“Wings for this Man” is a 1945 film produced by the U.S. Army Air Forces First Motion Picture Unit, narrated by a pre-presidential Ronald Reagan. It promotes and lauds the Tuskegee Airmen, the first black / African American military aviators in the U.S. armed forces, formed during World War II. They formed the 332nd Expeditionary Operations Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the U.S. Army Air Forces.
The film opens with Bf-109s in the skies (0:25). These are enemy fighters, with the Balkenkreuz insignia of the Luftwaffe (0:28). They are met by American interceptors (0:34), P-47 Thunderbolts or “Jugs” (00:38).
The pilots are black Americans (0:43). These are the Tuskegee Airmen, the first black fighter pilots of the then still racially segregated American military (0:51).
Not so long ago, these men were students in a university (01:06). Future cadets board a train, each with a large sack (1:19). The steam trains head off to Tuskegee Institute (1:23). The famous Tuskegee Institute lies deep inside Alabama (1:31). Founded on July 4th of 1881, it has graduated many thousands into agriculture (1:44), science (1:46), and industry (1:47). This school was the first of its kind, founded by Booker T. Washington. His statue stands there (1:49), its base inscribed, “He lifted the veil of ignorance from his people and pointed the way to progress through education and industry” (2:02).
Nearby, the government built an airfield. Footage of the school (2:10), footage of the construction of the airfield (2:18) More than trees had to be cleared away. There was prejudice to be cleared away. Fighter planes fly overhead in a Vic formation (2:39). There are hangers, repair shops, and barracks (2:43). A concrete flight strip with landed planes (2:50). Men walk to the planes (3:00), climb onboard (3:10), and take off into the clouds (3:12).
Men take notes in a classroom in cramped chairs (3:30). An instructor teaches meteorology (3:34), another points at a diagram (3:42). Men work on a plane (3:46).
Men fly a safe, slow plane with two wings instead of one (3:51). A student practices in a Link Trainer flight simulator (4:03). In the morning he may be flying a prescribed course over a sheet of paper (4:09); in the afternoon he may fly the same course above the clouds (4:16). Rows of cadets practice advanced push-ups on the ground (04:20). They will use the same sense of balance and coordination in the skies. A barrel roll in the sky (4:27).
The teaching continues (4:39): pilotage and dead reckoning navigation (4:45), theory of flight, and radio code (4:50). They practice flying tight combat formations (5:01).
Pilots arrive on the airfield; they are black Americans (5:20). Ronald Reagan narrates, “You can’t judge a man here by the color of his eyes or the shape of his nose. On the flight strip, you judge a man by the way he flies.” They stand in rows (5:41), shaking hands and saluting (5:47). “Here’s the answer to Adolf and Hirohito,” Reagan continues, “Wings for these Americans.”
The planes fly (5:53). Squadron after squadron came out of Tuskegee, first riding P-40 Warhawk fighter-bomber aircraft (6:02), then P-47 Thunderbolts (06:06), and finally flying the P-51 Mustang (06:09).
Now they fight the enemy. Flashing lights and the sound of gunfire (6:27); an explosion below (6:38); a cemetery and a U.S. flag (6:42).
Three years after the founding of the Tuskegee Airfield, 750 pilots have been trained, 50% of them have been in combat. Men march in celebration of this third anniversary (6:55). Major General Butler speaks at the podium (7:09), commending the 99th Pursuit Squadron for being pioneers in the movement, which has given black American aviation cadets a place in the fighting men of the sky. The parade continues, American flags and patriotic music (7:39). A close-up reveals faces of strength and determination (8:06).
“ARMY AIR FORCES SPECIAL FILM PROJECT 151” and THE END title card (8:21).
At the end of this film is some additional footage — African American cadets or trainees dine in the mess hall (8:29). One stands and commands them to sing (8:48). They sing in unison, and then resume eating.
Tuskegee Institute is now Tuskegee University, and its campus is designated as the Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site, which includes the 1927 Booker T. Washington monument, Lifting the Veil of Ignorance by sculptor Charles Keck.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
