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This 1943 poster promoting the sale of war bonds depicts a Tuskegee Airman, probably Lt. Robert W. Diez. National Archives and Records Administration photo.

Museum plans events to honor Tuskegee Airmen

Catherine Saunders-Watson
Catherine Saunders-Watson
This 1943 poster promoting the sale of war bonds depicts a Tuskegee Airman, probably Lt. Robert W. Diez. National Archives and Records Administration photo.
This 1943 poster promoting the sale of war bonds depicts a Tuskegee Airman, probably Lt. Robert W. Diez. National Archives and Records Administration photo.

RANTOUL, Ill. (AP) – The Chanute Air Museum in eastern Illinois plans to honor the Tuskegee Airmen with a display and commemoration this month.

The museum in Rantoul plans to have what it’s calling the Commemorative Air Force Red Tail Squadron event Wednesday through Monday. The museum is at the former Chanute Air Force Base, about 20 miles north of Champaign.

Mark Hanson is curator of the museum. He told The News-Gazette in Champaign he hopes the event teaches school children and others who attend lessons about how the African-American pilots battled discrimination to be allowed to take on combat roles in World War II.

The first unit of the Tuskegee Airmen was formed at what was then called Chanute Field.

A flying P-51 fighter will be part of the event.

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Information from: The News-Gazette, http://www.news-gazette.com

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ADDITIONAL IMAGE OF NOTE

This 1943 poster promoting the sale of war bonds depicts a Tuskegee Airman, probably Lt. Robert W. Diez. National Archives and Records Administration photo.
This 1943 poster promoting the sale of war bonds depicts a Tuskegee Airman, probably Lt. Robert W. Diez. National Archives and Records Administration photo.