Despite serving their country with distinction as pilots during World War II, the Tuskegee Airmen were denied the right to become commercial airline pilots for nearly 20 years after the end of the war. Ken Rapier is president of the Chicago DODO Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen Inc. He said the chapter is named after the dodo bird — a bird of the island of Mauritius that lost its ability to fly — because, just like the dodo, the Airmen lost the ability to fly. “After World War II, even though the Tuskegee Airmen were proven superior pilots, they were not given the ability to fly commercially,” Rapier said. “Airline pilots make good money. Certainly back in those days it was considered a glamour job.” David Harris, who was hired by American Airlines in 1964, became the first African-American commercial pilot. Rapier said he became interested in the famed African-American flying group because his cousin, Gordon Rapier, was a Tuskegee Airman. Now in his 90s, Gordon Rapier lives in Columbia, Md. Gordon told his cousin that he was wingman for Benjamin O. Davis, the commander of the Tuskegee Airmen who would become an Air Force general. Ken Rapier said he is a new-generation member of the Tuskegee Airmen trying to make sure the group does not become extinct. “Part of our mission statement is to preserve the historic legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen,” he said, “and also to encourage young people to purse post-secondary education and careers in the aerospace industry.” The Tuskegee Airmen got their start at the former Chanute Field in Rantoul, where mechanics and other personnel were trained for the squadron beginning early in 1941. Pilots were trained in Tuskegee, Ala. “Had it not been for segregation,” Rapier said, “the Tuskegee Airmen probably would have been called the Chanute Airmen. But they had to create a segregated base for the Tuskegee Airmen to get the flight training.” Rapier said the Chicago chapter has been active since the mid-’70s and has a membership of 85. The chapter has 16 original Tuskegee Airmen as members. On Jan. 16, the chapter showed George Lucas’ recently released documentary on the airmen, “Double Victory,” to about 1,000 young people in the Chicago area. The students were also given tickets to view the new Hollywood movie “Red Tails,” which is also about the Airmen. Rapier said he got to see “Red Tails” prior to its release and called it “action-packed.” Asked for a review, he responded, “Of course movies are not documentaries, so the movie is an adaptation. However, the true story is told in George Lucas’ documentary. That’s why we showed it to the kids, so they learn the true story first and then they see the Hollywood adaptation that is not necessarily historically correct.” The Chicago chapter is also active in other ways to promote aviation and the memory of the Tuskegee Airmen to young people. The chapter offers free introductory flights for children ages 8-17 on the second Saturday of each month at the Gary-Chicago airport. It also has a local scholarship fund and conducts numerous speaking engagements to churches, schools and civic groups. The chapter remains dedicated to preserving the memory and the ideals of the men who served in the 99th Pursuit Squadron. “They’re a group of men who set their standards at excellence,” Rapier said. “They maintained a unified effort to help each other through a difficult training program (where) no one wanted to see them succeed, but they remained united and helped each other to achieve a common goal. Through courage and determination, the Airmen overcame adversity. Added Rapier, “In 1941, the War Department did not want the Tuskegee Airmen to fly. By 1945, only the Nazis felt the same way.”
Posted on: Mon, 12 Aug 2013 01:02:03 +0000