Tuskegee Airmen: The Men Who Changed a Nation (Paperback)

by Charles E. Francis (Author), Adolph Caso (Author) "Far down in the deep south in Tuskegee, AL, approximately twelve miles from the famous Tuskegee Institute, stands an abandoned Army Air Field..." (more)
Key Phrases: black pilot training program, group escorted bombers, victorious pilots, Air Corps, War Department, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
In publishing this book in 1955, Charles Francis did not know that his title, The Tuskegee Airmen, was to launch a revolution of awareness among America's black pilots. Now in its fourth edition, the book contains about 100 original photographs, 120 pages of facts, 26 Index pages, and as complete a listing of the original graduading classes as can be found in other publications.

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 (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,078,618 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

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

By	A. Bowdoin Vanriper (Marietta, GA 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 (TOP 100 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.