Freedom Flyers of Tuskegee

This documentary recounts the story of the first African-American U.S. soldiers to take to the air, fighting in Europe during World War II, only to return home to face blatant racial inequality. Director Dean Tapia combines narration by Michaela Pereira and commentary by historian Dempsey Travis with archival footage and stills, but relies primarily on former pilots to tell the tale. Charles Dryden, a retired lieutenant colonel, talks about the civilian training programs that allowed him and other men to prove their mettle. When First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt saw what the men could do, she convinced President Roosevelt to allow them into the air corps, which led to the creation of the Tuskegee Airmen. After instruction, the first fighter squad flew to New York and then to Morocco; others would follow in their wake, traveling to Italy, France, and points beyond. Luther Smith, a retired captain, remembers hitting a Hungarian ammunition dump while strafing a freight yard; German troops captured him and held him prisoner for seven months. Two colleagues also recount their POW experiences, while others recall the combat missions they flew that helped end the war. Sadly, these heroes returned to a segregated South and had trouble finding work—despite their considerable expertise—so they were forced to forge new paths in other fields. As Albert B. Simeon Jr. puts it, “There's a heritage there”—the experience of the Tuskegee Airmen would lead to greater integration in the ensuing decades. DVD extras include interview outtakes and photo galleries. Informative and inspiring, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)