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In memory of our friend Louis G. Hill Jr. Tuskegee Airman June 28, 1916-April 25, 2007
Louis G. Hi
Pictured on the left are Tuskegee Airmen Walter Palmer, Louis Hill and former Bakalar Air Base Commander, and 434th Wing Commander Major General John Hoff. Major General Mark Pillar with Walter and Louis at the Honoring Veterans Banquet in Columbus, Indiana. Click on the Tuskegee Airman page to learn more about Louis Hill and the Tuskegee Airmen. Remarks made by Tuskegee Airman, Louis Hill at the dedication of the Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum November 11, 1992 click on photos for full size viewing
Louis Hill, Tuskegee Airman, B-25 Bomber pilot
Louis Hill's B-25 in one eight scale on display at the Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum
"Honorable Master of Ceremonies, Mayor, and Distinguished Platform Guests: The climate for race relations was extremely negative during W.W.II. Not only did we as Negro soldiers feel the hate of our global enemies, but we were forced, both ay Army regulations and local policies, to endure severe racial segregation all over America as well. It was in this atmosphere that the Tuskegee's Pilot Program, better known as the Tuskegee experiment began. We, as young men were determined to prove ourselves capable of the challenge and we succeeded. We first of all wanted to fly. While in the States, we often heard of the successes of the 332nd Fighter Group, of which my friend Walter Palmer, was a member. We knew through the press of Brazil, Indiana's Charlie Hall's shooting down of the FW190. The first Negro Airman to score a victory. We heard of the losses too-Harry Daniels and Burton Highbaugh, young men friends of mine from Indianapolis I'd known all my life. Burton's brother, Richard was in our group, the 477th Bomb Group (M). It was a violent war, fueled by passion and fear. It was a tragic time when hate and prejudice forced nations to bicker and fight. It was a time when our enemies (the Axis) Japan, Italy and Germany committed many atrocities against their own citizenry, as well as against citizens of other countries in what later became known as the Holocaust served by the horrors of the concentration camp. It was a time scarred by these hates. President Roosevelt spoke so eloquently of Pearl Harbor, as Japan's Day of Infamy. This stirred us. It was a season in the World's time when young men and young women inspired by words like patriotism and loyalty came together all over the Nation and volunteered their services. We served too. President Roosevelt told us we had "nothing to fear but fear itself". We believed that. Such was the climate. I volunteered and was sent to Tuskegee to learn to fly. After completing flight training and transition training in B-25's I remember our coming to this place. We had been to Selfridge Field outside of Detroit, Michigan and Godman Field near Louisville, Kentucky, and here at Atterbury Army Air Field, where learned skip bombing and perfected instrument flying. I remember Bill "Shack" Heyward, my Navigator, and his cool, quiet personality, a steadying influence upon us all. We called his "Shack" because of his accuracy with the Norden Bomb sight. He never missed a target. I remember the basketball games at Columbus High School, where Haldane King, from New York, played on our team, his brother "Dally" King, an alumnus of Long Island University, had been voted as an All-American that year. Halbert L. "Hooks" Jones was a forward, later one of the Chapters was named for him. he and I were Flight Leaders in the 618th Bomb Squadron (M). There were others too I remember, Ahmed Rayner, his parents owned one of the largest Funeral Homes in Chicago. Greg Harrison, a good friend and many more of my colleagues, I remember them too. I remember playing against the teams from Cummins, one man, I don't remember his name, but he had played professional basketball with the Oshkosh, Wisconsin team. I see it so clearly now. The gym was packed with people. The cheers! I remember the townspeople and the welcome of the merchants. We often bought snacks, meats, crackers, sardines, and chips to fuel our bodies during our poker games. There was a great difference here than at Seymour. Although at Seymour, we had living quarters for our families, we disliked leaving Columbus. The people of Columbus were so much kinder and friendlier. Rumors played a great part in our lives. Wars are uncertain. Gossip and rumors played a part, we call them latrine rumors. We were concerned about where we would go next. You, the fine people of Columbus, did so much to form a place for us. I remember the last time we were in Columbus, the taxi driver told us he hated to see us go. It was a mutual feeling. Through the activities of many men ruled our destinies some prepared seeds of distrust in our futures and despite this neglect within the War Department by not providing us with crews, we were prepared as pilot, navigator-bombardiers, engineers, radio operators and armorers. We did not go to war. We were prepared though. You, at this place, did so much to form a place for us. I thank you for that. I'm grateful for that. Such was W.W.II that Winter of 1944. I shall never forget you. GOD BLESS YOU ALL." Louis Hill, Tuskegee Airman, November 11, 1992 |
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