GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2007

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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION DRHJR50730-LG-588A  (4/27)

Sponsors:	Representative Mobley.
Referred to:

A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring the tuskegee airmen and expressing appreciation for their service during world war ii.

Whereas, during World War II, the armed forces in the United States were still segregated by race; and

Whereas, in 1941 the federal government established the 66^th Air Force Flying School at Tuskegee Institute to train African-American pilots for the war; and

Whereas, from 1941 through 1946, almost 1,000 African-Americans trained at the Tuskegee Army Air Field in Tuskegee, Alabama; and

Whereas, 450 of the men who completed training at the Tuskegee Army Air Field were sent overseas for combat duty; and

Whereas, pilots trained at Tuskegee Institute were known as "Tuskegee Airmen", although this phrase also later included navigators, bombardiers, instructors, and maintenance and support staff; and

Whereas, the 99th Fighter Squadron, the first class trained at Tuskegee Institute, was sent to North Africa in the Spring of 1943 for combat duty and in 1944, they were joined by other African-American squadrons to form the 332^nd Fighter Squadron, which flew missions over Sicily, the Mediterranean, and North Africa; and

Whereas, the Tuskegee Airmen compiled an outstanding record, which included completing more than 1,500 missions, destroying 260 enemy aircraft, sinking an enemy destroyer, and demolishing other enemy installation areas; and

Whereas, the Tuskegee Airmen achieved an exceptional record for escorting bomber crews and earned the respect of their fellow bomber crews and their military leaders; and

Whereas, the Tuskegee Airmen were nicknamed "Red-Tail Angels" after the red tail markings on their aircraft; and

Whereas, during the war, 66 Tuskegee Airmen were killed in action and 32 were held as prisoners of war; and

Whereas, the success of the Tuskegee Airmen helped end segregation in the military; and

Whereas, in 1948, by Executive Order, President Harry S. Truman desegregated the military; and

Whereas, the Tuskegee Airmen were awarded numerous honors, including the Distinguished Flying Cross (150), Legion of Merit (1), Silver Star (1), Purple Heart (8), Soldier Medal (2), Air Medal and Clusters (744), and the Bronze Star (14); and

Whereas, in 1945, the 332^nd Fighter Squadron received a Distinguished Unit Citation for "outstanding performance and extraordinary heroism"; and

Whereas, the Tuskegee Airmen received the Congressional Medal of Honor during a ceremony with President George W. Bush on March 29, 2007; and

Whereas, Tuskegee Airmen came from all over the United States, including the following members who were either born in North Carolina or are currently residing in the State:

Harvey R. Alexander, Guilford County

Fred L. Brewer, Jr., Mecklenburg County

Cecil L. Browder, New Hanover County

Willie L. Byrd, Jr., Cumberland County

Marshall S. Caldness, Gaston County

James Y. Carter, Forsyth County

John H. Chavis, Wake County

Walter Chavis, Wake County

Conrad H. Cheek, Halifax County

Quinten V. Cheek, Halifax County

Lewis W. Craig, Buncombe County

John H. Driver, Wake County

Wilson V. Eagleson, Wayne County

Spurgeon N. Ellington, Forsyth County

Charles H. Flowers, Anson County

Stewart Fulbright, Durham County

Willie H. Fuller, Edgecombe County

Vernon V. Haywood, Wake County

George W. Helm, Rockingham County

Aaron Herrington, Wake County

Leonard Hunter, Wake County

Andrew Johnson, Jr., Guilford County

Andrew D. Marshall, Anson County

Harvey L. McClelland, Buncombe County

William McDonald, Durham County

Clinton B. Mills, Durham County

David J. Murphy, Jr., Columbus County

Hernando Palmer, Johnston County

Francis B. Peoples, Vance County

Clarence E. Reynolds, Jr., Hertford County

Robert C. Robinson, Jr., Buncombe County

Graham Smith, Hertford County

Reginald V. Smith, Hertford County

Dr. Chuck Stone, Orange County

Dr. John Turner, Orange County

Morris Washington, Lenoir County

Harold Webb, Wake County

Arthur Wilburn, Buncombe County; Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

SECTION 1.  The General Assembly wishes to honor the memory of the Tuskegee Airmen who gave their lives while rendering service to our country during World War II and pays tribute to Tuskegee Airmen veterans for their bravery and sacrifice.

SECTION 2.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the President of both the Wilson V. Eagleson and Heart of Carolina Chapters of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

SECTION 3.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.