Defying all odds the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African-American pilots, flew more than 15-hundred missions during World War II.
Produced by George Lucas and starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and Terrence Howard, Red Tails chronicles the missions of the Tuskegee Airmen during WWII.The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960′s has been in the headlines already this week as the nation celebrated Martin Luther King Day.
But long before MLK became an American civil right icon — there were the Tuskegee Airmen.
101 African-American Army Air Corp officers, almost 1000 pilots in all, were trained in Tuskegee from 1941 to 1946.
The group rose to national prominence fighting during World War II.
The Tuskegee Airmen were true pioneers of the air, rising from a social experiment to decorated war pilots.
The Tuskegee Airmen overcame racial prejudice and stereotypes, and went on to become American folk hero’s.
When ‘Red Tails’ hits the silver screen on Friday a new generation of Americans will learn the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African-American pilots who did their part to change the tide of racism and segregation in America.
Defying all odds, the Tuskegee Airmen flew more than 15-hundred missions during World War II. One of the members of this distinguished group is Hartford’s Connie Nappier.
Armed with movie star good looks, a sharp mind, and a love for his country, Connie was a Bombardier-Navigator, flying B-25 Bombers in the 477th Bombardment Group
“I was assigned to the 477th Medium Bomb Group, the 616th Squadron,” said Connie Nappier. “We were flying out of Walterboro, South Carolina, looking for enemy U-Boats.
Connie Nappier wears his Tuskegee Airmen blazer proudly. He makes time to tell the Tuskegee story. You can hear the pride in his voice, and see the gleam in his eyes.
Despite his sense of pride and purpose, Connie maintains a bittersweet feeling about his Tuskegee experience.
“It’s difficult at times to tell the whole true story,” said Connie. “Because it embarrasses me because I’m a Tuskegee Airman. I’m a black man as anybody can see. To tell the true story of what we went through. And this is our country, and that’s what we were out to prove as well as anybody else was. It’s embarrassing.
Despite the racial prejudice Connie felt from his commanding officers he kept his eye on the prize. He said one of the happiest days of his life was the day he walked into his family home as an Air Corps pilot.
“One of the happiest days of my life was when I walked into the house and I said to my mom, “Here are your wings.” I’ve had a wonderful life, and I think I have taken advantage of the opportunities. And when there wasn’t an opportunity, I would look for ways to make an opportunity.”
Talking with Connie Nappier today was a living, breathing lesson in American history and perseverance. As part of Black History Month the New England Air Museum will host an open cockpit day on Sunday February 19th.
Connie and other members of the Tuskegee Airmen will be there that day to share more of their inspiring story.