Racism follows the formation of the 332nd Fighter Group from recruitment, training and deployment.  This is the Tuskegee training program that forms an all African-American fighter pilot combat group.  They were highly decorated and amassed an impressive record of successes protecting bombers.

Prejudiced senior officers managed to give the 332nd behind the lines unimportant missions.  Those who are born with an ethnic identity, learn how to expect the blind-sided hits, being marginalized or the disrespect constantly shoveled out by the bigots who fill positions where they have no moral right to be.

People are people with challenges, trials and interpersonal conflict.  When outside challenges threaten, they band together.  Danger brings out their loyalties to each other.

Behind the scenes is their commander who fights for their opportunity to fight.  They get their chance to face German fighters.  Our gunned and out-classed in experience they manage to deal a mortal blow against the Luftwaffe. 

Their air battle success earns them the chance to be assigned the mission to protect the first bombing of Germany.  The Red Tails will be protecting the bombers from the best of Germany’s air force which now includes the first jet fighter aircraft.  Courage wins the day for the American fighters. 

There are individual battles throughout the film.  Some are between friends who have their own escapes from the demons of life.  Booze dulls the pain for some.  Others live on the wild side to ventilate their energy.

Multiple layers of challenge deepen the threads that the story follows.  Jr. is shot down.  He follows his own adventure as a POW. 

Whether it was with his fighter group or on his own, the prejudices surrounded him.  Even in his attempted escape from the Stalag, he never lost the awareness of the racial tensions that he must live by in order to survive and succeed.  His dog tags were returned to his commanding officer by a fellow POW who successfully escaped.

Over the life of the fighter group in the European theater history records that loss of 66 flyers.  It is more than a number.  Each life that is lost in battle tears at the soul of all who know them.

This movie was so well done.  The characters were multi-dimensional, complementary to each other and intriguing.  It is a movie worth watching.

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