A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring the tuskegee airmen and expressing appreciation for their service during world war ii.

Whereas, during World War II, the armed forces in the United States were still segregated by race; and
Whereas, in 1941 the federal government established the 66th Air Force Flying School at Tuskegee Institute to train African‑American pilots for the war; and
Whereas, from 1941 through 1946, almost 1,000 African‑Americans trained at the Tuskegee Army Air Field in Tuskegee, Alabama; and
Whereas, 450 of the men who completed training at the Tuskegee Army Air Field were sent overseas for combat duty; and
Whereas, pilots trained at Tuskegee Institute were known as "Tuskegee Airmen," although this phrase also later included navigators, bombardiers, instructors, and maintenance and support staff; and
Whereas, the 99th Fighter Squadron, the first class trained at Tuskegee Institute, was sent to North Africa in the Spring of 1943 for combat duty and in 1944, they were joined by other African‑American squadrons to form the 332nd Fighter Squadron, which flew missions over Sicily, the Mediterranean, and North Africa; and
Whereas, the Tuskegee Airmen compiled an outstanding record, which included completing more than 1,500 missions, destroying 260 enemy aircraft, sinking an enemy destroyer, and demolishing other enemy installation areas; and
Whereas, the Tuskegee Airmen achieved an exceptional record for escorting bomber crews and earned the respect of their fellow bomber crews and their military leaders; and
Whereas, the Tuskegee Airmen were nicknamed "Red‑Tail Angels" after the red tail markings on their aircraft; and
Whereas, during the war, 66 Tuskegee Airmen were killed in action and 32 were held as prisoners of war; and
Whereas, the success of the Tuskegee Airmen helped end segregation in the military; and
Whereas, in 1948, by Executive Order, President Harry S. Truman desegregated the military; and
Whereas, the Tuskegee Airmen were awarded numerous honors, including the Distinguished Flying Cross (150), Legion of Merit (1), Silver Star (1), Purple Heart (8), Soldier Medal (2), Air Medal and Clusters (744), and the Bronze Star (14); and
Whereas, in 1945, the 332nd Fighter Squadron received a Distinguished Unit Citation for "outstanding performance and extraordinary heroism"; and
Whereas, the Tuskegee Airmen received the Congressional Gold Medal during a ceremony with President George W. Bush on March 29, 2007; and
Whereas, Tuskegee Airmen came from all over the United States, including the following members who were either born in North Carolina or are currently residing in the State:
Harvey R. Alexander, Guilford County
Fred L. Brewer, Jr., Mecklenburg County
Cecil L. Browder, New Hanover County
Willie L. Byrd, Jr., Cumberland County
Marshall S. Caldness, Gaston County
James Y. Carter, Forsyth County
John H. Chavis, Wake County
Walter Chavis, Wake County
Conrad H. Cheek, Halifax County
Quinten V. Cheek, Halifax County
Lewis W. Craig, Buncombe County
John H. Driver, Wake County
Wilson V. Eagleson, Wayne County
Spurgeon N. Ellington, Forsyth County
Charles H. Flowers, Anson County
Stewart Fulbright, Durham County
Willie H. Fuller, Edgecombe County
Vernon V. Haywood, Wake County
George W. Helm, Rockingham County
Aaron Herrington, Wake County
Leonard Hunter, Wake County
Andrew Johnson, Jr., Guilford County
Andrew D. Marshall, Anson County
Harvey L. McClelland, Buncombe County
William McDonald, Durham County
Clinton B. Mills, Durham County
David J. Murphy, Jr., Columbus County
Hernando Palmer, Johnston County
Francis B. Peoples, Vance County
Clarence E. Reynolds, Jr., Hertford County
Robert C. Robinson, Jr., Buncombe County
Graham Smith, Hertford County
Reginald V. Smith, Hertford County
Dr. Chuck Stone, Orange County
Dr. John Turner, Orange County
Morris Washington, Lenoir County
Harold Webb, Wake County
Arthur Wilburn, Buncombe County; Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

SECTION 1.  The General Assembly wishes to honor the memory of the Tuskegee Airmen who gave their lives while rendering service to our country during World War II and pays tribute to Tuskegee Airmen veterans for their bravery and sacrifice.
SECTION 2.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the President of both the Wilson V. Eagleson and Heart of Carolina Chapters of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
SECTION 3.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 26th day of July, 2007.

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		 Beverly E. Perdue
	 President of the Senate

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		 Joe Hackney
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives