corps basic and advanced flying school, Tuskegee, Alabama, 1941. Partial three-quarter left front view from low angle of Vultee BT-13 trainer at left. (U.S. Air Force photo)
Ok, I need to clear this up! According to the ‘official’ Tuskegge site they didn’t receive the D model until Feb '45. P-51B/C were the primary a/c flown by the 332nd after Jul '43.
I’ve been able to trace 14 a/c names w/pilots and 2 with only a/c names. Is there somewhere out there a more comprehensive listing?
I’m building a collection of all the a/c flown including a B-25J of the 477th BGp. I’m looking for decals or paint schemes for these also.
Now I have to decide which P-40 scheme I am going to do LOL…
Man those Vultees were sort of homely looking things weren’t they?
didfal-- I don’t know of any better listings… I’d say check the Ebony Wings site as that guy seems to know his stuff, but I’ve emailed him a few times and he has neglected to answer me for a few months now…
I’ve experienced the same with Ebony Wings. Site has some good info, but doesn’t go into any a/c except for the P-51 and P-40. No pictures of P-39’s or P-47’s.
There was also an article in the May issue of “Smithsonian”; that’s how I found this post. What an inspiring story and a great reason to build more models!!
If the dates listed after the squadrons represent their service dates, they have them backwards. The 99th were the first, not the last, to go overseas and were in combat for a bit before the other three squadrons even made it over. They were the only ones in the 12th AF-- and when the 100th, 301st, and 302nd were brought over, the 99th then was incorporated into the 332nd FG with them and switched over to the 15thAF.
Their first mission was in May of '44 and they flew P-40s for a while in combat. The 99th actually didn’t fly the P-39 or P-47…or at least not in combat. They werre purely ground attack until they made the switch to the 332nd and were given Mustangs shortly after that.
