Red Tails (2012)

World War II – Italy 1944.

Due to overwhelming pressure from Civil Rights Organizations and the black press concerning blacks barred from flying in the military, the US Army Air Corps had for the first time in American War history added an African-American aircraft combat and pursuit squadron to their military forces in Europe. This squadron was a military experiment aimed to stifle and appease protest in the United States: the Air Corps selected and trained a group of all-black soldiers compiled of instructors, maintenance and support staff, navigators and all other personnel needed to keep combat planes in the air, including pilots. These black soldiers were known as the Tuskegee Airmen, they were never actually intended to be a part of any true combat operation therefore were merely supplied with old cast-off aircraft and equipment and only allowed to fly basic clean-up missions many miles far behind enemy lines.

As the war rages on, top military officials in Washington are planning to terminate the Tuskegee experiment due to negative media leaks. Colonel Bullard (Terrence Howard) goes to the Pentagon to defend the Tuskegee Airmen by announcing their valuable potential if given the opportunity of actual combat missions. Within days back at the airbase in Italy, Major Stance (Cuba Gooding Jr.) receives and shares new Frag-Orders with the squadron’s flight leaders; they have been given a combat mission to provide air coverage for a full assault marine beach landing.

Later back at the Pentagon, Lieutenant General Luntz (Gerald McRaney) is very impressed with the action report upon confirmation of the Airmen’s successful mission. He summons Colonel Bullard to discuss the heavy casualty losses his bombers are suffering under their current air support, Bullard assures him that with new planes and a new flight method the Tuskegee Airmen will reduce the bomber losses and help the Air Corps fulfill their target missions. Soon after, Colonel Bullard returns to the airbase in Italy, he instructs his pilots on a new strategy and informs them of the brand new fighter planes they will soon be flying in their new combat missions to provide air support coverage to various bomber fleets. Their planes will all bear the same red painted tail markings to make it easier for their escorts to identify them in the air. And so through the remainder of the war, as proud Red Tails, the Tuskegee Airmen overcame segregation, prejudice, and personnel loss as they became one of the most highly respected fighter groups of World War II. 

This is an excellent movie that stands as a perfect example of true human value and the pursuit of equality for all.