Albion District Library News
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Albion Tuskegee Airmen Showing at the Albion District Library
Prior to the Tuskegee Airmen, there were no black U. S. military pilots.. However, a series of legislative moves by the United States Congress in 1941 forced the Army Air Corps to form an all-black combat unit, much to the War Department's chagrin. In an effort to eliminate the unit before it could begin, the War Department set up a system to accept only those with a level of flight experience or higher education that they expected would be hard to fill. This policy backfired when the Air Corps received numerous applications from men who qualified even under these restrictions.
Albion was home to three men who served at Tuskegee:
- Grover Crumbsby-pilot;
- Richard Weatherford-pilot;
- and Finis Holt-radio man
These three men are the first to be inducted into the Albion Hall of Fame to be located in the upstairs hallway of the Albion District Library. Local artist Jerome Washington has captured the three Tuskegee Airmen in charcoal. Mr. Washington will host an art show in the Naomi Lane Room of the Albion District Library on Saturday, March 1, from 3:30 to 5 pm. Light refreshments will be served.
The Library also has a Tuskegee-related display in the lobby during the month of February.
Other Tuskegee related events:
Saturday, February 23, 2 to 3:30 pm in the Naomi Lane Room of the Albion District Library.
The Tuskegee Airmen (1995) PG-13
Featuring an all-star cast headed by Laurence Fishburne, fireballs of high speed air action explode off the screen in this exciting story of the "Fighting 99th," the first squadron of black American pilots to be allowed to fight for their country. Based on the true story.
Saturday, March 8, 2 to 3 pm in the Naomi Lane Room of the Albion District Library.
Showing of Local Veteran Oral History Project participant Tuskegee Airman Richard Weatherford. Mr. Weatherford recounts his life and participation as a pilot in World War II.
posted by albiondistrictlibrary # 10:04 AM 
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