A piece of family history – the Tuskegee Airmen – featured in upcoming film, Red Tails

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A piece of family history – the Tuskegee Airmen – featured in upcoming film, Red Tails
By: Pam Spaulding Monday December 26, 2011 10:19 pm	Tweet8

The Tuskegee Airmen, the color-barrier-breaking unit of pilots and support personnel that served the U.S. military during World War II are featured in the new George Lucas-produced film Red Tails.

The movie is a world war II action adventure. Red Tails is a fictional tale inspired by the true story of America’s first all black aerial combat unit.

The film’s title comes for the distinctive red painted tails on their planes.

“I’ve been wanting to do ‘Red Tails’ for 20 years, and we’ve finally got the means to showcase the skill of the Tuskegee pilots,” Lucas said. “We’re working on techniques which will give us the first true look at the aerial dogfighting of the era. And our top-notch cast will really make this story special”.

And I’m proud to have a familial connection one of these noble men, who served in the U.S. Army Air Corps unit also known as the 332nd Fighter Group, 477th Bombardment Group. My late uncle Edward Edghill was in that unit, serving as Warrant Officer Junior Officer (WOJO), engineering, assigned to the 332 at I Headquarters, from September 1943 – August 1946.

I’ve not yet seen the film (the official release date is January 20), directed by Anthony Hemmingway, but the preview, at the very least, is promising as an action film; it features Cuba Gooding Jr. and Terrence Howard in the cast.

1944. As the war in Europe continues to take its toll on Allied forces, the Pentagon brass has no recourse but to consider unorthodox options — including the untried and untested African-American pilots of the experimental Tuskegee training program. Just as the young Tuskegee men are on the brink of being shut down and shipped back home, they are given the ultimate chance to show their courage. Against all the odds, with something to prove and everything to lose, these intrepid young airmen take to the skies to fight for their country — and the fate of the free world.

Of course as a kid we just called our uncle “Mr. Edghill” as a term of endearment, not meant in the formal way. He was married to my eldest maternal aunt, Margie Edghill, and had one child, my cousin Dennis. Mr. Edghill recently passed away, leaving many nieces, nephews, grandkids, and great grandkids who will get to see the bravery of all of the Airmen celebrated onscreen as a part of history.