MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Air University’s Air Command and Staff College hosted four Tuskegee Airmen today.
The Tuskegee Airmen were the first group of African American pilots in the Air Force, and one of the most successful.
Tuskegee Airmen Eugene Richardson, James Harvey, George Hardy and Theodore Lumpkin, all of whom retired as a lieutenant colonel, spoke to more than 500 ACSC students and faculty before opening the floor to questions.
Each of them had an opportunity to discuss their experiences as a Tuskegee Airman as well as their military careers as a whole.
“The military is probably the foremost democratic, fair operation going on in the country,” said Lumpkin. “You really have an opportunity to be judged by your character and not by the color of your skin.”
Tuskegee Airman, Euguene Richardson said he benefited so much from his time in the service that he believes everyone one should go into the military right out of high school for a few years.
“It allows any person the opportunity to rise up to the aspiration they desire,” he said.
During his first visit to Maxwell, Harvey expressed how much he admired the base because of its role to educate Air Force Airmen.
Following their talk with the ACSC class, the Airmen visited the 187th Fighter Squadron at Dannelly Field Air National Guard Base, Alabama, where the current fleet of Redtails is located.
Although currently consisting of F-16s, Dannelly Field is the future home to F-35As, this will allow the legacy of the Redtails to carry on into the next generation.
If interested in learning more about the Tuskegee Airmen and their impact on the Air Force as we know it today, visit their website at http://tuskegeeairmen.org/