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Tuskegee Airmen Recall Flying During World War II and Beyond at Museum of Flight Panel Discussion

First African-American military pilots in May 29 panel
 
SEATTLE – Three of the first African-American pilots in the U.S. military will share their experiences during a panel discussion at The Museum of Flight on May 29 at 2 p.m. These Tuskegee Airman veterans include Capt. George Hickmann, Lt. Col. LeRoy Gillead and Lt. Col. Ed Drummond. Gillead was a member of the first class of Tuskegee Airmen (1941), while Drummond was a member of the last class (1946). Drummond and Hickman are residents of Lakewood, Wash.The three airmen will also be special guests at the Museum’s Memorial Day Ceremony on May 30 at 1 p.m. The lecture and ceremony are free with admission to the Museum.
 
Nine hundred and ninety-six pilots graduated at Tuskegee Army Air Field at Tuskegee, Ala. during the 1940s, receiving commissions and pilot wings as America’s first African-American military airmen. Black navigators, bombardiers and gunnery crews were trained at selected military bases elsewhere in the United States. Mechanics were trained at Chanute Air Base in Rantoul, Ill., until facilities were in place in 1942 at TAAF. Four hundred and fifty of the pilots who were trained at TAAF served overseas in either the 99th Pursuit Squadron (later the 99th Fighter Squadron) or the 332nd Fighter Group.

The Museum of Flight is located at 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle, Exit 158 off Interstate 5 on Boeing Field half-way between downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport. The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $16 for adults, $14 for seniors 65 and older, $13 for active military, $9 for youth 5 to 17, and free for children under 5. Group rates are available. Admission on the first Thursday of the month is free from 5 to 9 p.m. courtesy of Wells Fargo.

For general Museum information, please call 206-764-5720 or visit www.museumofflight.org

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