What the CAF Red Tail Squadron is all about:

The volunteer-driven Red Tail Squadron was created in the mid-1990s as part of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF). The Squadron’s purpose is to honor the accomplishments of America’s first black military pilots – the Tuskegee Airmen – and their crews. It does this by educating people about the Airmen’s history and legacy as men who had a goal and let nothing stop them from achieving it.

Their goal? To fight the Axis powers during World War II as pilots in the U.S. Army Air Corps.

Their biggest obstacles? The fact that black American men had never been allowed to train as military pilots and that racial prejudice and segregation was tolerated in the American military at that time.

Their commitment? Once these young patriots were given the opportunity to train as pilots, they worked hard to be the best fliers they could be. Their history of perseverance and ultimate success is the foundation for the six guiding principles of the CAF Red Tail Squadron’s educational mission:
• Aim High • Believe In Yourself • Use Your Brain
• Never Quit • Be Ready To Go • Expect To Win

Their legacy? The Tuskegee Airmen excelled as pilots and warriors and, supported by their dedicated crews, earned hundreds of citations, awards and medals as they helped crush the enemy in Europe from 1943 to 1945. Their excellent wartime service record was key to the U.S. military’s decision to desegregate in 1948. In 2007, the Tuskegee Airmen, as a group, were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal as an acknowledgment of their efforts and accomplishments during World War II.

The CAF Red Tail Squadron’s “Wings and Wheels” educational initiatives

Although it is focused on education, the CAF Red Tail Squadron is not a typical educational program. It uses two unusual tools to create interest in the story of the Tuskegee Airmen. One tool is a rare P-51C Mustang fighter such as the Airmen flew in battle over Europe from during World War II.

The Airmen had the tails of their fighters painted red and the CAF Red Tail Squadron’s Mustang also sports a bright red tail. The Mustang is a featured attraction at air shows across the country. Its pilots and crews enjoy telling people why the tail is painted red and why it is important to know what the Tuskegee Airmen accomplished.

The CAF Red Tail Squadron’s other “tool” is the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit, which was introduced to the public in July, 2011. The Traveling Exhibit is housed in a 53′ long semi trailer that has been turned into a theater with a 180-degree IMAX-type movie screen and seating for 30 people. The climate-controlled theater shows an original film about the Airmen and their role in World War II and beyond. The RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit accompanies the Mustang to air shows, but also make stops at schools, museums and other “off-tarmac” venues so students and others who cannot get to an air show can hear about and learn from the Tuskegee Airmen.

For more about the Tuskegee Airmen, click here.