Tuskegee Airmen defend record at ceremony
By Alvin Benn Montgomery Advertiser
December 20, 2006

A Tuskegee Airman who shot down a German fighter plane during World War II said Monday that more research is needed to determine whether the legendary unit lost bombers to enemy aircraft on escort missions.

"The missions were very complex," said retired Air Force Col. Charles E. McGee, who called for "more than a cursory look at the situation."

McGee made his comments at a state Capitol event called to announce plans for a $15 million memorial to honor the Airmen, but most of the attention was on their escort missions and whether they lost U.S. bombers to German fighters.

Two military historians, including one who took part in the ceremony honoring the black pilots, said last week that they spent long hours poring over documents showing some bombers en route to enemy targets were shot down by German planes.

Their pronouncements were contrary to the popular belief that the Tuskegee Airmen had a perfect record in not allowing any German pilots to shoot down even one of the bombers they escorted.

"We're going back over to make sure everything is accurate," said William Holton, the official historian of the Tuskegee Airmen. "Others are also looking into the facts."

McGee, who shot down a German FW-190 in the fall of 1944, said he did not know whether "somebody was looking for a reason" to cast doubt about the Airmen's exploits.

"Maybe it was somebody who didn't like the fact that we received the Gold Medal and wanted to tear us down, but I think the record will stand for itself whether there were (bomber) losses or not."

He referred to the awarding of the prestigious Congressional Gold Medal for battling the enemy abroad and racism at home during World War II.

Part of a large group of black fighter pilots trained in Alabama, McGee said he was not angered when he heard about the records released by the two historians. He indicated it was not unusual, given the circumstances surrounding his unit.

"Controversy's been going on from the beginning," he said, referring to the opinion of some whites in powerful positions that black pilots would not be able to acquit themselves well under combat conditions.

The medal is expected to be awarded to the unit in late February or early March, said McGee, who joined his fellow Airmen in wearing bright red blazers at the event.

Revelations released by Holton and historian Daniel Haulman of Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base have upset some of the Airmen and their supporters.

Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Donald Thomas of Detroit said he was "astounded" when he heard the reports but withheld a personal opinion.

"All I knew was that we never lost a bomber, but, evidently, somebody knew something I didn't know," said Thomas, who had a long career in the Air Force.

Few have disputed the fact that U.S. bombers escorted by Tuskegee Airmen were shot down by ground fire, but speakers at previous events honoring the group often claimed they did not lose any bombers to enemy aircraft. No one made that claim at Monday's ceremony.

Before he spoke at the event, U.S. Rep. Artur Davis, D-Birmingham, made it clear that "there is nothing whatsoever that can detract from what these individuals did."

"They showed a phenomenal amount of courage," Davis said. "Their country didn't want them to serve and pushed them into segregated ranks, but they cared enough about America and America's promise that they insisted on serving."

Gov. Bob Riley echoed Davis' sentiments when he spoke, saying the Tuskegee Airmen "reached a level of excellence that very few aviators have reached."

"It is only fitting that the tribute we pay to them be in the state of Alabama and in Tuskegee," said Riley, who as a congressman helped push through a $25 million appropriation to help create an interpretive center at Moton Field where the Airmen were trained.

Riley pointed out that the remaining Airmen are at advanced ages and urged that work on a memorial to them be done quickly so that they can see it before they die.

Most of the eight Airmen who attended the ceremony were in their mid- to late 80s and some beamed when Riley called them "true heroes."

U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, whose congressional district includes Tuskegee, also spoke at the event honoring the Airmen.

A three-hour reception was held for the Tuskegee Airmen at the Southern Poverty Law Center Civil Rights Museum following the Capitol ceremony.

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