Orlando, Florida Performance Of 'Red Tail Skirmish' Salutes
Retired Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Richard R. Hall, Jr.
A member of the Tuskegee Airmen was honored during a concert by
the United States Air Force Band's Ceremonial Brass January 14 at
The First Academy Faith Hall in Orlando, FL. Retired Air Force
Chief Master Sgt. Richard R. Hall, Jr., a Winter Park, FL, native,
was attending Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans when he
was called to active duty in 1942 to serve with the Tuskegee
Airmen.
The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American military
aviators in the U.S. armed forces who trained in Tuskegee, Ala.
Serving during World War II in the Army Air Corps, these Airmen
were subject to racial discrimination. Despite these adversities,
the Tuskegee Airmen -- proudly referred to as "Red Tails" or "Red
Tail Angels" because of the distinctive crimson paint on the tail
section of their aircraft -- trained and flew with distinction,
receiving the Congressional Gold Medal for valor and
performance.
The band's theme of the winter tour is "American Song and Cinema."
The tour features a new work commissioned by the band and dedicated
to the Tuskegee Airmen entitled "Red Tail Skirmish" by composer
Bruce Yurko. "Red Tail Skirmish" is a musical epic that depicts the
tension, thrill and excitement of an aerial dogfight through a
fast-paced work for the brass and percussion ensemble. Following
the work, Hall, Tuskegee Airmen Gen. Daniel "Chappie" James, Jr.,
chapter president Montoria "Tony" Hubbard and chapter recording
secretary Judie Gilliam were presented score sheets for "Red Tail
Skirmish."
A member of the "Red Tails," Hall was trained in munitions and
aircraft maintenance. He deployed to both North Africa and Italy
during World War II. Following the war, Hall was stationed in Ohio
at the 332nd Fighter Wing at Lockbourne Air Force Base, which is
now Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, serving under the command
of then-Col. Benjamin O. Davis, another Tuskegee Airman. Hall said
he remembers the day Davis told them the military would integrate
blacks into the service. "Colonel Davis had us in the theater, the
officers and senior enlisted," Hall said. "He said, 'We're going to
integrate and go to the four corners of the world.'"
File Photo
Even though the military integrated, it took time for the Airmen
to be accepted. Hall said the unit flew an operation that called
for them to fly from South Carolina to the Gulf of Mexico. The unit
had to divert because they were not allowed to fly over Georgia or
arm their weapons until they were across the Gulf of Mexico because
they were black. Hall soon found himself in another war zone, this
time in Korea. Hall was at Kimpo Air Base--or "K-14"--when the
Airmen had to abandon the base, watching it burn as they took off.
After getting promoted to chief master sergeant, Hall continued to
serve through the Vietnam War, when he retired in 1973. He said
many of those memories came back as he watched the Ceremonial Brass
perform in front of hundreds. "This was truly outstanding," Hall
said. "It brought back a lot of memories." He said it was also a
tremendous sense of pride to watch black Airmen perform in the
band, something that wasn't possible when he first joined.
The band's program also featured a Glenn Miller Medley entitled
"Miller Time," arranged by former Ceremonial Brass member David
Bandman, a retired master sergeant. The group also played a medley
of works by film composer and former Air Force Band member John
Williams entitled "Epic Themes." (Pictured from right, retired
Chief Master Sgt. Richard R. Hall Jr., an original Tuskegee Airman,
retired Lt. Col. Montoria Hubbard, and Col. Gina Humble)