Hello WW2talk. I was practicing some SAT questions today, and while doing some i came across a question about Red-Tail Angel. I am not sure i am allowed to post the question in here because collegeboard asks not to share questions. I was wondering what the Red-Tail Angels were. Information i know so far: 1. Black American fighter 2. never lost any of the bombers it escorted on missions over Europe in the Second World War
I was wondering what the Red-Tail Angels were. Information i know so far: 1. Black American fighter 2. never lost any of the bombers it escorted on missions over Europe in the Second World War Mosin ... They where indeed Black American fighter pilots, known as the Tuskegee Airmen. They where initially equipped with P-40 Warhawks, then P-39's. By 1944 they flew the P-47 Thunderbolts, but are probably best identified with the P-51 Mustang.The identifying feature of the Squadron was they all had a "Red Tail". Erich is quite right, it is a myth about them never loosing a bomber they escorted. The claim originated in the "Chicago Defender" on 24th March 1945, but post war reports indicate that 25 bombers were lost under escort from 332nd Fighter Group. IMO the story of the "Redtails" is more significant than their service record. Tuskegee Airmen History Hope this helps.
Not a problem Mosin ... If the collegeboard asks, I've never heard of you haha i won't even mention about this forum!
Here's a few pictures from the US National Archives. 1. "[Capt. Andrew D. Turner], who in a few minutes will be escorting heavy bombers en route to enemy targets, signals to the chief of his ground crew before taking off from a base in Italy. He is a member of the 15th U.S. Army Air Force, which has been smashing enemy objectives in Germany and the Balkans with both fighter and bomber craft. The pilot's plane, a Mustang, is named for a type of wild horse that once roamed in America." ca. September 1944. 2. "An armorer of the 15th U.S. Air Force checks ammunition belts of the .50 caliber machine guns in the wings of a P-51 Mustang fighter plane before it leaves an Italian base for a mission against German military targets. The 15th Air Force was organized for long range assault missions and its fighters and bombers range over enemy targets in occupied and satellite nations, as well as Germany itself." Ca. September 1944. 3. "Sharing credit for Negro fighter pilots' victory over Nazis are mechanics George Johnson...and James C. Howard... . Their outfit, the 99th Fighter Squadron, bagged 12 Nazi fighter planes in two days." Ca. February 1944. 4. "Capt. Wendell O. Pruitt..., one of the leading pilots of the 15th Air Force always makes sure that he leaves his valuable ring with his crew chief, S/Sgt. Samuel W. Jacobs." Ca. November 1944. 5. "Fliers of a P-51 Mustang Group of the 15th Air Force in Italy `shoot the breeze' in the shadow of one of the Mustangs they fly." Left to right: Lt. Dempsey W. Morgan, Jr.; Lt. Car roll S. Woods; Lt. Robert H. Nelson, Jr.; Capt. Andrew D. Turner; and Lt. Clarence P. Lester. Ca. August 1944.
