House Resolution 18 PAG LIN 1 1 HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 1 2 BY FORD, MILLER, and BERRY 1 3 A Resolution recognizing the significant achievements 1 4 of the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II and the 1 5 involvement of Iowans in those achievements and 1 6 expressing appreciation on behalf of the citizens 1 7 of this state. 1 8 WHEREAS, even with the World War I record of 1 9 accomplishment by the graduate black U.S. Army 1 10 officers of Fort Des Moines' 17th Provisional Training 1 11 Regiment, racist beliefs persisted within the 1 12 military, as shown by an Army War College study in 1 13 1925 that concluded that "blacks lacked intelligence 1 14 and were cowardly under combat conditions"; and 1 15 WHEREAS, in spite of the prevalence of racism in 1 16 this country at the time, the first training facility 1 17 for black combat pilots was implemented at Moton 1 18 Field, Tuskegee, Alabama, from 1941=1945; and 1 19 WHEREAS, of the 992 graduate airmen who became the 1 20 99th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, and 477th 1 21 Composite (Bomber) Group, 450 saw combat during World 1 22 War II, including 200 escort missions without losing a 1 23 bomber to enemy fighter planes; however, 66 airmen 1 24 lost their lives in combat or accidents; and 1 25 WHEREAS, Iowa had 12 graduate airmen, including 1 26 several of the most notable and a number of others who 1 27 trained but were "washed out", often for unjust 1 28 reasons; and 1 29 WHEREAS, Iowa's initial connection to the airmen 1 30 was the design of Moton Field at Tuskegee by prominent 2 1 black engineer, Archie Alexander, who was a native of 2 2 Ottumwa and a graduate of the University of Iowa; and 2 3 WHEREAS, the War Department's civilian pilot 2 4 training program refused to admit black pilots until 2 5 licensed pilot and Howard University student Yancy 2 6 Williams filed suit forcing the Army Air Corps 2 7 Department to admit blacks to the pilot training 2 8 program, and in spite of its location in the racially 2 9 segregated deep south, Tuskegee Institute was selected 2 10 as the site for the training at Moton Field; and 2 11 WHEREAS, in April 1943, when the 99th Fighter 2 12 Squadron deployed to North Africa where allied troops 2 13 were battling German and Italian forces in the desert 2 14 and assumed the Red Tail as their unit color 2 15 designation, Iowans Maurice Esters, Joseph Gomer, and 2 16 Luther Smith were part of the first deployment and the 2 17 "Red Tail Angels" quickly earned a reputation for 2 18 ferocity in air combat; and 2 19 WHEREAS, between 1943 and 1945, the Tuskegee Airmen 2 20 flew 15,533 sorties over North Africa, Italy, 2 21 Yugoslavia, and Germany, and in addition to the 200 2 22 flawless bomber escort missions, the airmen destroyed 2 23 or damaged 409 enemy aircraft and ground targets and 2 24 sank a German destroyer, and the six Iowans who 2 25 experienced combat flew over 400 combat missions and 2 26 won numerous decorations; and 2 27 WHEREAS, although a half=century has passed, little 2 28 recognition has been made of the Tuskegee Airmen's 2 29 perseverance and sacrifice through an incredibly 2 30 difficult period in American history, and of how these 3 1 individuals have continued to contribute to the growth 3 2 of the nation in careers as physicians, engineers, 3 3 educators, and a variety of other distinguished 3 4 professions; NOW THEREFORE, 3 5 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 3 6 That the House of Representatives recognizes the 3 7 extraordinary achievements of the Iowans who served as 3 8 Tuskegee Airmen, as representative of all who served 3 9 as Tuskegee Airmen, and expresses the grateful 3 10 appreciation of the citizens of this state for that 3 11 service; and 3 12 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Chief Clerk of the 3 13 House of Representatives shall provide an official 3 14 copy of this resolution to the Iowans who brought 3 15 distinction to themselves and to this state by serving 3 16 as Tuskegee Airmen. 3 17 LSB 2629HH 80 3 18 jp/sh/8