Tuskegee Airmen Congressional Gold Medal 2007

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The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian award presented by the U.S. Congress. It is awarded to an individual or group for an outstanding deed or act of service to the security, prosperity, and national interest of the United States. This medal was presented to the Tuskegee Airmen, African American pilots flying for the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. The medal also includes other Tuskegee Airmen such as bombardiers, navigators, mechanics, and other military or civilian men and women who performed ground support duties. Awarded on March 29, 2007, the medal recognized their “unique military record that inspired revolutionary reform in the Armed Forces.”

The Men: This medal honors the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African-American pilots who flew for the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. Their unique military record inspired revolutionary reform in the Armed Forces.

The Medal: The obverse design features three Tuskegee Airmen in profile. Their headgear designates them as an officer, a mechanic, and a pilot. Below these busts, an eagle flies with wings outstretched, symbolizing flight, nobility, and the highest ideals of the Nation. The inscriptions are “Tuskegee Airmen,” “1941,” and “1949.” The reverse design features the three types of planes the Tuskegee Airmen flew in World War II, based on a logo design of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. The planes depicted in the design are the P-40, the P-51, and the B-25. The inscriptions are “2006,” “Act of Congress,” and “Outstanding combat record inspired revolutionary reform in the armed forces.”