 |
Iowa
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial
P-51D Mustang
|
Although the graduate black U.S. Army officers of Fort
Des Moines' 17th Provisional Training Regiment had proven
their worth in 1917 and again while leading the 92nd
Division in France during the First World War in 1918,
a racist Army War College study in 1925 concluded that
"blacks lacked intelligence and were cowardly under
combat conditions."
In spite of the prevalent racism of the day, the first
training facility for black combat pilots was offered
at Moton Field, Tuskegee, Alabama from 1941-1945. Of
the 992 graduate airmen who became the 99th Fighter
Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group and 477th Composite Group,
450 saw combat during World War Two including 200 escort
missions without losing a bomber to enemy fighter planes.
Iowa had twelve graduate airmen including several of the most notable and a number of others who trained but where "washed-out" for often unjust reasons. Moton Field at Tuskegee was built by prominent black engineer Archie Alexander who was a native of Ottumwa.
The fiberglass shell P-51D Mustang to be mounted at the new entrance of the Iowa Air National Guard 132nd Fighter Wing on the north side of the Des Moines International Airport bears the numbers of two of Iowa's most famous flyers:
Luther H. Smith (#93)
Des Moines native Captain Luther Smith flew 133 combat
missions before becoming a German prisoner of war on
his final flight over Yugoslavia in October 1944. Badly
injured in the crash, he survived months of German captivity
and stateside hospitalization to become a prominent
Aerospace Engineer with General Electric.
In May 1995, President Clinton selected Smith as one
of seven veterans to accompany him to Europe for the
50th Anniversary of World War Two. Captain Smith's P-51B
wore number 93 showing two enemy aircraft kills. In
addition to the two air victories, Captain Smith destroyed
ten enemy aircraft on the ground and was awarded the
Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with six Oak
Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart.
Robert W. Williams (#10)
Ottumwa native Captain Robert Williams flew 50 combat
missions and later wrote the original manuscript for
the award winning 1995 HBO film "The Tuskegee Airmen"
with his character portrayed by actor Laurence Fishburne.
Captain Williams' P-51D Mustang named "Duchess Arlene"
wore number 10 and is the featured paint scheme of the
memorial.
 |
|
"Duchess
Arlene" Arlene Roberts-Morris with Williams'
P-51D named in her honor
|
Captain Williams' wartime sweetheart "Duchess Arlene"
was Arlene Roberts of Moline, Illinois who later married
Des Moines native and 6th Army Captain James B. Morris,
Jr.
Captain Williams flew from Italy with the 100th Fighter
Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group of the 15th Air Force
and destroyed two enemy aircraft in the years 1944 and
1945. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross,
the Air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters and the Presidential
Distinguished Unit Citation.
Joseph P. Gomer
Major Joseph P. Gomer of Iowa Falls flew 68 combat
missions against Nazi Germany and had a distinguished
military career through 1964. Lt. Gomer crash-landed
a P-39 and was in a P-47 shot by enemy aircraft as part
of the 301st Fighter Squadron.
Maurice V. Esters
Webster City native Lt. Maurice Esters reported engine
trouble and bailed out over the Adriatic Sea west of
Yugoslavia in August 1944. "Maurice Esters was a very
athletic man and we circled him after he landed in the
Adriatic Sea that day," recalls Captain Smith. "He was
on his raft and waved to us that he was all right moments
before a huge wave swept him under. We never saw him
again."
Robert L. Martin
Lt. Robert Martin of Dubuque flew 64 combat missions and was shot down in March of 1945 over Yugoslavia. Rescued by Marshall Tito's underground, he returned to his unit after five weeks avoiding the Germans. Martin received the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with six Oak Leaf clusters and Purple Heart.
Clarence A. Oliphant
Lt. Clarence A. Oliphant of Council Bluffs graduated
training with Williams and flew 48 combat missions with
the 332nd Fighter Group of the 15th Air Force.
Although a half century has passed, not enough recognition
has been given to the Tuskegee Airmen for their perseverance
and sacrifice through an incredibly difficult period
in American history. Since the World War II, as physicians,
engineers, educators and a variety of distinguished
professions, the Tuskegee Airmen have contributed to
the growth of our nation.
On Saturday, November 9, 2002 the Iowa Tuskegee Airmen
Memorial was dedicated at the Iowa Air National Guard,
132nd Fighter Wing on the North side of the Des Moines
International Airport before 300 guests. The full-size
fiberglass shell P-51D Mustang fighter plane is painted
in classic "Red Tail Angel" colors bearing the numbers
of Smith and Williams. The day's events included a P-51C
fly-by and a recognition dinner at the downtown Marriott
Hotel attracting over 500 guests.
The Iowa Tuskegee Airmen Memorial is a joint project
between the Fort Des Moines Museum and Education Center
and the Iowa Air National Guard, 132nd Fighter Wing
in Des Moines.
| IOWA TUSKEGEE AIRMEN |
 |
Name |
|
Home Town |
|
|
Name |
|
Home Town |
|
| |
| IOWA TUSKEGEE TRAINEES |
|
Name |
|
Home Town |
|
|
Name |
|
Home Town |
|
|
