About the Tuskegee Airmen

African Americans have been involved in all of America's wars both declared and undeclared since the Revolutionary War. However, the urgency of World War II changed the face of America's armed forces and most dramatically, the world stage of aviation.

Institutional racism gave birth to the 66th Air Force Flying School at Tuskegee Institute. On May 31, 1943, the 99th Squadron, the first group of men trained at Tuskegee Institute began their journey through history while redefining America's relationship with African Americans in the armed forces.

After destroying enemy resistance in the Sicilian Island of Pantelleria, the Tuskegee Airmen heroically participated in famous battles of Monte Cassino, Rove, Southern France, Greece, The Balkans, and finally Germany.

The 99th, 100th, 301st, and 302nd Squadrons were combined to form the 332nd fighter group which never lost a bomber they escorted to enemy aircraft fire. The Tuskegee Airmen downed 111 enemy fighters and destroyed countless other targets. Courage and determination scored a double victory, one over Nazism and the other over racism. These victories paved the path for the opportunities of African American aviators and astronauts of today and tomorrow. Sixty-six Tuskegee Airmen gave their lives in aerial combat.

In Honor of Lt. Col. Charles (A-Train) Dryden

Chief Flight Instructor, U.S. Army Air Force

Advanced Flight Training School

Walterboro, S.C.

This replica of the P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft was created in honor of Lt. Col. Charles (A-Train) Dryden, a distinguished member of the 99th Fighter Squadron who flew P-40 combat missions in the Mediterranean, several combat patrol and bomber escort missions in North Africa, Italy, and Pantelleria, Sicily. Later, he served as the chief flight instructor at the Army Air Force Advance Flight Training School in Walterboro, South Carolina.

The P-47 Thunderbolt was used to provide advanced combat training to aspiring fighter pilots preparing to enter one of the Theater of Operation. 1st Lt. Roscoe Brown was one of the pilots to receive advanced combat training under Charles (A-Train) Dryden and later flew with the 332nd Fighter Group on the longest combat escort mission carried out by the U.S. Army Air Force during WWII.

On March 24th, 1945, 1st Lt. Roscoe Brown and other fighter pilots assigned to the 332nd Fighter Group, flew P-51 Mustangs from Ramitelli Airfield in Italy to Berlin, Germany, and back, on an escort mission to destroy a Weapon Manufacturing Plant. During this mission, 1st Lt. Roscoe Brown is credited with destroying one of Germany's most feared advanced turbo fighter jets, the Me-262. In later years, Capt. Roscoe Brown attributed his success as a Fighter Pilot to the Advanced Combat Training he received under the leadership of 1st Lt. Charles (A-Train) Dryden.

Tuskegee Airmen 332nd Fighter Group

March 24th, 1945 Mission

From: Ramitelli Airfield, Italy

To: Berlin, Germany

On March 24, 1945, the Tuskegee Airmen embarked on an escort mission to Berlin, Germany. This Figurine serves as a tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen of the 332nd Fighter Group who bravely completed the longest air escort mission carried out by the U.S. Military in WWII and depicts a Tuskegee Airman studying a mapped route of the mission and landing strips in friendly territory as a precautionary measure in case of an emergency. The 332nd Fighter Group escort mission from Ramitelli Airfield Italy, was to provide escort for a group of B-17 Bombers of the 5th Bomb Wing on the first leg of a mission to Berlin. Another Fighter Group was tasked with escorting the B-17 Bombers during the final leg of the trip to Berlin, but their mission was canceled due to inclement weather.

At the end of the mission's first leg to Berlin, the 332nd Fighter Group continued escorting the B-17 Bombers into Berlin, Germany, and back to Ramitelli Airfield Italy. According to Historians and Pilots flying on that mission, the objective was to destroy a Daimler- Benz Weapon Manufacturing Plant producing Germany’s Fast-Attack Machine Gun Mounted Tanks, known as the Panther.

As they made their way towards Berlin, Germany, the 332nd Fighter Group came face to face with a group of advanced fighter jets, - the Me-262. In spite of the fact that the P-51 Mustangs were much slower than the Me-262 Turbo Jets, the advanced maneuverability of the P-51 Mustang gave the 332nd Fighter Group pilots a distinct advantage. On that fateful day, March 24th, 1945, the 332nd prevailed where many had failed. Our pilots out-maneuvered, and succeeded in destroying three of Germany’s most feared Fighter Jets. B-17 Bombers of the 5th Bomb Wing completed the mission and returned to their home base. Fighter pilots credited with destroying three of Germany’s most Advanced Fighter Jets on that mission are 1st Lt. Roscoe Brown, 1st Lt. Earl R. Lane, and 2nd Lt. Charles V. Brantley of the 100th Fighter Squadron.

Lt. Col. Charles "A-Train" Dryden

Lt. Col. Charles W. Dryden was an original Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. Nicknamed "A-Train", Lt. Col. Dryden was one of the first African American pilots to engage in aerial combat in aviation history. After the war, he served as a professor of air science at Howard. In 1997, he was designated Outstanding Georgia Citizen by the Secretary of State. Lt. Col. Dryden was inducted into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame.

To learn more about Lt. Col. Charles "A-Train" Dryden, you can read his autobiography, A-Train: Memoirs of a Tuskegee Airman.

Signed copy of Dryden's autobiography A-Train: Memoirs of a Tuskegee Airman

Commemorate the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen

About the Tuskegee Airmen

P-47 Replica Commissioned by Charles (A-Train) Dryden

In Honor of Lt. Col. Charles (A-Train) Dryden

World Replica of Charles Dryden's Tuskegee Aircraft

A Tribute to Pilots and Crew Members of Tuskegee Airmen

Tuskegee Airmen 332nd Fighter Group

A Tribute to Pilots and Crew Members of Tuskegee Airmen

Lt. Col. Charles "A-Train" Dryden

Letter of Endorsement

More Resources on the Tuskegee Airmen

Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

East Coast Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

Atlanta Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

Atlanta Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

East Coast Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

Atlanta Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

East Coast Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

East Coast Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

East Coast Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

Commemorate the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen

About the Tuskegee Airmen

P-47 Replica Commissioned by Charles (A-Train) Dryden

In Honor of Lt. Col. Charles (A-Train) Dryden

World Replica of Charles Dryden's Tuskegee Aircraft

A Tribute to Pilots and Crew Members of Tuskegee Airmen

Tuskegee Airmen 332nd Fighter Group

A Tribute to Pilots and Crew Members of Tuskegee Airmen

Lt. Col. Charles "A-Train" Dryden

Letter of Endorsement

More Resources on the Tuskegee Airmen

Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

East Coast Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

Atlanta Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

Atlanta Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

East Coast Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

Atlanta Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

East Coast Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

East Coast Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

East Coast Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

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