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‘Double Victory’ to be shown at MOA

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  • By Museum of Aviation
The Museum of Aviation will recognize Black History Month with two free showings of the Lucasfilm Ltd. documentary "Double Victory" Feb. 18 at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The 60-minute film, to be shown in the Museum Eagle Building Theater, spotlights the historic role of the Tuskegee Airmen, America's first all-black aerial unit which served during World War II.

Though the Tuskegee Airmen faced enormous challenges of discrimination, inferior equipment and heightened scrutiny, the pilots and support personnel excelled.

Featuring many Tuskegee pilots who tell powerful stories of their experiences during the war, "Double Victory" shows how these Airmen helped defeat fascism in Europe and helped inspire the Civil Rights Movement upon their return.

Narrated by Cuba Gooding Jr., "Double Victory" is a documentary companion to "Red Tails" now showing in theaters nationwide. The "Double Victory" movie trailer can be found on www.teamredtails.com.

Tuskegee Airmen

The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American pilots who fought in World War II. The all-black 99th Pursuit Squadron of the U.S. Army Air Forces trained at Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Ala. which gave them their name.

The 99th Pursuit Squadron become known as the 99th Fighter Squadron which joined three other squadrons, the 100th, 301st and 302nd to form the 332nd Fighter Group in North Africa and Italy.

The 332nd flew escort for heavy bombers and earned an impressive combat record. The Allies called them "Red Tails" because of the crimson paint applied to the tails of their aircraft.

The Tuskegee Airmen flew more than 1,500 missions escorting and protecting bombers on their missions into Europe. During 15,000 sorties, they destroyed 111 enemy aircraft in aerial combat and 150 on the ground. Sixty six airmen were killed and 32 were captured.

For more information on the movie call (478) 926-6870.