Sixth Annual Convocation To Be Held This Week

America's first African-American fighter pilots will receive honorary degrees from Tuskegee University Thursday, February 23, as part of the Sixth Annual Tuskegee Airmen Convocation.

The event recognizes the Tuskegee Airmen's exemplary combat performance during World War II, which included the destruction of 260 enemy aircraft while not losing a single bomber to enemy fire in more than 200 combat missions, a record unmatched by any other fighter group. Sixty-six were killed in action and another 32 were taken prisoner.

Between 1940 and 1946 approximately 1,000 African-American pilots trained at Tuskegee in segregated units. They earned more than 850 medals during the war and became a symbol of excellence and perseverance. Their extraordinary stories of overcoming obstacles remains relevant today.

The Tuskegee Airmen and their crews became accomplished pilots and technicians against great odds. Following the war they had to again overcome many of the same adversities to reach their personal goals. The Tuskegee Airmen have forged a path of success and in doing so have become excellent role models.

Sixty-three surviving airmen are scheduled to attend the 11:00 am Convocation at the University Chapel, including two Minnesota airmen, Joseph Gomer and Vernon Hopson. The men will be flying to Tuskegee's Moton Field aboard a Cirrus SR22 provided by Cirrus Design Corp.

As Aero-News has reported, Cirrus is a corporate sponsor of the Red Tail Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to spreading the story of the Tuskegee Airmen. The group takes its name from the Tuskegee Airmen's famous red-tailed P-51s.

The Red Tail Project aims to encourage youth to follow the example set by the Tuskegee Airmen in achieving their dreams. The Project is a part of the Commemorative Air Force, whose goal is to recognize the sacrifices and contributions of our veterans by preserving the military aviation heritage of WWII and beyond.

Col. George Mills Boyd will be this year's convocation speaker. Colonel Boyd served as a squadron adjutant, detachment and squadron commander, management engineer and jet fighter radar intercept officer for 28 years with the United States Air Force. He is also an original life member of Tuskegee Airmen Inc., Class 45-G. He retired from the USAF as a major in 1971.

The Red Tail Project Board of Directors has committed itself to raising $2,000,000 to fund an education project as well as the costs related to rebuilding the P-51C "Tuskegee Airmen.", severely damaged in an accident on May 29, 2004.

FMI: www.redtail.org