The Tuskegee Airmen

FILM SYNOPSIS

The first black cadets arrive at the Air Base in Tuskegee, Alabama to mixed reactions about allowing "coloreds" to become Army Air Corps pilots. Among them are Hannibal Lee (Lawrence Fishburne, The Matrix), Billy "A-Train" Roberts (Cuba Gooding Jr., Jerry Maguire), and Leroy Cappy (Malcolm-Jamal Warner, of TV's "Cosby Show"), all college graduates who tested high on the entrance exams. The commanding officer is sympathetic to the idea of black aviators, but is contrasted sharply with the flight instructor Major Joy (Christopher McDonald, Requiem For a Dream), who does everything possible to make the cadets wash out of training. The second act takes us to North Africa, long after the cadets have earned their wings. It took months for the powers-that-be to allow them into combat, with a certain Southern senator (John Lithgow, Cliffhanger) always trying to prove that blacks are unfit for flight duty. Finally they are given a chance, but are relegated to ground target duty. Only their commanding officer, Lt. Col. Benjamin O. Davis (Andre Braugher, Frequency) manages to save the squadron from being dismantled. Finally the 332nd is given its chance to prove itself in the European Theater, and acquits itself so well that it never lost a bomber under its protection. These men and their bravery and skill earned them respect and helped open opportunities for blacks in military service.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS & LESSON PLAN IDEAS:

This is a new project idea that I first heard about from Dr. Ben Milspaugh, Region Director of Aerospace Education - Rocky Mountain Region. If this sparks an interest with you and you have some ideas about how to use this film as part of a lesson plan, please send your ideas to me. bjackson@plata.com

VIDEO PURCHASE SITES

I have received a number of requests as to where this and other Aerospace Videos can be purchased. I do not recommend any one site over another and if you find another purchase site (better, cheaper, more dependable or just alternative) please send the direct link to me and I will include it here. bjackson@plata.com

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