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The Tuskegee Airmen | Main Page | Page 1 | Page 2 | Ceremony Photo Gallery

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 later become a prominent Aerospace Engineer with General Electric.

In May 1995, he was selected by President William Clinton 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 showing two enemy aircraft kills.

"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. and in 1958 gave birth to Fort Des Moines Memorial Park founder and CEO Robert Morris who initiated the Iowa Tuskegee Airmen Memorial project in 2000.

Captain Williams flew from Italy with the 100th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group of the 15th Air Force destroying two enemy aircraft between 1944-1945. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters and the
Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation. In addition to Smith and Williams, four other Iowans had distinguished combat careers.


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 had a P-47 shot up 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, little recognition has found the Tuskegee Airmen for their perseverance and sacrifice through an incredibly difficult period in American history until now. Since the war, as physicians, engineers, educators and through 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
  William V. Bibb   Ottumwa
  James E. Bowman*   Des Moines
  Russell L. Collins*   Davenport
  Maurice V. Esters   Webster City (KIA)
  Joseph P. Gomer*   Iowa Falls
  Thurman E. Spriggs*   Des Moines
  *Still Living    
Name Home Town
  Robert L. Martin*   Dubuque
  George R. Miller*   Des Moines
  Clarence A. Oliphant   Council Bluffs
  Robert M. Parkey   Des Moines
  Luther H. Smith*   Des Moines
  Robert W. Williams   Ottumwa
       
 
IOWA TUSKEGEE TRAINEES
Name Home Town
  Moses Clinton   Des Moines
  Henry P. Bowman   Des Moines
  Oscar Glass   Des Moines
  Richard Parsons   Des Moines
  *Still Living    
Name Home Town
  Edward C. Harris   Des Moines
  James Harris*   Des Moines
  Clifford Smith*   Waterloo