PCN Profiles - Luther Smith

Luther Smith is a World War II veteran and a member of the prestigious Tuskegee Airmen. As part of an experimental program sponsored by the U.S. Army Air Corps to train America’s first black military aviators, Mr. Smith received his pilot training at the Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama. He served as a fighter pilot with the all-black 302nd Fighter Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group. The Tuskegee Airmen are credited with not losing a single bomber to enemy fire in more than 200 combat missions – a record unmatched by any other fighter group. Mr. Smith is credited with destroying two German enemy aircraft in aerial combat and 10 German aircraft in ground strafing missions. He was permanently injured on this 133rd and final combat mission on Friday, October 13, 1944.

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Google Video | December 12, 2006

Tags:. .air. .training. .fire. .program. .single