Red Tails Here in Biloxi-- Part 2

Continued from the January 19th entry.

From the Jan. 19, 2012 Biloxi (Ms) Sun Herald "Keesler played part in real-life Red Tails" by Kat Bergeron.

We were in Biloxi when this came out and I was more than happy to pick up the local paper and see this article, especially with all the publicity about the movie "Red Tails." The movie, however, just covered the 332nd Fighter Group's actions in Italy. Had it covered their whole story, Keesler AFB in Biloxi would have been in it.

Mechanics and others responsible to keep them flying trained at Keesler. Some of the pilots received training there as well or were transitioned there before returning to Tuskegee, the only air base to graduate black pilots.

The movie title came from them painting the tails and other parts of their planes a distinctive red to distinguish the group.

After the war, some Tuskegee Airmen returned to Keesler for further training or to teach when it became an Air Force training center.

Throughout the war, both overseas and at home, these pilots faced prejudice. Even after President Truman proclaimed in 1948 the "equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the Armed Services."

More to Come and It Won't Be Another Two Months. --GreGen