When they first entered combat, they flew the P-40. Later, they flew the top of the line P-51 Mustang after flying the P-47 for a month. They never flew the P-38.

They did fly cover for the 15th Air Force flying missions in the Italian area and did an outstanding job. The Tuskeegee Airmen hold a distinction as a figher unit that, to the best of my knowledge, no other combat unit holds. The Tuskeegee Airmen never lost a single bomber they were escorting to enemy fighters. They were forbidden to go chacing after other fighters - they stuck with the bombers at all costs. That's the reason why the bomber crews began to ask for them by name - they never lost a bomber under their protection.

Earlier this year, their commander, retired Lt. Gen. Benjamin Davis, Jr. died and was laid to rest with full honors at Arlington National Cemetary. He died on the 4th of July, a day when the news media was focused on the airport shooting in Los Angeles. It saddened me that the death of this great man didn't get more media attention. I didn't hear of it until after his funeral. The press never seems to have trouble finding time to tell us about the death of any Hollywood "celebrity" but they couldn't be bothered to pay due respects to a man like General Davis. Sad.