Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate that we acknowledge the passing of the last of the Tuskegee Airmen. I will share a little bit about them. They trained on Moton Field and on Tuskegee Army Air Field in Tuskegee, Alabama, and later formed units like the 99th Fighter Squadron and the 332nd Fighter Group. They were under the command of Colonel Benjamin Oliver Davis, Jr., who was born right here in Washington, D.C. When the pilots of the 332nd Fighter Group painted the tails of their P-47s red, the nickname 'Red Tails' was coined. The red markings that distinguished the Tuskegee Airmen included red bands on the noses of their P-51s. Some of the bomber crews who flew some of the most dangerous missions during World War II called them the 'Red Tail Angels.' In combat during the war, they flew over 15,000 sorties, escorting bombers and engaging enemy fighters. They received numerous accolades for their service, including 3 Distinguished Unit Citations, 96 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 14 Bronze Stars, 744 Air Medals, at least 60 Purple Hearts, and one Silver Star. Colonel Davis went on to become the first African-American brigadier general in the United States Air Force. It is totally appropriate that we recognize the incredible accomplishments, with all of the opposition that they faced, that the Tuskegee Airmen achieved in the defense of our liberty.”