The Tuskegee Airmen were an experiment by the US Army Air Corps to determine whether Black pilots could handle military flying. (It turns out they could!) But the Tuskegee Airmen fought a second battle – one against racial discrimination. With an impressive combat record and war accomplishments, the success of the Tuskegee Airmen helped influence then-President Harry Truman's decision to desegregate the armed forces in 1948. Our Guest today is Bill Shepard. Bill is the former Vice President of Education for the Commemorative Air Force (CAF), and former CAF Red Tail Squadron Leader.  Bill’s passion for aviation started with a love of flying at a young age, and on today’s show, he explores with us the path that led him to proudly fly the P-51C Mustang for the CAF Red Tail Squadron. From Bill's personal journey with aviation, to the history of the Tuskegee Airmen, there’s a LOT to explore in this one!Resources:
Home | CAF RISE ABOVE
Blacks in the Army Air Forces During WWII: The Problems of Race Relations (defense.gov)
The Air Force Integrates 1945-1964 (defense.gov)
The Tuskegee Flight Surgeons (defense.gov)