"Tuskegee Airmen" 14x20 Photo Signed by (12) With Charles McGee, Eugene Richardson, Bill Broadwater, Harvey Alexander, Leo Gray, Charles Lane (PSA LOA)

Photo measures 14" x 20" in size and has been hand-signed and inscribed in black felt-tip pen by (12) Tuskegee Airmen veterans. Signatures include Harvey Alexander, Bill Broadwater, Charles McGee, Henry Moore, George Boyd, Leo Gray, John "Mule" Miles, Richard Rutledge, Eugene Richardson, Charles Lane, James Warren and George Hardy.

The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African-American military aviators in the United States Armed Forces. During World War II, black Americans in many U.S. states were still subject to the Jim Crow Laws and the American military was racially segregated, as was much of the federal government. The Tuskegee Airmen were subjected to racial discrimination, both within and outside the army. All black military pilots who trained in the United States trained at Moton Field, the Tuskegee Army Air Field, and were educated at Tuskegee University, located near Tuskegee, Alabama.

Although the 477th Bombardment Group trained with North American B-25 Mitchell bombers, they never served in combat. The 99th Pursuit Squadron (later, 99th Fighter Squadron) was the first black flying squadron, and the first to deploy overseas (to North Africa in April 1943, and later to Sicily and Italy). The 332nd Fighter Group, which originally included the 100th, 301st, and 302nd Fighter Squadrons, was the first black flying group. The group deployed to Italy in early 1944. In June 1944, the 332nd Fighter Group began flying heavy bomber escort missions, and in July 1944, the 99th Fighter Squadron was assigned to the 332nd Fighter Group, which then had four fighter squadrons.

The autograph includes an official PSA/DNA hologram and matching LOA for authenticity purposes.

Authentication: PSA LOA

Due to the uniqueness of each item, please refer to the photos provided in this auction. We offer high resolution images of each item rather than a written description of condition.

This item is being shipped from the Pristine Auction warehouse.