News Release

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. John Spratt (D-SC) Tuesday voted for a bill the House passed to honor the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African-American fighter pilots in World War II, with a Congressional Gold Medal.

In a House floor statement, Spratt said their contribution to the United States went beyond their military service.

“While their accomplishments have been recognized by the military, the military in truth cannot adequately honor all of their accomplishments because these men fought and won other battles that were not military in nature. They defied those who thought they lacked the intelligence, the skills, the courage, even the patriotism to fly and fight. Their courage in the air is legendary, but their courage on the ground and in our society made their achievements in the air all the more meaningful and remarkable.

“Today, the impact of the Tuskegee Airmen reaches far beyond the skies of Italy and North Africa. Their service led to social changes in our country that include the integration of our Armed Forces. In 1948, Harry Truman signed Executive Order 9981, directing equality of treatment and opportunity in all of the armed services. President Truman's order ended racial segregation in the military and was a major step towards ending racial segregation in the United States of America.

“Today, we recognize the Tuskegee Airmen for valor in battle, but also for accomplishments that transcended the battlefield like Executive Order 9981. The Tuskegee Airmen, the 99th Fighter Squadron and the 332d Fighter Group, not only deserve the Congressional Gold Medal, they will add luster to it.

“I salute the Tuskegee Airmen and I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.”

The Tuskegee Airmen fought in the U.S. Army Air Corps and trained at an Army air field in Tuskegee, Alabama.  About 1,000 pilots completed flight training. Of those, 445 saw action in Europe flying "bomber escort" and ground attacks on 15,533 sorties between May 1943 and June 1945. None of the bombers escorted by the airmen was lost to enemy fighters. The Tuskegee Airmen destroyed 251 enemy aircraft and won more than 850 medals, including 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses. Sixty-six Tuskegee Airmen were killed in action.

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