The Tuskegee Airmen were a groundbreaking group of African American pilots and support crews who fought bravely in World War II, breaking both enemy lines and racial barriers. Trained at the Tuskegee Army Airfield in Alabama, they flew thousands of missions, escorting bombers and earning a reputation for skill and courage. Their success challenged segregation in the military and helped pave the way for civil rights, leaving a legacy of heroism, pride, and historic change.
In 1998, Bob Williams approached artist, Stan Stokes, with the idea of producing a memorial mural for the Tuskegee Airmen. After some discussion, Stan agreed. This project began in late 2000 and was finished a year later. It was then shipped from the Palm Springs Air Museum where it was delivered to Los Angeles International Airport, Northwest Air Terminal. It was on display for nearly a year. Subsequently it was returned to the Palm Springs Air Museum where it is on permanent display.
The images on the mural are from WWII photographs of actual Tuskegee Airmen many of which came to view the progress of this marvelous work of art.
Unfortunately Bob Williams passed away before the mural was completed. It is the goal of Stan Stokes to continue bringing recognition to the Tuskegee Airmen through paintings, books and lectures.
Stan Stokes
Tuskegee Airman Charles Hall
Tuskegee Airman Charles Hall made history for himself and his fellow 99th Fighter Squadron pilots.
After three years of college, Charles enlisted in the US Army as an aviation cadet. He was a member…
Stan Stokes
Brigadier General Charles McGee
Tuskegee Airman Charles McGee enlisted in the United States Army on October 26, 1942 as a pilot cadet. He received his wings becoming an official pilot in the US Army Air Corps graduating in Class 43-F on…
9 years ago, I created this painting of Roscoe Brown’s P-51D Mustang in the midst of shooting down an Me 262 jet. The jet was climbing toward a formation of B-17s which slowed it down and made it a prime target for Roscoe.The P-51D has always…
Stan Stokes
Tuskegee’s First Five
Tuskegee’s first five cadets to receive their wings and become official US Army Air Force pilots were in Class 42C-SE. This group of black pilots completed their pilot training on March 6, 1942, at Tuskegee Army…
Tuskegee Airman Roscoe Brown Jr.
Tuskegee Airman Roscoe Brown was squadron commander of the 100th Fighter Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group. During combat, he served as a flight leader and operations officer. He had graduated from the…
Stan Stokes
Tuskegee Airmen Andrew Turner and John Briggs
Andrew Turner
Andrew Turner enlisted into the US Army on October 8, 1942 and was a member of class 42-I-SE at Tuskegee, Alabama. He received his wings and was inducted into the US Army Air…
Stan Stokes
Tuskegee Airman Alexander Jefferson
Originally from Detroit, Alexander attained a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biology from Clark College in Atlanta and in September 1942, was sworn in to the United States Army Reserves. He volunteered…
Stan Stokes
Tuskegee Airman Claude Davis
Tuskegee Airman Claude Davis was a cadet is Class 44-G-TE. Class 44-G-TE translates into the seventh class of 1944 for twin engine pilot training. Claude and the rest of the class were training to be B-25 Mitchell…
Stan Stokes
Lt. Col. Paul Lehman,
Paul David Lehman, Jr. was born on October 4, 1922. He enlisted in the United States Army in Los Angeles, California in November of 1942. He opted for aviation cadet training and quickly found himself on a train heading…
