Tuskegee Airmen: The Men Who Changed a Nation [Paperback]

Charles Francis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2002

Long before Civil Rights, the Tuskegee Airmen fought for equality. First they integrated the Armed Forces, then a whole nation and did it with competency, skill, valour, and courage in combating the enemy abroad and racism at home. Because they stood tall, African Americans and fellow Americans are the better for it. The book contains over 100 photographs, an appendix full of documents, and an index of 25 pages.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Charles E. Francis, a native of Maryland, received a Bachelor of Arts in Education and a Master's in American History from Howard University. Inducted into the Army Air Corps, he received his basic training in Columbus, Mississippi. He was assigned to Fort Myers, Florida to help organize the newly constructed Buckingham Army Air Forces Flexible Gunnery School. In 1944, he went to Tuskegee, where he observed and understood the significance and meaning of the Tuskegee revolution. Married to Frances H. Lewis, the late Mr and Mrs Francis leave behind two children and three grandchildren: David Westbrook, April Francis, and Charles Francis III.

Adolph Caso has degrees from Northeastern and Harvard University; a retired Colonel USAR, he is the author of 14 books, including the The Straw Obelisk, a post World War II novel, and We, the People--Formative Documents of America's Democracy.

Product Details

• Paperback: 500 pages
• Publisher: Branden Books; 4 edition (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0828320772
• ISBN-13: 978-0828320771
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,597,332 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Valuable Material, Lousy Presentation, October 30, 2002

By 

A. Bowdoin Van Riper (Vineyard Haven, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Tuskegee Airmen: The Men Who Changed a Nation (Hardcover)

The World War II exploits of the 332nd Fighter Group--the first all-black unit in the US Army Air Forces--is a fascinating story on several levels. The pilots of the 332nd fought long and hard in the skies over North Africa, Italy, and Central Europe. They racked up an impressive record of enemy aircraft shot down, ground targets destroyed and--on the bomber-escort missions they often flew--friendly planes brought home safely. They also paved the way for the integration of the armed forces, and of American society generally, by showing that blacks could handle the stress of battle and the demands of high-performance airplanes just as well as whites. In a world where many (most?) whites saw blacks as innately inferior, the Tuskegee Airmen proved otherwise.

This book is a dense, detailed, information-packed history of the 332nd during and immediately after the war. It's a valuable source on a vital topic, and I'm glad it's out there.

That doesn't, however, make it a great book.

The style, for close to 400 pages, is choppy and unpolished with only a vague suggestion of a strong narrative line. Context is spotty at best, and technical terms sometimes go unexplained. The typography is idiosyncratic, and the inexplicable rendering of nicknames in italics and ranks, abbreviated, in ALL CAPS is distracting in a book where names come thick and fast. The type face itself is ugly, and the reproduction of many of the pictures is substandard. The index consists almost solely of personal names, which makes it intensely frustrating to use if you're not already intimately familiar with the story. To look up an incident in which two members of the 332nd sank a German destroyer, you have to know what their names were . . . no entry for "destroyer," or "strafing," or "naval vessels."

If there were other books out there that provide the sheer volume of facts about the subject that this one does, I'd give it about a star-and-a-half. There aren't, but there ought to be. The 332nd was noted for its professionalism; it deserves a more professionally-done history. Until that book gets written, though, this one (flaws and all) is essential.

12 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most enjoyable and most interesting!, February 13, 2000

By 

Michael J Woznicki "Michael J Woznicki" (Holland, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Tuskegee Airmen: The Men Who Changed a Nation (Hardcover)

In baseball, Jackie Robinson's impact can never be overstated. What he did for the game is immeasurable. In the world of aviation African Americans owe a debt of thanks to a group of men called "The Tuskegee Airmen". Their contributions to aviation are just as immeasurable.

Francis takes the reader back to the time when blacks in the army were living under Order 9981 from President Truman. Francis's gives you the triumphs and failures and brings it to life through each page. This read was truly remarkable.

This is the second book I have read on the Tuskegee Airmen, the first being a biography of Charles F. McGee, and for the second time I was moved by how this group of Officers and enlisted personnel worked through segregation to ensure the civil rights of those to follow.

Army life today, and the African American who serve with honor, can thank the men of this book for what they have. This nation owes a debt of thanks that can never be expressed enough. I am truly thankful to have had the opportunity to read this wonderful book.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Knowledge, June 9, 2011

By 

Cristobal Enriquez (Laredo, Texas United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Tuskegee Airmen: The Men Who Changed a Nation (Hardcover)

Great History book that enlightens the love these people had -and have- for a Country that mistreated them.
They exceled on their duty.