On KidVenture -- "They're The Future And We Need To Support Them"

by ANN Correspondent Aleta Vinas

An aircraft doesn’t care who flies her; woman, man, black or white. Unfortunately, in the not-so-distant past, military and civilian people did. When World War II started pilots were white male - period. The military basically said black men lacked the "qualifications" to fly.

Ironically, aviation pioneer Bessie Coleman had been flying since the 1930’s and there were about 100 other black pilots during the 30’s. Slowly the wheels of government turn and in 1941 The Tuskegee Experiment, named for the town of Tuskegee (AL), was started.

In its infinite wisdom the government realized, if we’re going to have black pilots we have to have black mechanics and support personnel. This lead to training on mechanic and other ground support positions.

Training began with 30 black pilots, 24 multi-color aircraft and over 400 black support staff. Charles McGee was one of the men to have passed the initial requirements and enter Tuskegee for pilot training. McGee received his wings in June of 1943.

It had long been thought the  Red Tails, as the Tuskegee pilots were known because of the red tail painted on their planes, had never lost a bomber to enemy fire. Recently this has been disputed but it does not diminish their still impressive accomplishments; they destroyed over 250 enemy aircraft and won more than 850 medals.

After World War II McGee had planned to leave the service and fly for an airline. The civilian world was not quite as"enlightened" as the military and McGee ended up making the military his career.

McGee spent 30 years in the service with 27 of those years flying. His 30 years spans three wars (WWII, Korea and Vietnam). His total of over 400 combat missions is a record over three wars. His logbook contains P-39, P-47, P-51, F-80, F-89 and F-4 time. McGee loved moving into jets because "you didn’t have to fiddle with the props and the mixture."

After serving his time and retiring as Colonel, McGee spent  almost nine years as Vice President of Real Estate for a major securities firm. He returned to college and earned a BS in Business Administration and then worked as Director of the Kansas City Downtown Airport.

He currently serves as Chairman of the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Fund Board of Trustees. The memorial will be located at Moton Field near Tuskegee Institute. It will serve as a tribute to all the Tuskegee alumni and as an educational tool to inspire young people to  reach for their dreams. The memorial will also be a place to house  historical information.

In addition to his Tuskegee memories, McGee has some Oshkosh memories. His visits to Oshkosh started in 1992 talking to folks about the Tuskegee Experience. McGee and the other airmen generally do not use the term Tuskegee Experiment. According to McGee there was a hospital in the Tuskegee area and they had an experiment going on with V.D., named the Tuskegee Experiment. This was not the name the men wanted to go by.

"I had come ahead of some of the airmen that came in, I think, a C-97. A big group came in from California."  The group parked in what is now AeroShell Square. McGee continues "to be there and see the plane come in and all the folks disembark was a great experience"

The warbird area elicited some fond memories from McGee as well."Then we get up to the fighter field and see these folks that have been able to restore P-51s and P-47s and planes like that, it was a great thrill. I had a chance to ride in a piggyback P-51, a Red Tail that had been restored. We went down over the lake and did a roll with it."

McGee speaks fondly of his work with the young people. "Sharing in the KidVenture Program and talking to them and answering their questions has been a big part of making it pleasant to come. They’re the future and we need to support them in whatever ways that we can."

"I was able to meet old friends and sharing with others who enjoy aviation, it’s just hard to express it but it keeps you coming back." Continuing to come back, speak and make more memories is definitely on McGee’s agenda.

FMI: www.tamfund.org, www.redtail.org