Tuskegee Airman youth in aviation

Col. Mark Kelly, 4th Fighter Wing commander, welcomes Youth in Aviation Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps members to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., Jan. 23, 2010. Kelly briefed the crowd on the importance of jet maintenance. The National Tuskegee Airmen Inc. sponsored the visit hosted by the local Wilson V. Eagleson Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Whitney Lambert)

Tuskegee Airman youth in aviation

Leonard "Hawk" Hunter, Army veteran, shares the Tuskegee Airmen story to Youth in Aviation Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps members on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., Jan. 23, 2010. Hunter is a member of Tuskegee Airman Inc., and has been telling the Tuskegee Airmen's story to children, clubs, JROTC groups and with other various organizations for more than 10 years. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Whitney Lambert)

Tuskegee Airmen youth in aviation

Published Jan. 28, 2010
By Senior Airman Whitney Lambert
4TH Fighter Wing Public Affairs

Seymour Johnson Air Foce Base, N.C. -- The Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. sponsored a visit for Youth in Aviation to Seymour Johnson for an event hosted by the local Wilson V. Eagleson Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen Jan. 23.

During the field trip, the students learned about the Tuskegee Airmen's legacy and military aviation.The Tuskegee Airmen were volunteers, who were determine to become America's first black military Airmen. They possessed the physical and mental qualifications and were accepted for aviation cadet training. These servicemembers received training at the Division of Aeronautics of Tuskegee Institute at Tuskegee Army Air Field, Ala. During World War II, they were successful by not losing a single bomber to enemy fire in more than 200 combat missions. They also hold a record unmatched by any other fighter group.

Tuskegee Airmen Chapters have worked with youth since 1972. The TAI is a remembrance group active in the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base area. TAI has been sponsoring Youth in Aviation events for more than four years. The goal of the Youth in Aviation program is to continue the Tuskegee legacy, by exposing students to possible careers in aviation. The group encourages students to excel in math and science because they provide a strong foundation for those interested in becoming a pilot or working in aviation. The students also learn about aviation through discussions, activities, guest speakers and fieldtrips.