Daughter of late Tuskegee Airman talks about her father's journey to becoming one of the first Black US military pilots
Martin's daughter, Gabrielle, and author Karen Patterson described the late decorated pilot as a humble, duty-driven man while detailing the challenges he faced en route to becoming one of the first Black military pilots to fight for a segregated U.S. in World War II.
Patterson and Martin's discussion on the famed Tuskegee Airman served as one of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh's most anticipated presentations at EAA Museum's Vette Theater during this week's fly-in convention at Wittman Regional Airport.
'You can hear about a hero group, but when you learn the stories about the individual and what drove them, then I think it hits home,' said Gabrielle, who is now a 70-year-old retired lawyer.
'We're not just talking about a label on a wall. We're talking about people who grew up and this is what they faced when they wanted to do something because for so many years they were not allowed to talk about it.'
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The story of the Tuskegee Airmen has been documented in several media, including movies.
A recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart and a Congressional Gold Medal, Martin's story has been well documented through various media, including in movies like the 'Tuskegee Airmen' and the 2021 film 'Tuskegee Airmen: Legacy of Courage.'
But Patterson's book with Martin, an autobiography titled 'Red Tail, A Tuskegee Airman's Rendezvous With Destiny,' is one of the first pieces of media that truly explores how he felt about serving a country that didn't necessarily want his service.
At least not the service he wanted to provide.
Despite graduating from Iowa State University with an electrical engineering degree in 1942 and leaving the military as a decorated war veteran, Martin struggled to find work while being forced to take on menial jobs early in his civilian career.
Then-First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt had to fly with a Black instructor to prove that Black pilots were worthy of combat.
It even took then-First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt flying with a Black instructor for military officials to allow Black pilots to fly in World War II, despite Martin's extensive flight training.
And still, only 355 Black pilots were deployed overseas among the 932 who graduated. Those who were deployed were required to fly 70 missions instead of the usual 50.
'He would tell you he felt an obligation to protect our country,' Gabrielle said. 'In the end, you can say it was very well worth it, because in that sense, those Tuskegee Airmen were the forerunners of desegregation.'
In total, the first group to be composed of Black military pilots accounted for 744 air medal and clusters awards, 14 bronze stars, 150 distinguished flying crosses and eight purple hearts after protecting Allied bombers from enemy aircraft.
So reliable were the Tuskegee Airmen that they were often requested as the 'Red-Tailed Angels.'
Martin survived six weeks in enemy territory after getting shot down over Yugoslavia in his 64th mission.
Martin's story is particularly unique, as he was shot down over the former Yugoslavia during his 64th mission in 1945.
He managed to find refuge in a farmhouse and stood hidden for six weeks in enemy territory before eventually reconnecting with his unit.
'He was so humble because whenever you asked him 'Why would you do this?' he would say 'Oh, I was just doing my job,'' Gabrielle recalled.
Martin was eventually hired as a city draftsman in Chicago and retired as the head designer for street lighting before he died five years ago at the age of 99.
Before his passing, Martin formed the Dodo group, aptly named for flightless birds, with other Tuskegee Airmen to open opportunities for Black people in aviation.
In 2022, Martin's hometown airport, Dubuque Regional Airport, named its main terminal the Capt. Robert L. Martin Terminal.
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The Trump administration directed the Air Force to remove training videos of the Tuskegee Airmen earlier this year.
Earlier this year, the Trump administration initially directed the U.S. Air Force to remove training videos of the Tuskegee Airmen and other media showing the contributions of the Women's Airforce Service Pilots in World War II before the move was eventually rescinded.
It was done in an apparent effort to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs within the federal government.
'When you talk about DEI, the Tuskegee Airmen proved that it works because they didn't get any special treatment, their standards were not reduced during their training and they performed with excellence in their combat,' said Brian Smith, president and CEO of Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Museum.
'It's not about giving someone preference or deference, it's about opportunity and inclusion, and this just proves that if you give people a chance, if you give people the same education they can perform at the same level as anyone else.'
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh runs through July 27.
AirVenture runs through July 27 at Wittman Regional Airport. Daily tickets are $49 for adult EAA members and $68 for adult non-members. Veterans and active military members pay $49 while kids 18 years and younger are free.
Patrons can access the daily schedule at https://events.rdmobile.com/Sessions/Index/18900 or https://www.eaa.org/airventure/eaa-airventure-schedule-of-events.
Contact Justin Marville at jmarville@gannett.com and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @justinmarville.
This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: EAA AirVenture Oshkosh: Tuskegee Airman's daughter talks on group's legacy
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