Although many Tuskegee aircraft were involved in accidents that resulted in loss of the pilot and air frame, the material remains were usually recovered, leaving little if any trace of the resultant disaster.Īircraft that went missing are a notable exception. Outside of Tuskegee Army Airfield itself, very few places where Tuskegee airmen trained, fought, or occupied are conducive for archaeological research. The potential for Tuskegee airmen-related archaeological sites worldwide is low. The P-40F Warhawk, built by Curtiss-Wright Corporation, was the first pursuit or fighter aircraft flown by Tuskegee airmen training in Michigan. Almost immediately, the vacated bases at Selfridge and Oscoda were populated with Free French fighter pilots training in America while their homeland was occupied by Nazi Germany. In May 1944, the Army transferred all remaining Tuskegee fighter pilots from Michigan to South Carolina, essentially ending the Tuskegee presence in Michigan. Upon completing training in Michigan, many Tuskegee airmen immediately deployed to combat or support missions in Italy, North Africa, and the Mediterranean. The relative safety of mid-Western America, along with weather and geographical conditions that approximated what aviators could expect to encounter in Europe, encouraged the military to use airfields at Selfridge northeast of Detroit and at Camp Skeel near Oscoda. The pilots received advanced training, simulating aerial combat and bombing exercises over Lake Huron. Although many of the World War II aircraft wrecked in the Great Lakes have been recovered, the majority have not yet been found.ĭuring the middle years of World War II, Michigan was home to several African American Army Air Corps units, including graduates of the Tuskegee pilot training program. Dozens of foreign pilots, including French and Norwegian exiles training in North America, were also lost over water. The Army also lost pilots and aircraft in Lake St. The vast majority of accidents occurred in lower Lake Michigan, where Navy aviators attempted to qualify for carrier takeoffs and landings. Nearly 200 military aircraft were lost in the Great Lakes during World War II. The P-39Q Airacobra, a single seat plane that was primary aircraft used by Tuskegee airmen over Michigan beginning in September 1943. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |