STEARNS COSPONSOR OF BILL RECOGNIZING WW II VETERANS WHO SERVED IN DISTINGUISHED ALL-BLACK SQUADRON

Washington, Feb 23, 2006 - "As a veteran and co-chairman of the Congressional Air Force Caucus, I am proud to cosponsor this legislation honoring these men who overcame racial discrimination to establish a distinguished combat record," stated Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Ocala). "Because of racial segregation, black pilots were trained separately at an airfield near Tuskegee, Alabama. By the end of the war, nearly 1,000 pilots went through training at Tuskegee, with 450 serving overseas and 150 losing their lives serving our nation."

The House approved H.R. 1259, authorizing the president to award a congressional gold medal to the Tuskegee Airmen. Prior to the Tuskegee Airmen, all combat pilots had been white. In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the creation of an all black flight training program to train black Americans as military pilots. The first classes of Tuskegee Airmen were trained to be fighter pilots for the famous 99th Fighter Squadron, slated for combat duty in North Africa. Additional pilots were assigned to the 332nd Fighter Group, which flew combat along with the 99th Squadron from bases in Italy.

Added Stearns, "The Tuskegee Airmen inspired revolutionary reform in the Armed Forces, paving the way for full racial integration in the Armed Forces. The strength and courage of the Tuskegee Airmen serve as an inspiration to all Americans, regardless of skin color or nationality."