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Re: Red Tails
Well, I guess I'll see it. I'm sure Hollywood will make them seem like saviors of western civilization. I fact, on Fox news morning show, one of the actors told those present that the Red Tails' actions on D-Day made it possible for the troops to land with minimum aerial activity! He also said that there expertise allowed them to become aces. Note the plural use of ACES. I never heard of any 12th AF aircraft being near the French coast on June 6. They were over and around Rome. Nor have I read about but just one "Ace" from the unit and I believe that the necessary 5th kill was awarded to the pilot a couple years ago. Encounter Report said that he and another pilot had shared a claim but in looking at his gun camera the USAF determined that he had inflicted the necessary damage to bring it down. Study 85 makes no mention of a shared victory.
Their veterans' association, two years ago, finally admitted that their claim of having never lost an escorted bomber was not true.
These men overcame tremendous odds and obstacles to become pilots and made a very significant contribution to the war effort and the eventual US armed forces desegregation in 1947. I've never understood why they couldn't just bask in their earned glory and not exaggerate their history. Reminds me of the AVG.
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