Tuskegee Airmen exhibit at "The Hank"

The Mobile BayBears are excited to announce the Commemorative Air Force Red Tail Squadron will be making a stop at "The Hank" February 6th-8th. The Squadron will be showing their film, Rise Above, about the historic Tuskegee Airmen in a portable fully functional movie theater with a 160-degree panoramic screen.

Rise Above was created by Emmy Award winning film maker Adam White of Hemlock Films. It features the story of the Tuskegee Airmen and the hardships they went through to become the first black U.S. Army Air Corps pilots. The film also highlights the over 10,000 other men and women who helped the pilots earn their wings.

In the time leading up to World War II young black men wanted to be involved in the war effort, but because of their skin color they were turned away from the U.S. Army and flight programs. It wasn't until 1940 that President Franklin D. Roosevelt pressured the army to change and a segregated Air Force base in Tuskegee, Alabama, called "The Tuskegee Experience" was created.

Only 13 cadets were enrolled in the first training program in 1942, and of those 13 only five received their wings. One of the five men, Benjamin O. Davis Jr., went on to become the first black U.S. Air Force officer. All in all 996 men ended up earning their wings at Tuskegee, and fighting for America in WW II.

The Rise Above Traveling Experience will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for local Mobile schools, and from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. for the general public. For more information please call (251) 479. BEAR.