Orlando Science Center, Orlando Mayor Buddy
Dyer, City Commissioner Robert Stuart, Vision
of Flight and 12 Red Tail Pilots Unveil A Firstof-its-Kind National Monument for Veterans
On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2013 at 10 a.m., Orlando
Science Center with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer,
City Commissioner Robert Stuart, Red Tail pilots,
Vision of Flight and many guests dedicated the first
monument in the nation to honor the Red Tail pilots of the Tuskegee Airmen.
The iconic monument is located outside the east entrance to the Science Center and welcomes visitors
with its 12-foot spire and inspirational message.
The ceremony will also included a flyover by a P-51
Mustang — the same type of plane flown by Red Tail
pilots during World War II — courtesy of Kermit
Weeks, founder of Polk City-based Fantasy of Flight.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, District 3 City Commissioner Robert F. Stuart, Orlando Science Center President and CEO JoAnn Newman, Vision of
Flight President Mike McKenzie, and 12 Red Tail pilots will attend.The monument is made by possible
by Syd Levy of United Trophy Manufacturing, Inc.
The monument welcomes guests into the Science
Center and engages them in the exploration of STEM
(science, technology, engineering and mathematics)
concepts and careers, including aviation science.
While there are several monuments dedicated to
the Tuskegee Airman, the statue at Orlando Science
Center is the first in the nation to specifically honor
the Red Tail pilots.
The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African-American military aviators in the U.S. armed forces. There
were 932 pilots trained at Tuskegee, Ala., of whom
356 airmen were considered an elite group of fighter pilots that were sent to various bases in Europe.
Flying escort for heavy bombers, the pilots earned
an impressive combat record.The Allies called these
talented airmen “Red Tails” or “Red-T ?????????t)????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????e????????Q?????????????????????????????I??)Q?????????????????M?????=??????M???????5????)A???????!???????????()?????)5??????)?????Y?????((0