LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the Tuskegee Airmen upon their 75th
Anniversary and dedication to the United States Army in times of peace
and war

WHEREAS, Members of the Armed Services from the State of New York, who
have served so valiantly and honorably in wars in which this country's
freedom was at stake, as well as in the preservation of peace in peace-
time, deserve a special salute from this Legislative Body; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to commend the Tusk-
egee Airmen upon their 75th Anniversary and dedication to the United
States Army in times of peace and war; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to welcome four members
of the Tuskegee Airmen to the New York State Legislature; these brave
soldiers include: Audley Coulthurst of Harlem, New York; William Johnson
of Glen Cove, New York; Herbert C. Thorpe of Brooklyn, New York; and
Wilfred R. DeFour of Harlem, New York; and
WHEREAS, The Tuskegee Airmen were the first group of African American
military pilots to serve with distinction in war as the 332nd Fighter
Group of the U.S. Army Air Corps; and
WHEREAS, The Tuskegee Airmen, also known as the Red Tails, were estab-
lished during World War II; America was going through a period of civil
rights justice movements during the time and with a push from the NAACP
the Air Force instituted a training program for African American pilots;
and
WHEREAS, These men were extremely qualified for the positions; despite
the belief that African Americans were not intelligent or skillful,
expectations and requirements of these men were the same as for the
previous men who passed through the Tuskegee Academy; and
WHEREAS, The Red Tails were a group of determined, dedicated men who
came from all over the country to prove their worthiness of being a part
of the United States Air Force; those who were qualified mentally and
physically were accepted to be trained as aviation cadets for single and
twin engine planes as well as navigators and bomb-raiders; they were
also trained in other areas that allowed for them to fully function in
the Army Air Corps flying squadron and ground support crew; and
WHEREAS, The first group of African American cadets to complete train-
ing formed the 99th Pursuit Squadron, a Fighter squad, in March of 1941;
this squadron was extremely well-known for not allowing any of their
bomber planes to be shot down by enemy fighter planes; even more impres-
sively, the Red Tails flew at least 200 missions over Europe and Africa;
during these missions not only were the Red Tails able to defend the
Army bombers, they were also responsible for shooting down and damaging
other enemy planes; and
WHEREAS, Greatly recognized for their accomplishments, the Tuskegee
Airmen were awarded 14 Bronze Stars, 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses
and 744 Air Medals as well as several Silver Stars; the Tuskegee Airmen
also received the Distinguished Unit Citation for a mission flown in
Germany responsible for bombing the Daimler-Benz factory in Berlin;
among these distinctions the Tuskegee Airmen were also responsible for
destroying numerous trucks, trains and fuel dumps, flying over 1,500
missions by the end of World War II; and
WHEREAS, The Tuskegee Airmen were also powerful in making strides to
fight racism in America; the military was not fully integrated until
1948; World War II was over and there was enough foundation laid by the
Red Tails to fully integrate the Armed Forces; the fight was not over
after the war, though, and the Tuskegee Airmen gave African Americans
the inspiration to change their lives at home; those who had enlisted in

the Army returned home looking for jobs that were more in line with the
work they completed while in the service instead of going back to farm
work; African Americans still had trouble finding new work but the
Airmen's accomplishments were the start America needed; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Tuskegee Airmen upon their 75th Anniversary and dedication
to the United States Army in times of peace and war; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the aforementioned Tuskegee Airmen.