| Wings of the Panther Stanley Weisleder |
| "Stanley Weisleder has done a masterful job of blending an exciting WWII Army Air Corps story with the personal saga of a fledgling aviator’s trials of manhood. The aviation story line was colorful and realistic. I especially enjoyed the dogfight scenes, as they were a vivid reminder of my own combat flying experiences which total 140 missions. All in all, Stanley has written a heck of a story." Thomas Walker, Major, USAF (retired) |
| Author Weisleder tells a tale based on true events about a young man who, against his parent's wishes, and against racist odds, pushed his way out of Harlem, past the U.S. Army into the Air Forces in Wings of the Panther...a good book...good material for those interested in war stories." Los Angeles Sentinel |
The military selected Tuskegee Institute to train pilots
because of its commitment to aeronautical training.
Tuskegee had the facilities, and engineering and
technical instructors, as well as a climate for year round
flying. The first Civilian Pilot Training Program students
completed their instruction in May 1940. The Tuskegee
program was then expanded and became the center for
African-American aviation during World War II.
because of its commitment to aeronautical training.
Tuskegee had the facilities, and engineering and
technical instructors, as well as a climate for year round
flying. The first Civilian Pilot Training Program students
completed their instruction in May 1940. The Tuskegee
program was then expanded and became the center for
African-American aviation during World War II.
| "They battled Nazism and Fascism in the skies over North Africa and Europe, and racism on the ground back in the United States. They painted the tails of their P-51s bright red, and names like "Hammerin' Hank," "Creamer's Dream," and "'Mo' Downs" on the sides of their aircraft. But what really made the Tuskegee Airmen distinct was the fact that they never lost a bomber during some 200 escort missions during World War II. From Air Force News Service article, Aug 1995 by Master Sgt. Merrie Schilter Lowe |
Tuskegee Airmen William
Diez pictured on a wartime
poster encouraging citizens
to buy war bonds, a big
factor in helping to pay for
the costly enterprise.
Diez pictured on a wartime
poster encouraging citizens
to buy war bonds, a big
factor in helping to pay for
the costly enterprise.
| The 15th Air Force Logo, under which the Tuskegee Airmen flew, the symbol of U.S. Forces in Europe and a 50th Anniversary D-Day logo. |
| Commemorative Tuskegee Airmen Statue at Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado |
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was very interested in the work at the Tuskegee Institute,
particularly in the aeronautical school. In 1941 she visited Tuskegee Army Air Field and
asked to take a flight with one of the Tuskegee pilots. Although the Secret Service was
anxious about the ride, flight instructor Charles A. Anderson piloted Mrs. Roosevelt over
the skies of Alabama for over an hour. That flight proved for Mrs. Roosevelt that blacks
could fly airplanes and she did everything in her power to help them in that endeavor.
Mrs. Roosevelt marked the occasion with a photograph of herself and Mr. Anderson which
she promptly brought back to her husband, the President of the United States, and
successfully urged President Roosevelt to utilize the 99th Squadron in combat missions.
Continuing her support of Tuskegee and the airmen, Eleanor Roosevelt corresponded
with both faculty and airmen. One person that she had a lengthy correspondence with was
Cecil Peterson. Peterson was in the Army's Tuskegee training program and was chosen
at random as a correspondent for Mrs. Roosevelt. Ironically, Mrs. Roosevelt had met
Peterson years before while visiting a New Deal project in Quoddy, Maine (see photo
above right).
They continued their letters throughout the war, and Mrs. Roosevelt was even able to
meet Cecil Peterson again on her trip to visit the troops overseas. Eleanor Roosevelt
also corresponded with F.D. Patterson, the president of the Tuskegee Institute, and lent
her support to the Institute whenever she was able to do so.
particularly in the aeronautical school. In 1941 she visited Tuskegee Army Air Field and
asked to take a flight with one of the Tuskegee pilots. Although the Secret Service was
anxious about the ride, flight instructor Charles A. Anderson piloted Mrs. Roosevelt over
the skies of Alabama for over an hour. That flight proved for Mrs. Roosevelt that blacks
could fly airplanes and she did everything in her power to help them in that endeavor.
