THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN Raiders of the Skies

The Tuskegee Airmen, black pilots, flew missions during WWII, yet it has taken a long time for them to be recognized for their work. In this full-cast production, young Biff, Pete, and Johnny set out to find out more about this moment in history as the time-traveling “Buffalo Bill and Farley’s Raiders.” First, they observe the American scene of 1938, both its segregationist practices and its sense of impending war. Then they see the pilot training program of the Tuskegee Institute and, finally, the 99th Squadron in action. The airmen’s accomplishments are clear, and the Toy Box narration ensures that children will understand both the historical facts and the depth of the airmen’s heroism. However, the accompanying sound effects, with an abundance of airplane noises, demean the import of these men in their times. A.R. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 05]