The purpose of this mission was to have the P-51C Tuskegee Airmen as the centerpiece of the premiere of a public television documentary by the same name. Drew Perkins of Rubicon Productions produced the file with the support of Alabama Power. The premiere was Feb. 28, 2002, in Birmingham, Ala., and it was to be a gala event.

Alabama Power mobilized massive resources to make this happen. No detail was overlooked. Alabama Power people are "can do" folks. Dirk Mimm was the "go-to-guy." He and his crew made sure that anything needed appeared in short order. Whether it was Armor All for the tires, fingernail polish for an unfortunate hangar rash or steps to allow former President George Bush to look in the airplane, a wish was as good as a purchase order.

The documentary featured interviews with 10 Tuskegee Airmen. They all returned for the premiere. The first showing of the airplane was a private event at the corporate hangar on Monday afternoon, Feb. 25, 2002. It was the first time many of the airmen had seen the airplane. Tuesday was dedicated to cleaning and polishing the aircraft in preparation for the premiere. The Secret Service insisted that the airplane be defueled, and with the help of the folks at Mercury Air Service, that was accomplished. Tuesday night was the big move.

Commemorative Air Force aircraft attend air shows all across the country during summer months nearly every weekend and sometimes airshow producers come up with ideas that seem a bit unconventional. When the idea to park the P-51C on a city street in front of a theater in the heart of a major city for a film premiere was proposed to the Red Tail Project, the answer, in Minnesota Wing style, was, "You Betcha!" Then the head scratching began.

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Loading the airplane on a truck and hauling it downtown was discussed, but it was decided that the prospect of loading and unloading the airplane twice added an unacceptable element of risk. Towing it seemed simpler and safer.

The procession left the airport property at midnight. Alabama Power Company trucks formed a perimeter to preclude a late night patron of a local pub from getting to the airplane. Mercury provided a freshly painted tug and driver. The Birmingham Police Department was out in force and provided lots of flashing lights. A 40-foot construction gate was the exit for a 37.5 foot-wide airplane. The hinges on the gate took another foot and the result was a tight fit. No one was worried because the power company stood by with a cutting torch, ready to widen the opening if necessary. Five power company trucks, a tug, a small army of police cruisers and a Red Tail Mustang, all chased by several television news crews made an interesting parade. The route was well surveyed and the trip went smoothly.

The weather was good, but the temperature tested the Southerners. It was in the very low 20s. No one complained, and 90 minutes later a frozen tug driver pulled the airplane into a parking lot in the heart of the city. The lot was two blocks from the theater, well staged for the festivities later that same day. Two Birmingham police officers kept watch on the airplane overnight and the moving crew went home for some much needed rest, knowing the next night would bring the same drill in reverse.

As the big day progressed, red carpet arrived in truckloads, and the street was paved with it. Velvet roping surrounded the airplane. Secret Service agents spoke into their sleeves, and stages were set for the media. Lines started forming before 5 p.m.

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The Alabama Theater was built in 1927 and recently restored. It is beautiful today and must have been the most magnificent building in the city 75 years ago. When the sun slid behind the buildings, spotlights lit the airplane against an orange sky. The P-51C in front of the marquee of the Alabama Theater made a breathtaking view. When the sky got dark, searchlights replaced sunlight. The cold temperature was accented by a light breeze but the excitement and energy of the spectacle made nearly everyone forget the weather.

"The Tuskegee Airmen" was the hottest ticket in town and in spite of the temperature the crowd was waiting patiently when former President Bush came out of the theater to inspect the Red Tailed P-51C. The president was impressed by the airplane and climbed up on the wing to look inside. He posed in front of the airplane for pictures with Charles McCrary, CEO of Alabama Power, and other as he waited with the rest of the crown for the arrival of the Tuskegee Airmen.

Bands played and the crowds cheered as the airman arrived. They took their turn in front of the airplane with the former president. It is doubtful that 10 black men would have ever received such a warm welcome at the Alabama Theater in 1927 when it opened, or in 1945 when those same 10 men returned from serving their country in Europe.

The airmen and Bush went inside for a private reception and the waiting crowd surrounded the airplane. The most common question was, "How did you get it here?" The standard answer was, "landed on 3rd Street." Some people believed it. Others asked, "Is the airplane real?" The answer was, "It is." Even more did not believe that.

Finally the theater doors opened and the crowd filed in to see the film. As the film was showing inside, a stead stream of onlookers came downtown to witness in person what they had seen on the 6 p.m. news. Several said, "We saw the airplane on the news and couldn't believe it! We had to see if for real!"

One such visitor was a young man who was severely handicapped, with no use of his arms and limited us of his legs. His grandfather brought him and explained that they flew radio-controlled Mustangs and wanted to see a real "C" model. This young man learned to use his feet to fly his models. He was a walking encyclopedia of aircraft information and like the Tuskegee Airmen, he overcame tremendous odds to realize his dream. What a true inspiration!

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The film ended and the crowd returned. Some came to have a second look, and some - seen the film - to have a second look with a better understanding of what the airplane represented. Others hurried off to their cars to escape the cold winter night.

The event was over. Crews arrived to roll up the carpet and return the 3rd Street to its natural state. The moving crew reassembled and waited for midnight. Police officers arrived at 11 p.m. and offered an early exit. The transfer had gone so smoothly the night before they let us get moving. The trip home was easier, faster, and by midnight the airplane was safely in the Mercury hangar. The tug driver was frozen again, but all present were relieved to have the airplane safely back at the airport with no new dings or scratches.

The following evening, or later that day, depending on your perspective, the film debuted all across Alabama on Alabama Public Television. The producers hope for a nationwide release of the film soon. The Red Tail, like the film, is a tool we use to tell a story. Taking the Red Tail "downtown" gave us a new audience and a different place to tell our story.

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