Ohio National Guard News

 

As 'Red Tails' continues to soar,
real-life heroes' story reaches wider audience:

Ohio National Guard members, some original Tuskegee Airmen among
first to see movie when it opened in late January

Story by 2nd Lt. Michael McQueary, Ohio Army National Guard
Photos by Senior Airman Amber Williams

A Tuskegee Airman (center) autographs a poster for an Ohio Air National Guard member at the premiere of the "Red Tails" movie Jan. 19, 2012, in Toledo, Ohio. Four of the original Tuskegee Airmen attended the early premiere of "Red Tails" with Ohio National Guard Airmen.

Tuskegee Airmen pin colonel rank insignia on Toledo Mayor Michael P. Bell Maj. Gen. Deborah A. Ashenhurst, Ohio adjutant general,
Tuskegee Airmen pin colonel rank insignia on Toledo Mayor Michael P. Bell at the premiere. Bell was recognized by the Ohio National Guard as an honorary "Buckeye Colonel." Maj. Gen. Deborah A. Ashenhurst, Ohio adjutant general, talks to the crowd before the premiere of the movie, At left is Toledo Mayor Mike Bell, who holds a "Buckeye Colonel" award, giving him an honorary commission in the Ohio National Guard.
Chief Master Sgt. Tamara Phillips, Ohio Air National Guard command chief master sergeant, greets Dr. Dr. Harry Brown, an original Tuskegee Airman and Columbus, Ohio, native,

Chief Master Sgt. Tamara Phillips, Ohio Air National Guard command chief master sergeant, greets Dr. Dr. Harry Brown, an original Tuskegee Airman and Columbus, Ohio, native

TOLEDO, Ohio (Feb. 29, 2012) — Members of the Ohio National Guard filled the theater on the evening of Jan. 19 at Rave Cinemas Franklin Park, excited to listen to original members of the Tuskegee Airmen speak.

A ceremony was held in honor of the pilots of the 332nd Fighter Group, which housed the famous original group of African-American military pilots, in conjunction with the premiere of the film "Red Tails," produced by "Star Wars" movie series creator George Lucas.

The night began with Maj. Gen. Deborah A. Ashenhurst, Ohio adjutant general, presenting Toledo Mayor Mike Bell with a "Buckeye Colonel" award, giving him an honorary commission in the Ohio National Guard. Afterward, the capacity crowd listened to Tuskegee members speak about their wartime experiences before getting a sneak preview screening of the film.

"The movie 'Red Tails' and the story of the Tuskegee Airmen is very important to me as a African-American Soldier and officer in the military," said Ohio Army National Guard Maj. Jeff Watkins. "With a story like this that tells of triumph, that tells of these men that pursued excellence and maximized their capacity, is something we can utilize."

Although based on a true story, 'Red Tails' doesn't shy away from Hollywood special effects. Lucas tells his version of the story through mostly comical cockpit dialogue and intense high-flying aerial battles. Dr. Harry Brown, a retired lieutenant colonel and a Columbus, Ohio, native, was a pilot with the 332nd. Brown spoke during the ceremony, and said he was able to relate to the film although some parts were far from realistic.

"It was a good movie. It wasn't a documentary ... they definitely took a few liberties, but the youngsters will love it, the service members will love it, you can't help it," he said.

Brown spent time as a prisoner of war after his plane was shot down over Europe during a "strafer mission," where planes were dispatched to attack ground troops, much like those depicted in the majority of "Red Tails."

"In particular, the missions depicted brought back memories because, when I went down, I went down on a strafer mission," Brown said. "We were flying over Italy, escorting bombers just like they did in the movie. Those missions were rough because you almost always had casualties."

Retired Lt. Col. Alexander Jefferson, also a former Tuskegee pilot and POW, attended the event as a part of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., Detroit Chapter. The group traveled from Michigan to watch the movie and greet service members who attended. Jefferson said that any publicity brought to his former unit through the movie will give positive momentum toward keeping the Tuskegee Airmen's message alive in today's youth.

"('Red Tails') has done a tremendous job in recapturing our history," Jefferson said. "We had to fight, for the right, to fight for this country. And in doing so, I think we did a damn good job."

Jefferson said he knew all along that the "Red Tails" were making history.

"Oh hell, I knew it," he said. "While I was flying, I knew it was above-and-beyond. I remember Georgia chain gangs. I saw the Ku Klux Klan. I knew damn good and well we were making history. Racism and segregation says 'no,' but this is my country, too, damn it and I have seen tremendous progress (in my lifetime)."

Although never mentioned formally during the ceremony, Ohio's military tradition is related to the famous Tuskegee Airmen through the 180th Fighter Wing, one of its Air National Guard units, stationed in Swanton, near Toledo. When previously deployed to Balad Air Base in Iraq, during Operation Iraqi Freedom, 180th Airmen fell under the command of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing — with lineage to the same fighter unit depicted in the film.

Ohio has another part in the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen. After World War II, men from the all-black units were sent to Lockbourne Air Force Base in Columbus, now known as Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base.

At the conclusion of the screening, members of the audience gave a standing ovation and many lined up to meet and get autographs from Brown, Thompson and other members of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. group that attended the event.