  The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1727 Registered: 11-2003 |
According to both papers, a $32 million dollar goal has been set for a museum to honor the Tuskegee Airmen at what has been described as a "rejuvenated" hanger at old City (CAY) Airport. Wrong amount and wrong location in my book. Do these men deserve a museum and should they be so honored? YES to both questions.But 32 million for a "rejuvenated" hanger is not feasible, and why out there? I say erect it at the Yankee Air Museum. It is the natural venue as the YAF museum is also rebuilt following its tragic fire. The YAF has previously honored these men at their open houses. I have had the honor of meeting some of these pilots at airshows not only at the Yankee, but in Penn.,NY and Florida. You are not going to draw the crowds out to CAY that you will get at the Yankee, and I will venture to wager that you will get thousands more people touring a Tuskegee air museum at Yankee in just 4 days (the two open houses and the two day air show )that you will get in a full year at CAY. These men deserve to be honored not just locally, but regionally, state-wide and nationally, and the Yankee Air Museum draws a national audience each and every year. I can't think of a worse result than to sink that kind of money into an old hanger at City and end up with a limited attendance. That is no way to honor these pilots. Erect it where it will be appreciated and attended. This undertaking deserves much more thought and study regardless of the fund-raiser presently set for next month at the Chas.H. Wright museum. | ||
Charlottepaul Member Username: Charlottepaul Post Number: 863 Registered: 10-2006 |
Does seem odd to have it at DET. Is the only reason for doing it there just because it is an airport? I mean if you had to put it in the city at least set up some sort of museum space in the cultural district, no? | ||
Charlottepaul Member Username: Charlottepaul Post Number: 867 Registered: 10-2006 |
The $32 million comes from the idea that every African American will donate $8. | ||
El_jimbo Member Username: El_jimbo Post Number: 127 Registered: 12-2006 |
so are there only 4 million African Americans in the country? At 8 bucks a pop, that's the number of people that would have to donate. | ||
Dodgemain Member Username: Dodgemain Post Number: 151 Registered: 04-2005 |
They should put it with the new Willow run museum that is just starting to be rebuilt. Astounding the fact that they never lost a bomber on a mission. Thats incredible! | ||
Eric Member Username: Eric Post Number: 795 Registered: 11-2004 |
Tuskegee Airmen want $32-million museum to land in Detroit http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs .dll/article?AID=/20070427/OPI NION02/704270408 | ||
Lowell Board Administrator Username: Lowell Post Number: 3833 Registered: 10-2003 |
Rock, you make a sensible point and as someone who has enjoyed what the YAF has presented I applaud their efforts. But I could see how others would note there is a major airport from the era named after a Tuskegee Airman, Coleman Young who as we all know went on to great fame. Some argument for Selfridge would be made too. Add to that I can see how, from the Tuskegee airmens' POV, the lingering sting of 'we weren't welcome back then'. For instance... quote:With the riot of '43 in the background the 477th was shuttle away from Detroit to KY and then IN. They found the same segregation and discriminations in both locations. Led by Coleman Young in 1945 they demanded their rights and engaged in walk-ins of segregated officer clubs, triggering the so-called Freeman Field Mutiny. | ||
Bob_cosgrove Member Username: Bob_cosgrove Post Number: 515 Registered: 03-2005 |
I am not a member of the Tuskegee Airman (you don't have to be Black to be a member), but I've know several of them including General Lucius Theus. The Detroit Historical Society held its annual ball several years agoin the hangar the Tuskegee Airmen lease at Coleman A. Young Municipal Airport (former City Airport). My guess is one reason for chosing City Airport may be due to the flying program they have for youngsters with several modern trainers housed at CAY Municipal. The new Yankee Air Force Museum is too far away from their demographic center, which is the inner city. And, they want to be able to exhibit the aircraft they flew. To do so at the Yankee Air Museum they would be just a small part of a large collection. Who in this thread can tell us more about the present day Tuskegee Airmen organization - unlike the Grand Army of the Republic they accept new members and should not die out. Bob Cosgrove | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1730 Registered: 11-2003 |
I can see the logic expressed by others and have respect for their opinions as to location of the proposed Museum. The connection to CAY airport and the late mayor is quite understandable, as is concern as to the location of the YAF museum, a tad far to the West of the "inner city". I just look on this undertaking as more than a "Detroit project", as these men should be honored by all colors and at all locations across the nation. I will support their endeavor wherever the final venue is determined, and it looks like CAY is the choice. | ||
Plymouthres Member Username: Plymouthres Post Number: 103 Registered: 02-2007 |
Bob_cosgrove- Don't they already have a museum on the Fort Wayne property, or is the first building on the right inside the entrance to the Fort not that and something else? Why not incorporate it into the grounds of the Fort, where they can display static aircraft in an existing military setting? I agree that they weren't very welcome then, but this is 2007-get over it already and accept the fact that people are trying to honor them, even if it is too late! To all- To locate it anywhere but in the inner city is a mistake in my opinion, as most of those that did serve their ranks did come from the city-not the burbs. Most were initially trained at Selfridge, too, so why not a museum there? It is also a myth that "they never lost a bomber to enemy fire". This is a direct quote from Wikipedia: "While it had long been said that the Redtails were the only fighter group who never lost a bomber to enemy fighters,[6] suggestions to the contrary, combined with Air Force records and eyewitness accounts indicating that at least a few bombers were lost to enemy fire, resulted in the Air Force conducting a reassessment of the history of this famed unit in the fall of 2006." I have additionally read this in other historic accounts of actual battle debriefings, but I will say that they were indeed brave and overtly courageous men who did what no one else could have done despite constant harassment and ridicule. To say anything less would be a discredit to their service and sacrifices. Here is a link to their official website- www.tuskegeeairmen.org Hitler and Goering both feared them so, they gave them a special title-the ""Schwarze Vogelmenschen," or "Black Birdmen." They were the pride of almost all bomber escort services provided by the U.S. Army Air Corp, and were the most often requested escort group of all. The museum should be where the people who honored and accepted them the most actually live. With the advent of the restoration of Fort Wayne at hand, why not put it there? There is plenty of space to park their aircraft for static display west of the current NCO/Officer's row, as they flew P-40 Warhawks first, followed by P-47 Thunderbolts and finally P51 Mustangs. They are all small aircraft that can easily be contained in that area or when the hospital building is finally torn-down later this year, they could go adjacent to their current Museum building right at the entrance to the Fort, where everyone could enjoy them. | ||
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup Post Number: 2070 Registered: 06-2004 |
quote:It is incredible - it's not true. Records show they lost at least 25 bombers. | ||
Paulmcall Member Username: Paulmcall Post Number: 95 Registered: 05-2004 |
Good luck getting that money raised anytime soon. I think getting current kids saved in the city should be a higher priority. | ||
Bob_cosgrove Member Username: Bob_cosgrove Post Number: 516 Registered: 03-2005 |
Plymouthres asked why not keep just keep the museum at Historic Fort Wayne - the reason is an aviation musuem is much more meaningful with flying aircraft ala the Confederate and Yankee Air Forces, plus the Detroit Tuskegee Airmen have a flight training program for junior members. Bob Cosgrove |
