ON FREEDOM S WINGS: BOUND FOR GLORY

Transcription

1 ON FREEDOM S WINGS: BOUND FOR GLORY TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Introduction II. Film Outline III. Quiz IV. Lesson #6: Introduction to the Tuskegee Airmen V. Lesson #7: Tuskegee Airmen: Stereotypes VI. Lesson #8: Eleanor Roosevelt and the Tuskegee Airmen VII. Lesson #9: Who is Luther Smith? VIII. Lesson #10: Creating A Memorial

2 ON FREEDOM S WINGS: BOUND FOR GLORY MOVIE: LESSON PLANS AND MATERIALS The Movie The Tuskegee Airmen displayed amazing courage and dignity in the face of many obstacles. During World War II, the Tuskegee Airmen escorted and protected B-17 and B-24 Aircraft on 200 bombing missions. Thanks to the heroic efforts and flying skills of the Tuskegee Airmen, not a single bomber was lost to enemy aircraft during those missions. No other WWII fighter group's performance matched this record. The Curriculum There are five lesson plans, six handouts, one quiz, one power point are created to accompany the movie, On Freedom s Wings: Bound for Glory. The lessons have been written to include national teaching standards from the areas of United States history and political science. Our lesson plans and materials also fit very nicely into sociology or race studies, as well as a geography classroom. Throughout the lesson plans, you will find that we have purposely integrated cognitive, skill and affective objectives. Because we believe that students should take an active part in learning history, critical thinking skills are emphasized throughout the lesson plan series. The procedures in the lesson plan give the history educator suggestions on how to mix both traditional (content-centered) and progressive (student-centered) teaching methodologies. Numerous Ways to Incorporate This Curriculum into your Classroom The materials have been created to use as one unit or as stand-alone lessons. The power point presentation, for example, is created with full knowledge that slides will be deleted and added based upon an individual instructor s needs. It is our hope that each educator will easily be able to pick and choose which activities are most appropriate for their classroom.

3 On Freedom s Wings: The Legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen Movie Outline Part 1 I. Introduction a. Technicians, mechanics, engineers, navigators, pilots i. Wide range of social, economic, and racial backgrounds b. 332 nd fighter group i. Pearl Harbor attack 1. Two wars a. WWII b. Racism II. The Men a. Came from every part of the country i. Farms, cities, southern plantations, etc. b. Inspirations i. Luther H. Smith 1. Inspired by Charles Lindbergh Spirit of St. Louis ii. Lee Buddy Archer 1. Could not get on a ride because of his color combat missions over Europe a. 5 confirmed aerial victories b. Distinguished flying cross iii. Charles McGee 1. Makes military a career 2. Fights in Korea, Vietnam 3. Record for highest 3 war total of combat missions of any pilot in history III. African Americans in the military a. Segregation was law of the land i. Did not hold rank or political clout in military ii. Thought to be incapable of operating machinery i.e. airplanes iii. Did not possess mental/physical capabilities to lead and fight in combat b. Previous service i. Civil War ii. Frontier conflicts with Native Americans c. Lack of man power forced military to start training program for African American aviators i. Tuskegee, Alabama ii. Tuskegee Experiment

4 iii. Over 1,000 African American pilots would earn their wings here during WWII a. Felt important and needed iv. Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. 1. West Point was not welcome because of color 2. Father was first black general in the Army 3. Becomes the first black general in the USAF a. Retires in 1970 with 3 stars b. Becomes a beloved leader among the men c. Must prove to skeptics v. First class 5 graduated, second class 3 d. Support i. Bonds between the airmen 1. Close knit as a family ii. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt 1. Civil Rights activist 2. Supported African American aviators even before Tuskegee Experiment e. In the War i. Sent to the backwaters of the war 1. N. Africa s deserts 2. Off the coast of Italy ii. Did not receive support from other units 1. Not welcomed on the warfront Part 2 I Large-scale long-range bombing missions a. British bomb at night miss their targets b. Americans bomb during the day very dangerous i. 15 th strategic air force nd fighter group a. 301 fighter squadron b. 302 fighter squadron c. 100 th fighter squadron d. 99 th fighter squadron 2. Led by Nathan Twining a. WWI West Point grad i. New tactics were necessary b. Called on Lt. Benjamin Davis i. All black 332 nd fighter group ii. Escort pilots

5 1. Very important equal to any other operation within the air force iii. Pilots were ordered not to shoot enemy aircraft unless it is attacking bombers c. Were given the P51 Mustang state of the art technology i. Red tails painted on the Mustangs d. Pilots were unaware they were being escorted by blacks i. Noticed that when escorted by red tailed planes few Germans would break their field ii. Not one plane escorted by 332 nd fighter group was lost 1. June 1944 May 1945 (200 times) II. Become known for shattering racial boundaries and unparalleled performance during WWII a. 66 Tuskegee airmen killed in combat during WWII b. 32 downed pilots held as POWs i. Capt. Luther Smith 1. Final mission to escort bombers to bomb line a. Budapest, Hungary 2. Flies through an explosion a. Concussion of the explosion blows out windows of cockpit b. Coolant ruptures engine catches on fire i. Must bail out of airplane 1. Gets stuck, knocked unconscious, injured 2. Captured by German soldiers a. Taken to hospital in Yugoslavia b. Transported to a German POW camp in Austria i. Was respected and treated humanely ii. POW for 7 months 3. Treated with more respect from German soldiers than from own countrymen upon returning home c. No recognition for war efforts upon returning home i. Life was same as before the war 1. Segregation was still an issue d Air Corp separates from the Army i. USAF first service to desegregate ii. Truman issues executive order services must integrate (9981)

6 1. July 28, Service members were to be treated equally III. 332 nd today a. 80% Caucasian b. Females