Mrs. Roosevelt marked the occasion with a photograph of herself and Mr. Anderson which
she promptly brought back to her husband, the President of the United States, and
successfully urged President Roosevelt to utilize the 99th Squadron in combat missions.
Continuing her support of Tuskegee and the airmen, Eleanor Roosevelt corresponded
with both faculty and airmen. One person that she had a lengthy correspondence with was
Cecil Peterson. Peterson was in the Army's Tuskegee training program and was chosen
at random as a correspondent for Mrs. Roosevelt. Ironically, Mrs. Roosevelt had met
Peterson years before while visiting a New Deal project in Quoddy, Maine (see photo
above right).
They continued their letters throughout the war, and Mrs. Roosevelt was even able to
meet Cecil Peterson again on her trip to visit the troops overseas. Eleanor Roosevelt
also corresponded with F.D. Patterson, the president of the Tuskegee Institute, and lent
her support to the Institute whenever she was able to do so.
| Contact Stanley Weisleder at sweisleder@ActuariesUnlimited.com |
Stanley Weisleder's ROTC instructor for navigation and air tactics
provided the inspiration for this first novel which took him ten
years to research and seven years to write. Weisleder heads his
own actuarial consulting firm, Actuaries Unlimited Inc. He is also
a reserve deputy with the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department
provided the inspiration for this first novel which took him ten
years to research and seven years to write. Weisleder heads his
own actuarial consulting firm, Actuaries Unlimited Inc. He is also
a reserve deputy with the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department
| Tuskegee Army Air Field, located at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, was the training center for all black fighter pilots during World War II. Almost 1,000 pilots were trained. Along with bombardiers, and navigators. More than 14,000 black men and women served as their vital support personnel. 450 served in combat overseas in the European Theater of Operations, North Africa, and the Mediterranean. 66 of the Tuskegee aviators died in combat. 12 Tuskegee Airmen became prisoners of war. None of the bombers they escorted was lost to enemy fighters. They flew 15,533 sorties between May, 1943 and June 9, 1945. They destroyed over 400 enemy aircraft. They sank a German destroyer using only their machine guns. They disabled more than 600 box cars, locomotives and rolling stock. They won more than 850 medals, including 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, eight Purple Hearts, 14 Bronze Stars, 744 Air Medals and clusters, and three distinguished unit citations. For every pilot, there were at least 15 black men and women on the ground in support roles including mechanics, medical technicians, administrative support and cooks. They were trained at various segregated facilities around the country. White American pilots were not allowed to fly more than 52 missions, but black American pilots often flew up to 100 missions due to lack of replacements. The all-black 477th bomber group was activated and scheduled to fight in the Pacific, but the war ended before their deployment. Planes flown by black aviators in WWII: the P-51 Mustang, P-40 Warhawk, P-47 Thunderbolt, P-39, and the PT-13D Trainer. |
| Facts About the Tuskegee Airmen |
The Four Squadrons of the 332nd Fighter Group
| 332nd Fighter Group The Tuskegee Airmen Unit |
99th Fighter Sqaudron
| First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was a champion for the Tuskegee Airmen and many other minorities |
Then Colonel Benjamin O. Davis with some of
his men in front of P-51 named By Request.
This is very appropriate because the white
bomber crews went from not wanting the
Tuskegee fighters to escort them to asking for
them to shephard them on hazardous runs such
as raids on the Romanian Ploesti oil fields, which
is portrayed vividly by Stanley Weisleder in
Wings of the Panther.
his men in front of P-51 named By Request.
This is very appropriate because the white
bomber crews went from not wanting the
Tuskegee fighters to escort them to asking for
them to shephard them on hazardous runs such
as raids on the Romanian Ploesti oil fields, which
is portrayed vividly by Stanley Weisleder in
Wings of the Panther.
| A P-51 Mustang with the famous Red Tail Tuskegee marking |
| The Great Seal of the United States |
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Stanley Weisleder's Wings of the Panther is the story about one man's dream that took him from Harlem
to the segregated South, to North Africa and ultimate glory over the skies of Italy and Germany. His final
mission is to the oil fields of Ploesti, followed by a detour through the Balkans with the Partisans, gave
him a new perspective on life before he returned home to a country still not ready to recognize his
achievements.
