Seventy-five years ago this summer, history was made as the Tuskegee Airmen – the first African American pilots in U.S. military history – entered combat in World War II. From North Africa to Sicily to Italy, the Tuskegee Airmen – nicknamed the ‘Red Tails’ for the red paint adorning the tails of their fighters – would earn a reputation as some of the best airmen of the war. Just as importantly, their stellar record – and their reputation for service since – helped to open the door for Americans of all backgrounds to serve our country with distinction.