Tuskegee Airman: ‘There’s So Many People Who Don’t Know About Us’

A group of Tuskegee airmen reflected on their World War II experiences on Friday.

Airmen gathered at the Easton movie theater in Columbus to watch the premiere of the George Lucas-produced film “Red Tails,” which portrays their struggles and successes in the service, 10TV’s AJ Smith reported.

“There’s so many people who don’t know about us,” former airman Staff Sergeant Hilton Carter said. “Even though we were stationed here at Lockbourne Air Force Base at the time.”

The all African American unit of the Air Force served in World War II and was later stationed in central Ohio, Smith reported.

Before viewing the movie, supporters honored the Airmen for the many battles they fought.

“The Tuskegee Airmen not only fought fascism in Italy with their aircraft, but they also fought racism here in our country,” Military Veterans Educational Foundation president Robert Thurman said.

Carter and his fellow airmen helped to change what many Americans thought of blacks serving in the military, Smith reported.

“In the beginning, blacks could only be a cook or something,” Carter said.

The new film will help remind older generations of the group’s contributions and educate younger generations. More than 100 Columbus teenagers attended the screening, Smith reported.

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