SLCC Celebrates Black History Month: The Tuskegee Airmen

The Tuskegee Airmen is the name given to the African-American pilots who fought in the United States’ armed forces in World War II. They comprised the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the United States Army Air Corps—a predecessor to the United States Army Air Forces.

The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African-American military aviators in the United States armed forces.

The 477th Bombardment Group trained with North American B-25 Mitchell bombers. The 99th Pursuit Squadron was the first African-American flying squadron, and the first to deploy overseas. The 332nd Fighter Group, which originally included the 100th, 301st, and 302nd Fighter Squadrons, deployed to Italy in 1944. That same year, the 332nd Fighter Group began flying bomber escort missions, and the 99th Fighter Squadron was assigned to the 332nd Fighter Group.

In all, 992 pilots were trained in Tuskegee from 1941 to 1946. 450 of these airmen were deployed overseas; 150 died serving their country. The Tuskegee Airmen flew 1378 combat missions, 179 bomber escort missions, destroyed 262 and damaged 148 more, destroyed 950 rail cars, trucks and other motor vehicles and one naval destroyer ship.

In 1948, President Harry Truman enacted Executive Order Number 9981, which mandated equality of treatment and opportunity in the United States Armed Forces. This order led to the end of racial segregation in the military forces—a significant step toward racial integration in the United States of America.

Tuskegee Airmen were awarded: Three Distinguished Unit Citations, at least one Silver Star, 96 Distinguished Flying Crosses (including two to Captain William A. Campbell), 14 Bronze Stars, 744 Air Medals, and 8 Purple Hearts.

The airfield where the airmen trained is now the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site. A Tuskegee Airmen Memorial was erected at Walterboro Army Airfield, South Carolina, in honor of the Tuskegee Airmen, their instructors, and ground support personnel who trained at the Walterboro Army Airfield during World War II.

Comments

Rev Up Your Future at SLCC Annuals Hop into College

SLCC West Valley Center will be opening its doors on Friday, August 2, from 6-9 pm for their annual lowrider event that celebrates the automotive culture and welcomes current, past, and future Bruins into the SLCC community. This unique event allows lowriders to showcase their vehicles and for spectators to witness the creativity, craftsmanship, and passion that goes into a lowrider car. From the sleek custom paint jobs to the impressive hydraulics showcased at the hop-off, attendees get immersed in the vibrant culture created by SLCC West Valley’s community. Beyond the car show, Hop into College provides prospective students and their families the opportunity to explore SLCC, engage with their future peers, staff and faculty and obtain valuable insight into the degrees and programs offered. Furthermore, the community is provided with countless beneficial resources not only as an SLCC student but as a community member. Whether interested in learning more about the lowrider community o...

SLCC Alumnus and U.S. Diplomat to Speak at 2025 Commencement

Salt Lake Community College’s 2025 Commencement speaker Branigan Knowlton will share his perspectives drawn from a 12-year career as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State. In serving his country, Knowlton has honed his foreign relations and diplomacy skills in Hong Kong, Mexico, Colombia and Italy. Knowlton is also a proud Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) alumnus (2002). Knowlton currently serves at the U.S. Embassy in Rome. Before reporting to the embassy, he was detailed to the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport as part of the Transatlantic Diplomatic Fellowship program. In Bogotá, Knowlton worked for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, and in Hermosillo, Mexico, he worked for the Bureau of Consular Affairs. His first assignment abroad was in Hong Kong, where he worked for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. "I've actively sought opportunities that push me into the unfamiliar, even when ...

Recognizing SLCC's 2025 Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Andrew Vogt, PhD Associate Professor, Engineering

The Distinguished Faculty Lecturer is a recognition of quality work by one of Salt Lake Community College’s full-time faculty and a charge to develop that work over an academic year into a public presentation. A committee chosen by the Associate Provost for Learning Advancement selects the faculty lecturer each year. The lecture takes place in the spring. Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Andrew Vogt, PhD Associate Professor, Engineering Dr. Andrew Vogt’s teaching philosophy is guided by two principles, curiosity and efficiency. “Curiosity leads us to study a topic and allows us to really understand the ins and outs of research, while efficiency is all about sustainability,” he says. Andrew describes curiosity as a pure, open-minded impulse to explore, such as the ease with which children learn new concepts with virtually no instruction. Efficiency adds maturity to that childlike impulse, creating structures and pathways for accomplishment. Andrew’s work has alwa...

Official SLCC Blog

Search This Blog