WHEREAS, before World War II African Americans had very limited roles in the defense of the United States and none in military aviation, and when the nation was drawn into the war, African Americans were aspiring to more meaningful roles in the military including flying and maintaining aircraft; and

WHEREAS, the rapid expansion of aircraft production during the war created a greater need for military pilots, public outcry from civil rights groups and black professional organizations exhorted the United States War Department to extend to all military members the opportunity to fly airplanes; and

WHEREAS, the United States War Department's Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) authorized colleges and universities to train students in order to increase the number of civilian pilots and thereby increase the nation's military preparedness; and

WHEREAS, Alabama's Tuskegee Institute was one of six black colleges and universities chosen to participate in the CPTP, was later selected to offer advance training, and finally became the sole site for segregated military flight training; and

WHEREAS, the month of March is significant to the Tuskegee Airmen as it is the month in which five of thirteen cadets in the first class completed training and received their silver wings becoming the nation's first black military pilots; and

WHEREAS, Charles B. Hall, originally from Brazil, Indiana, while escorting a group of bombers on July 2, 1943, would shoot down an enemy aircraft becoming the first African American assigned to the U.S. Army Air Corps becoming the first to do so, and after his military career would make Oklahoma City his home working for the Federal Aviation Administration and later Tinker Air Force Base; and

WHEREAS, Harold H. Brown of Weleetka, Joseph D. Elsberry of Langston, Samuel J. Foreman of Tulsa, James B. Knighten of Tulsa, Faythe A. McGinnis of Muskogee, Lincoln J. Ragsdale of Ardmore, Robert C. Smith of Muskogee, Yancey Williams of Tulsa, and Isaac R. Woods of Tulsa would all commit to serve in the U.S. Army Air Corps to become Tuskegee Airmen representing the spirit of Oklahomans to service to their nation.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 2ND SESSION OF THE 59TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN:

THAT the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma State Senate join in recognizing the important role performed by the persons who were known as the “Tuskegee Airmen” and to acknowledge the contributions made not only to the efforts in combat and bringing an end to the Second World War, but to the advances made that would serve as the foundation for future success of African Americans in the United States Military.

THAT the fourth Thursday of the month of March each year be designated as “Tuskegee Airmen Recognition Day”.