African American men and women who served in the American armed forces during World War II fought on two war fronts. The war against the Axis powers is obvious. However, their second war was fought on the home front against Jim Crow.
Our blog today highlights the extraordinary efforts of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African American military aviators in the history of the United States Army Air Force (USAAF). We’ll also introduce you to two all-Black military divisions that fought during the first and second world wars.
Let us take you on a visit to the Paris of the Middle Ages. Come walk in the footsteps of the men, women, and children who lived, worked, and played in medieval Paris. Stop and see the only three residences still existing from medieval Paris. Learn about the scandalous Nesle Affair. Many of the stops are sites that most tourists don’t know even exist.
Did You Know?
Did you know that archeologists in England have excavated an experimental catapult system designed to launch British bomber planes? The catapult, located in Oxfordshire, England was called the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) Mark III Catapult, or Harwell RAE Mark III Catapult (the site was the former RAF Harwell base and is now the site of the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus). A prototype was built between 1938 and 1940 but never was used due to design issues. It was buried and a conventional runway was built over it.
Much has been written about the 200,000 African American soldiers who served in the Union army during the Civil War. They were called United States Colored Troops, or USCTs. The last day of the Battle of Nashville (16 December 1864) saw the Confederate troops take up three primary positions south of the city: on the eastern or right flank were Lee’s Corps. They positioned themselves on Peach Orchard Hill. The center and left flanks were, respectively, along Granny White Pike and on top of Compton Hill (now known as Shy’s Hill). About 4:00 p.m., the Union troops under the command of Beatty and Steedman attacked Peach Orchard Hill. The fiercest fighting occurred when the trailing regiment in the 2nd Colored Brigade of Steedman’s division, the 13th United States Colored Troops, attacked the hill. The USCT regiment won the battle and forced the Confederate troops to retreat south along Franklin Pike. Gen. Hood resigned his position within weeks and the Confederate Army of Tennessee was absorbed into other Confederate units by February 1865. The Union regiment lost 220 men in the attack⏤about 40% of their strength. Documentation by Confederate generals revealed their admiration for the USCT and their bravery. They never expected the African American soldiers to fight so strongly.
More people are likely aware of the Tuskegee Airmen, or “The Red Tails” (the Mustang P-51 tails were painted red). This was a unit comprised solely of African American airmen of the United States Army Air Corps. It was during a time when the United States armed services were segregated and African American army soldiers were relegated to combat support assignments (e.g., as cooks, quartermaster, and grave digging). There were 992 Tuskegee pilots (sixty-eight killed-in-action and thirty-two became POWs). They flew a total of 1,578 combat missions destroying 262 enemy aircraft and 179 bomber escort missions. These men were awarded the Distinguished Unit Citations on three separate occasions. Other awards included one Silver Star, ninety-six Distinguished Flying Crosses, fourteen Bronze Stars, and 744 Air Medals. One of the pilots, second lieutenant Daniel “Chappie” James, Jr. (1920−1978) stayed in the Air Force and became the first African American four-star general in the United States armed forces.
Gen. Daniel “Chappie” James, Jr., United States Air Force. Photo by anonymous (date unknown). PD-U.S. Government. Wikimedia Commons.Tuskegee (Red Tail) P-51 Mustang on the airport ramp. Photo by RadioFan (14 April 2012). PD-GNU Free Documentation License. Wikimedia Commons.
Our story today revolves around another African American military unit during World War II. This time, it involves the segregated United States Marine Corps (USMC).
Despite President Roosevelt issuing Executive Order 8802 in June 1941 prohibiting discrimination in the armed services based on “color, race, creed, or national origin,” it wouldn’t be until July 1948 when President Truman signed Executive Order 9981 ordering all of the United States military services to desegregate. Read More Test of Medal: Montford Point Camp
“Stew blends the dark history of buildings in Paris that are associated with the infamous deeds of the Gestapo with contrasting insights into the bravery of the French people, who, at great risk to themselves and their families, secretly resisted the German Occupation.”
Stanley Booker, MBE, RAF (Ret.), Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur
“Informative and entertaining, Stew Ross’ newest work evokes a difficult and frightening time in the history of the City of Light. The detailed descriptions of sites such as the Vél’ d’hiv’ or Gestapo headquarters reminds us of the choices people made during those years.”
Cynthia Bisson, PhD, Professor of History, Belmont University, French Resistant Expert
