Photo by Michael Patrick, copyright © 2012 // Buy this photo
Frank Weaver talks about his World War II experiences during a luncheon honoring the Tuskegee Airmen Tuesday at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg. (MICHAEL PATRICK/NEWS SENTINEL)
Photo by Michael Patrick, copyright © 2012 // Buy this photo
The Ladies of Liberty Wanda Martin, left, Angie Glotzbach, and Jeanette Kays perform during a luncheon honoring the Tuskegee Airmen Tuesday at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg. (MICHAEL PATRICK/NEWS SENTINEL)
Photo by Michael Patrick, copyright © 2012 // Buy this photo
World War II veteran Irma "Pete" Dryden smiles as state Sen. Doug Overbey presents her with a state proclamation honoring the Tuskegee Airmen Tuesday at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg. (MICHAEL PATRICK/NEWS SENTINEL)
Photo by Michael Patrick, copyright © 2012 // Buy this photo
Marines from Camp Lejeune, N.C., and Knoxville's 4th Combat Engineers, Delta Company, re-enact the raising of the American flag on Iwo Jima during World War II. The re-enactment was part of a VIP luncheon on Tuesday honoring the Tuskegee Airmen, at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg.
GATLINBURG — Frank Weaver, an original Tuskegee Airman, knew America was going to win World War II. And how did he know that? Simply because the men training with him at Tuskegee, Ala., "were the best."
While military brass worried that black service members might not make good pilots, Weaver and others of his generation had no doubts.
"We were there to give it our best," he said Tuesday during ceremonies honoring Tuskegee Airmen at a VIP luncheon in Gatlinburg before the city's 37th annual Fourth of July Midnight Parade.
"We didn't come there with a negative attitude. We went there to win the war."
Weaver, 85, of Louisville, Ky., was a mechanic and crew chief for B-25 bombers at the base. He helped keep the planes flying and ready for combat missions from 1944-46 at Tuskegee.
"It didn't bother us what others thought. We knew we could do the job. We were trained well," said Weaver, one of two original Tuskegee Airmen at the luncheon at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies.
Anyone, black or white, who served at Tuskegee — including pilots, navigators, bombardiers, maintenance and support staff, instructors, doctors and nurses, and all the personnel who kept the planes in the air — is considered one of the Tuskegee Airmen.
Irma "Pete" Dryden, 92, of the Atlanta Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen was one of the first nurses to arrive at the air base where the famed World War II airmen trained.
Dryden later married Charles "Chuck" Dryden, one of the original Tuskegee pilots who flew in the North Africa and Sicily campaigns.
Weaver, Dryden and three other Atlanta chapter members of the airmen who arrived in Gatlinburg late Tuesday evening served as grand marshals for the parade.
In addition to being presented keys to the city by Vice Mayor Jerry Hays, the airmen also received a proclamation from the state of Tennessee that was presented by state Sen. Doug Overbey, R-Maryville.
Overbey said the Tuskegee Airmen flew 15,000 sorties during the war, "and never lost one bomber while protecting them (in missions) over Berlin." In addition, he said, the Tuskegee Airmen won 100 Distinguished Flying Crosses.
A group of U.S. Marines from Camp Lejeune, N.C., and Marine reservists from the Knoxville's Delta Company of the 4th Combat Engineer Battalion re-enacted the planting of the American flag on Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima in 1945.
Sgt. Maj. Steven Teague of the 473rd Marine Wing Support Squadron headquartered in Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, Calif., who commanded the re-enactment team, said that just like the Tuskegee Airmen, the U.S. Marine Corps had problems with segregation in World War II.
"But, when the Marines hit the beaches at Iwo Jima, there were boats full of black Marines. Courage has no color," he said.
Retired News Sentinel Senior writer Fred Brown is a freelance contributor and may be reached at brownf08@gmail.com efirdp@knoxnews.com.
Charlie Daniel cartoons - July 2012
East Tennessee Portfolio - 2012
Tennessee Section PGA championship
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 6
oldnuke69 writes:
Thank you for your service in a time when you were not generally appreciated!
huntermr writes:
Great men, all of them. There is no proper way to thank them for their service. I still have drinks with a friend that flew B-29's in the Pacific during the war, and he remembers them well.
Caneoverthere writes:
Our Greatest Generation - no doubt!
toolmeister writes:
Agreed!
leon writes:
These men simply cannot be honored approporately....Thank you!
FredFlintstone writes:
My father served the entire war (WWII) as Flight Engineer on a B-17. I remember him talking about the red-tailed P-51's piloted by black men who flew like they were born in them. He was always relieved when he saw them coming up to escort them into battle. We lost Dad 10 years ago.
About four years ago I had the great honor to meet and become friends with a Tuskegee Airman. I have thanked him many times for protecting all those bomber crews who certainly would not have made it home alive had it not been for their outstanding service and bravery.
I can't say it enough; THANK YOU Tuskegee Airmen!
Without you we might all be speaking German.
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.