Rep. Porter presents resolution to name section of I-65 after Tuskegee Airmen

INDIANAPOLIS — State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) gained overwhelming support today from Indiana House members for his resolution to name a section of Interstate 65 as “The Tuskegee Airmen Highway.”

House Concurrent Resolution 56 urges the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) to name a section of I-65 from Seymour to Johnson County after the dedicated, determined young men who volunteered to become America’s first African-American military airmen.

Approximately 1,000 African-American pilots were trained at Tuskegee University between 1941 and 1946 through a contract awarded to the university by the United States Army Air Corps. The all African-American 332nd Fighter Group was successful in escorting bombers during World War II. Their efforts were unmatched by any other fighter group.

The Tuskegee Airmen were the only fighter group to never lose an escorted bomber to enemy fighters. At the conclusion of World War II, The Tuskegee Airmen were credited with destroying 261 enemy aircraft, damaging 148 enemy aircraft, destroying or damaging 940 units of enemy ground transportation, flying 15,553 combat sorties in 1,578 missions over North Africa, Sicily and Europe.

“This courageous group of individuals risked their lives in order to protect our country,” said Porter. “Indiana has a significant connection to this legacy with a number of Hoosiers joining the ranks as Tuskegee Airmen.”

Of the Indiana natives who joined the airmen, Charles DeBow from Indianapolis was a member of the first class of five graduates of the Tuskegee Advanced Flying School and Brazil native Charles Hall was the first African-American military aviator to shoot down an enemy plane in air-to-air combat, further contributing to the airmen’s legacy.

Freeman Field in Seymour was also the location of the Freeman Field Mutiny. On the field, more than 100 Tuskegee airmen were arrested for refusing to sign an illegal order of segregation of the officers’ club.

“The accomplishments of this group of individuals during World War II and the role they played in African-American history warrants this recognition,” continued Porter. “Naming this section of I-65 after the African-Americans who participated in air crew, ground crew, and operations support training in the Army Air Corps will help ensure that their history and the sacrifices they made are not forgotten.”