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News
Tuskegee Airmen Discuss Their Legacy At Dowling College School Of Aviation
Members Of Renowned Force Honored At College's Brookhaven Campus
Two members of the first contingent of African-American military airmen, known internationally as the Tuskegee Airmen, and their special guests will discuss their history-making accomplishments in a presentation at Dowling College's Brookhaven Campus on Wednesday, March 10 at 7 p.m. The event is part of Dowling's yearlong celebration of African-American culture, and is free and open to the public.
Taking part in the presentation and discussion will be Tuskegee Airmen and WWII combat fighter pilots Bill Wheeler and Victor Terrelonge, along with their special guests Gottfried Dulias, a WWII Luftwaffe combat fighter pilot, and record-setting lady pilot Ruby Bostic.
The evening will kick off with an 11-minute historical video, followed by individual presentations, a Q & A session, and photo and autographing opportunities. Books, print reproductions, and photos will be available for purchase.
Dowling College will honor the ongoing education and community efforts of the Airmen with a donation to The Tuskegee Airmen Educational Scholarship Fund.
The Tuskegee Airmen were instrumental in the Allied victory in World War II. Their outstanding record of accomplishment were important factors in desegregation of the U.S. military and efforts to achieve racial equality throughout America.
These men were trained as single-engine pilots, and some were later trained to be twin-engine B-25 pilots, at Tuskegee Army Air Field (TAAF) in Tuskegee, Alabama. Others were trained to be navigators, bombardiers, gunners, mechanics, armament specialists, radio operators, parachute riggers, control tower operators, meteorologists and specialists in many other functions.
The first aviation cadet class began in July 1941 and completed training nine months later in March 1942. Four hundred and fifty fighter pilots trained at TAAF served overseas, many flying P-40 Warhawk, P-39 Airacobra, P-47 Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang aircraft in combat over North Africa, Sicily, and Europe. These airmen fought two wars: One against a formidable military force overseas and the other against racism at home and abroad.
About Dowling College
Dowling College is an independent, coeducational college that serves more than 6,500 students at
its historic Rudolph Campus on the banks of the Connetquot River in Oakdale, NY, and the 105-acre
Brookhaven Campus in eastern Long Island and a business center located near the Nassau-Suffolk
border in Melville. Dowling offers Bachelor′s, Master′s, and Doctoral degrees in several
disciplines through its four schools: Arts and Sciences, Aviation, Business, and Education.
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