Red Tail Reborn divides its storyline between the Tuskegee Airmen and a restored airplane commemorating their history. In the Tuskegee Airmen portion, interviews with members of the famed 332nd fighter group, professors at Tuskegee University, historical photographs and footage, and narration from actor Michael Dorn are combined to tell the story of the tremendous odds faced by the first African-American pilots, who in spite of racism, discrimination, and segregation, were trained and deployed to Europe during World War II, where they earned recognition for their skill at escorting bombers and became known as the “Red-Tailed Angels” after painting the tails of their planes red. This history is rather briefly sketched in the first 16 minutes, while the rest of the documentary details the restoration of a P-51C Mustang, the plane that the Tuskegee Airmen once flew. Under the leadership of Don Hinz, a retired Navy pilot and businessman, the Red Tail Project resulted in a flight-worthy plane that traveled the air show circuit, educating people about the Tuskegee airmen, until a tragic crash in 2004 that killed Hinz (the last part of the film looks at work on the ruined airplane). Given the fact that director Adam White pays so much attention to the plane's restoration, the history section feels light, and as a result, the documentary will likely be of more interest to vintage plane enthusiasts. DVD extras include over three hours of interviews with several Tuskegee airmen. A strong optional purchase. Aud: P. (J. Wadland)
Red Tail Reborn
(2007) 2 discs. 55 min. DVD: $24.99. Hemlock Films. PPR. Volume 23, Issue 3
Red Tail Reborn
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