The 332nd Fighter Group, of the 15th Air Force, consisted of four squadrons of black fighter pilots who
had to fight not only the Luftwaffe, but also the U.S. Army Air Corps before they could gain recognition.
They had to drink from water fountains that were marked "for colored only" and even after they won their
wings, they own Air Corps made fun of them with disparaging remarks such as the "Spookwaffe" or the
"Nigger Air Force."
to the segregated South, to North Africa and ultimate glory over the skies of Italy and Germany. His final
mission is to the oil fields of Ploesti, followed by a detour through the Balkans with the Partisans, gave
him a new perspective on life before he returned home to a country still not ready to recognize his
achievements.
The 332nd Fighter Group, of the 15th Air Force, consisted of four squadrons of black fighter pilots who
had to fight not only the Luftwaffe, but also the U.S. Army Air Corps before they could gain recognition.
They had to drink from water fountains that were marked "for colored only" and even after they won their
wings, they own Air Corps made fun of them with disparaging remarks such as the "Spookwaffe" or the
"Nigger Air Force."
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Famed 1936, Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. was the first African
American to graduate from West Point Military Academy in 47
years. First assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia, Davis served
as an aide to his father, Brigadier General Davis before
transferring to the military science staff at Tuskegee Institute,
Alabama.
As one of the first five graduates to get wings at Tuskegee
Army Air Field in March 1942, Davis was assigned to the newly
activated 99th Fighter Squadron. By August of that year, he
became squadron commander. The 99th left for North Africa
early in1943. The group flew many combat missions under
Davis' command.
Davis returned to the United States in September 1943 to
assume command of the 332nd Fighter Group. Maj. George S.
"Spanky" Roberts remained in Europe and became the
commanding officer of the 99th Fighter Squadron.
The fighter group was transferred to Italy in February 1944
where they maintained an outstanding combat record. The
332nd flew bomber escorts. In March 1945, Davis led the
332nd on a 1,600-mile round-trip escort mission to Berlin.
During that mission, the Tuskegee Airmen never lost a bomber,
despite an onslaught of the first jet fighter, the ME 262. The
332nd won a Distinguished Unit Citation for the mission.
American to graduate from West Point Military Academy in 47
years. First assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia, Davis served
as an aide to his father, Brigadier General Davis before
transferring to the military science staff at Tuskegee Institute,
Alabama.
As one of the first five graduates to get wings at Tuskegee
Army Air Field in March 1942, Davis was assigned to the newly
activated 99th Fighter Squadron. By August of that year, he
became squadron commander. The 99th left for North Africa
early in1943. The group flew many combat missions under
Davis' command.
Davis returned to the United States in September 1943 to
assume command of the 332nd Fighter Group. Maj. George S.
"Spanky" Roberts remained in Europe and became the
commanding officer of the 99th Fighter Squadron.
The fighter group was transferred to Italy in February 1944
where they maintained an outstanding combat record. The
332nd flew bomber escorts. In March 1945, Davis led the
332nd on a 1,600-mile round-trip escort mission to Berlin.
During that mission, the Tuskegee Airmen never lost a bomber,
despite an onslaught of the first jet fighter, the ME 262. The
332nd won a Distinguished Unit Citation for the mission.
| General Benjamin O. Davis Commander of 332nd Fighter Group, Better Known as the Tuskegee Airmen |
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302nd Fighter Sqaudron
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| Advocate for The Tuskegee Airmen, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt |
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| 50th Anniversary Pearl Harbor Patch |
| Review of Wings of the Panther from Los Angeles Sentinel Newspaer |
About the Tuskegee Airmen
Some of the many brave pilots of
the Tuskegee Airmen who fought
racism at home for the privilege
of fighting the Nazis overseas.
the Tuskegee Airmen who fought
racism at home for the privilege
of fighting the Nazis overseas.
| Stanley Weisleder Author of Wings of the Panther |
301st Fighter Sqaudron
100th Fighter Sqaudron
