Oral History Program Captures Memories of 'Tuskegee Airmen'

This February, in honor of Black History Month, Equal sweetner is paying tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen in Hempstead Town and across Long Island, African-American fighter pilots who confronted segregation in American Society while combating the German Luftwaffe during World War II. The company is sponsoring an oral histories program that preserves for posterity their memories at the American Airpower Museum in New York.

New York State Governor George Pataki marks the start of an oral histories program that will capture the memories and recollections of the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II during this year's Black History Month. He is joined by Ken Jones (right) an executive with Merisant, makers of the popular sweetener Equal, a corporate sponsor of the effort and Tuskegee ace Lee Archer before a full scale replica of Archer's Mustang P-51 fighter at the American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport. The Tuskegee Airmen were African-American fighter pilots who confronted segregation in American Society while combating the German Luftwaffe some 60 years ago. Their efforts not only helped defend American bombers attacking Nazi targets, but began the integration of the American military and our society.

Equal sweetener has been a sustaining sponsor of efforts to honor the Tuskegee Airmen. Last year they contributed to the creation of a permanent exhibit at the American Airpower Museum in Farmingdale where a full scale replica of a Mustang P-51 fighter was dedicated in honor of the World War II heroes. Joined by New York Governor George Pataki, the governor called the sponsorship "an important tribute to these unsung heroes asked to fight a two-front war - one against segregation on the ground and the Luftwaffe in the air."

Pataki was joined by Equal Executive Ken Jones and a squadron of Tuskegee Airmen, including Roscoe Brown and fighter ace Lee Archer, whose skill allowed him to shoot down a German jet while flying a piston engine Mustang.

Capturing Memories for Posterity

In sponsoring an oral histories program for 2002, Jones explained, "Equal took the step of supporting this effort because the personal stories of these incredible men cannot be lost to time. In the legacy of these brave Americans there is a celebration of the human spirit. Like those of us in a post-Sept. 11 world, these are Americans who dared to strive for equality in the face of ignorance and fought those who would seek to destroy the spirit of our nation."

Named "Tuskegee Airmen" because of their training base in Alabama, the pilots created an unmatched record for bravery in combat and their aggressive defense of American bombers taking the war deep inside Nazi Germany.

In thanking Equal for its support of this effort, Tuskegee ace Lee Archer stated, "this oral histories program is crucial because it will ensure that future generations of Americans understand what battles were waged to preserve their liberties. Today, more than ever the words of Chappie James ring true (James would serve as one of the nation's highest ranking African-American Air Force Officers), 'agitate, demand, but when the country is in trouble you hold her hand'."

The American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport, flies a squadron of operational aircraft, including a P-40 Warhawk and a P-47 Thunderbolt, fighters flown into combat by the Tuskegee Airmen. In addition to the start of the oral histories program, these aircraft will be flown every weekend through Black History Month as part of a living tribute to their legacy and our American heritage.