Tuskegee Airmen Take Part In History Making Day

Barack Obama Inauguration Among the honored guests who marched in Barack Obama's inaugural parade the survivng members of the Tuskegee Airmen the nation's first black fighter pilots.

by WKRG Staff/CBS News

Published: Tue, January 20, 2009 - 5:23 pm CST

Among the honored guests who marched in Barack Obama's inaugural parade, the surviving members of the Tuskegee Airmen.

News 5 National Correspondent Russ Mitchell sat down with two of the nation's first black fighter pilots to talk about the historic day.

"There's nothing more exhilarating than flying an airplane," said Captain Roscoe C. Brown.

Brown is a decorated pilot and World War II hero.

"When you fly an airplane and you're flying in combat and somebody's shooting at you and those bullets are whizzing by you, if you say I can't do it, you've got a problem!," said Brown.

Before serving in 68 combat missions, this brave airmen fought a parallel battle for the right to be a military pilot.

"The world of the earliest 20th century in America was defined by race," Brown said. "Segregation was legal in the south, it was legal in the north."

Brown's close friend, Lt. Col. Lee Archer was 19 years old when an officer warned him. "You're never gonna be in the Army Air Corps. He said we have a law against it."

But Archer and Brown never let go of their dream.

"In front of me was always the idea that somehow I would get to fly airplanes - and it came true," said Archer.

They were chosen to be part of the first African American flying unit in the military. An elite group now called the Tuskegee Airmen.

"Most people don't realize, this is before Martin Luther King picked up the stick and carried it," Archer said.

The military was still segregated, but these heroes stopped at nothing to defend the United States.

"When the country's in trouble no matter how she got there you hold her hand, and then when she's outta trouble go back to raising hell screaming and arguing about your rights," said Archer.

Their accomplishments helped end racial segregation in the military and now, they will be front row witnesses to the inauguration of the first African American president.

"There's a train, there's a train of history, and this inauguration day brings us to a very proud time," said Brown. "I recommend to you next time you're flying, disturb your neighbor, open the window and look at this country and this world. Nothing is impossible if you dare to believe it and work on it hard."

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