Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Stewart B. Fulbright Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army Air Forces/Corps
- Unit of Service: 477th Bomb Group
- Location of Service: United States
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/58158
As a kid, Stewart Fulbright had constructed model airplanes and devoured magazines about flying, so it was no surprise that, upon graduating from college, he rushed to join the training program held for African American pilots at Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama. His time with the 477th Bombardment Group contained plenty of thrills--such as his first solo flight--but life in the segregated Army required him to confront prejudice at every turn. Overcoming roadblocks such as segregated mess halls and racist white instructors instilled in him a sense of resiliency: if he could survive these experiences, he could succeed at anything he attempted.
Interview / Recording
Share
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PlayMinimum weight requirement for Tuskegee cadets; eating bananas to make weight; suffering through the day of testing; weighing in at exactly 125 pounds. 00:07:36.0 - 00:09:29.0
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PlayBlack civilian instructors, who were very supportive; white Army instructors after second phase of training; racist officer; many wanted Tuskegee program to fail; one particularly memorable white instructor. 00:14:24.0 - 00:17:33.0
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PlayMaking his first solo flight. 00:20:07.0 - 00:22:49.0
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PlayMaking an emergency landing at a small airfield; kitchen crew came out to watch; stunned to see a black pilot. 00:04:05.0 - 00:07:31.0
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PlayIssues with officer's mess hall at Mather Field in CA; officer ordered segregated seating; African American officers protested by eating in PX, which was closed on Christmas Day, so they did not eat on Christmas. 00:14:32.0 - 00:17:53.0
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PlayTuskegee set them up to expect success, because they had overcome so much; most of his classmates succeeded in life after war. 00:17:54.0 - 00:20:05.0
About this Item
Title
- Stewart B. Fulbright Collection
Names
- Fulbright, Stewart B.
- Deanna Rothberg
- Adair, Jordan
- Flood, Earl Scott
- Durham Academy
Home State
- North Carolina
Headings
- - Fulbright, Stewart B.
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army Air Forces/Corps.
Form
- MiniDV
Extent
- 1 item
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- Black or African American
Status
- veteran
Service History
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World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army Air Forces/Corps
- Unit of Service: 477th Bomb Group
- Location of Service: United States
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Dates of Service: 1942-1945
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: Member of the Tuskegee Airmen.
Materials
- Video: MiniDV [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2006-11-29)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/58158
Cite as
- Stewart B. Fulbright Collection (AFC/2001/001/58158), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- video