Tuskegee Airmen honored

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Se'kou BIllings
  • Air Force Inspection Agency
KIRTLAND AFB, N.M. --  On Jan. 19, two original Tuskegee Airmen, James B. Williams and John E. Allen, were honored at a movie screening of the George Lucas film, "Red Tails." More than 250 distinguished visitors, community leaders and Airmen from Kirtland Air Force Base met Williams and Allen. The event host was the General Lloyd W. "Fig" Newton Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., in partnership with Cinemark Theaters at the Cinemark Century Rio 24.

In 1942, with a pre-medicine background, Williams was drafted into the military and given a position with the medical corps at Camp Pickett, Va., and was chosen to attend Medical Administrative Officer Candidate School. Wanting to become a pilot, however, he asked to transfer to the Army Air Corps. He was subsequently appointed an aviation cadet and sent to Boca Raton Club, Fla., for basic training.

From there, he went to Yale University for technical training, where he was commissioned as a second lieutenant. After the war, Williams served as an engineering officer in the 99th Fighter Squadron.

After graduating from high school in 1945, Allen was immediately drafted into the Army. He completed basic and advanced infantry training at Fort Lewis, Wash., then transferred to the Army Air Corps and was assigned to Moton Field at Tuskegee, Ala. Having received some demolition training while assigned to the infantry, he was placed in the armament and ordnance section and assigned to the 301st Fighter Squadron.

"Red Tails" portrays the story of heroism displayed by the famed Tuskegee Airmen, an all African-American squadron of pilots and support personnel who fought courageously while escorting American bombers over enemy skies during World War II. The movie is named "Red Tails" because those fearless pilots painted the tails of their fighter planes red.

"I am so excited that our chapter is hosting this momentous event," said Williams.

TAI's next event is the Fifth Annual Scholarship and Educational Golf Classic on May 11 at the Tijeras Arroyo Golf Course at Kirtland AFB.

For more information about the TAI, visit www.TAI-Albuquerque.org or call chapter president Se'kou Billings at 846-2394.