[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 12074-12075]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING TUSKEGEE AIRMEN AND THEIR CONTRIBUTION IN CREATING AN 
                   INTEGRATED UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. MICHAEL R. TURNER

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 1, 2004

  Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 
417, honoring the Tuskegee Airmen and their contribution in creating an 
integrated United States Air Force, the world's foremost Air and Space 
Supremacy Force introduced by my fellow Armed Services Committee 
colleague, Representative Jon Porter.
  All things relating to aviation have a special meaning in Dayton, the 
birthplace of powered manned flight. From the Wright Brothers designing 
the first machines that lifted man from the security of Earth and into 
the era of powered flight, through the modern day when Wright Patterson 
is regarded as one of the Air Force's finest bases, aviation has long 
played a central role in Dayton. The Tuskegee Airmen also have a 
special place in the hearts

[[Page 12075]]

and minds of Daytonians for their exceptional contributions making the 
U.S. Air Force the world's foremost Air and Space Supremacy Force.
  Last July, Dayton combined a 17-day festival called Inventing Flight 
with its 22nd annual Black Cultural Festival by including a Tribute to 
the Tuskegee Airmen. Because of Dayton's ties to aviation and the 
Tuskegee Airmen this was a natural combination.
  Dayton has links to the origins of the Tuskegee Airmen. Chauncey 
Spencer and Dale White set out to promote black aviation. In 1939 they 
rented an old airplane and set out on a 10 city goodwill tour that was 
supposed to end in Washington where they hoped to meet with 
Congressional leaders. Three hours into their first day a broken 
crankshaft forced them to land in a farmer's field. Two and a half days 
later the flight was resumed; however, shortly they were grounded 
again. Hearing of their misfortunes the publisher of an African-
American newspaper in Pittsburgh gave them $500 and letters of 
introduction to Congressional. representatives.
  Spencer and White met Senator Harry S Truman, who upon seeing the 
plane they flew said, ``If you guys had the guts to fly this thing to 
Washington, I've got guts enough to see you get what you are asking.'' 
He promised to help open the doors for African-Americans to serve in 
the Air Corps. Shortly afterwards, the Tuskegee Experiment was 
established. By the end of WWII, nearly 1,000 African-Americans had 
completed their flight training at Tuskegee Army Air Field and nearly 
450 went overseas as combat pilots.
  The Tuskegee Airmen were nicknamed the ``Red Tail Angels'' because of 
the red tail markings on their aircraft. They had an enviable service 
record of over 15,500 missions, destroyed over 260 enemy aircraft; sunk 
one enemy destroyer and damaged numerous enemy installations. The 
Tuskegee Airmen served with distinction and earned over 850 medals.
  Chauncey Spencer and Dale White became Dayton residents and both 
served at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. There is still a local 
chapter of an organization named for the Tuskegee Airmen at Wright 
Patterson: The Mac Ross Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen. The chapter is 
named after Mac Ross, a Dayton native, and one of the first five 
African-American airmen to become Air Corps pilots in 1942.
  The Tuskegee Airmen overcame segregation and prejudice to become one 
of the most highly respected fighter groups of World War II. Their 
achievements, together with the men and women who supported them, paved 
the way for full integration of the U.S. military.
  Today's all-volunteer Armed Forces identify with the sense of pride 
and commitment exhibited by the Tuskegee Airmen some 60 years ago.
  As an American, and a proud Daytonian, I am pleased to offer my 
support of H. Con. Res. 417, honoring the Tuskegee Airmen and their 
contribution in creating an integrated United States Air Force, the 
world's foremost Air and Space Supremacy Force.

                          ____________________