FREEDOM FLYERS The Tuskegee Airmen of World War II

This history focuses on the first-ever African-American military pilots, the Tuskegee Airmen, who fought during WWII. At a steady pace, narrator Brandon Massey recounts the challenges and triumphs of these brave men. Despite their extraordinary performance, they were a segregated unit throughout the war but were integrated into the armed forces, along with other African-American units, in the latter half of the twentieth century. Massey's unemotional reading describes many instances of discrimination toward the Airmen over the years as well as the foot-dragging of white officers and politicians who tried to block their integration. Alas, Massey's narration includes no differentiation between narrative and quotations. With barely a pause between chapters, his intense reading requires listeners to pay close attention. The fascinating details on the Tuskegee Airmen's flight training, role in WWII combat, and record of leadership and bravery are worth the effort. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2016]