THE TUSKEGEE BOMBER BOYS

Less famous than the legendary Red Tails, there was also a Black Bomb Group

While the 332nd Fighter Group are the best-known of the Tuskegee airmen, there was also the 477th Bombardment Group (BG). Formed in January 1944 at Selfridge Army Air Field, Michigan, the unit moved several times. The unit never saw combat with the enemy, but instead became embroiled in constant conflict with its own side. Always understrength, not least because of long delays in authorising the training of Black personnel as navigators and bomb-aimers, the Group’s own chain of command was determined that it would not be a success.

Colonel Robert Selway, who had briefly commanded the 332nd FG, was the commander of the new Group, and he went to great lengths to enforce segregation and the isolation of the

Black crews. In this he was supported by the commander of the First Air Force, General Frank Hunter, who was an ardent segregationist, while even General Hap Arnold, commander of the USAAF, was against the unit from the start. In December 1944, at Freeman Field, Indiana, Selway attempted to formalise the unofficial segregation on the base, in contravention of Army regulations, leading to over 100 Black officers refusing orders and being arrested. A Committee on Special Troop Policies investigated the matter. All but three were released without charge, and only one of them was convicted of a military crime. Soon after, Benjamin O Davis was brought from the 332nd FG to take command of the 477th. The Group was treated better from then on.