RED TAILS
The story of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African-American pilots to fly in a combat squadron during World War II.
Photo and Story by Ed Nored / photo © copyright Lucasfilm

All of us WWII buffs can look forward to seeing the movie about the Tuskegee airmen, entitled "Red Tails," planned for a 2009 release. The movie, made by Lucas Films, takes place during the last year of the war as the Tuskegee Airmen flew out of Italy. The cast includes Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Terrence Howard. The costume designer, Ali Mitchell, contacted me through Gary Moncur after viewing the flight gear section on the 303rd Bomb Group website. She wondered if she could see my collection personally, and we arranged to meet.

I saw this as a chance to do something positive with my collection and to try make sure the fighter pilots and bomber crews shown in the movie wore the correct gear. Most previous movies concerning the air war in the ETO showed inaccurate flight gear. In the movie "Red Tails" you can look forward to seeing 100 percent accurate flight gear, with over 70 percent of it authentic. The reproduction items were excellent -- Ali Mitchell made sure of that and sent back several items until they got it right. Ali is a young and bright woman from England who did an outstanding job. The credit is all hers. I was able to spend two weeks near Prague, Czechoslovakia where they shot the airfield scenes.

Some of the items shown on the 303rd Bomb Group website are worn by the actors in the movie. For example, the O.D. A-3 harness and F-2 heated uniform are from my collection and have turned into Hollywood stars.

You can see the uniform collection exclusively on the website at: http://www.303rdbg.com/uniforms-gear.html Information on the movie "Red Tails" can be found here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0485985/ and here: http://movies.about.com/od/moviesinproduction/a/red-tails.htm

There is a lot of great free information here at the 303rd Bomb Group website. Gary Moncur spends a lot of time keeping this site up. Show your appreciation and make a contribution. All the best to all of you who made the sacrifices, and have taken the time to read of the sacrifices the 303rd Bomb Group veterans made a long time ago.

Sincerely, Ed Nored

During the Second World War, President Franklin Roosevelt observed that the men and women we honor on Memorial Day fought and died “not for the lust of conquest, but to end conquest, to liberate, to let justice and tolerance and good will arise among all God’s people.”

Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky called the men and women we honor “democracy’s children… less eager than willing, more dutiful than brave, victors not conquerors in freedom’s name.”

Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes called this “our most sacred holiday.” He urged that “we not ponder with sad thoughts the passing of our heroes, but rather ponder their legacy—the life they made possible for us by their commitment and their pain.”

Alfred R. Buinicky and his beloved wife, Edith Harriet Chase Buinicky, were killed in an automobile accident in March of 1983 while on vacation in Florida. Al had just retired in January. I am told that a few days before they died, they were visiting friends from back home in Claremont NH, and they were beaming about how proud they were of their children and granddaughters.

Thank you for having a forum to share memories and to honor those that have served. There isn't a day (not a single day!) that I don't think of Al or Edie. My mother and Uncle would tell you the same. Thanks again. May God Bless you and your family, And May God Bless America, Stephanie Haines

In Remembrance

We think of you often,
Not just on this day...
When God took you away.

And, even though we're
Now miles apart,
Your memory will always
Live in our hearts.

So, we send you our prayers,
And we send you our love,
And hope you found peace
in Heaven above.

~Joann Crystal Hutton/copyrighted
(may be used with permission)

If all of our remaining comrades knew and tried to print out their contributions it would be wonderful. I suspect that of the approximately 400 members we still are fortunate enough to have, I believe that less than half of them have printed out their names. What a shame. Maybe, and hopefully, in the months and years to come, their children, and grand children will start a search and find the wonderful work of Mr and Mrs Gary L. Moncur.

There are not enough THANKS that get directed toward you Two!!!!
Sending along all our Love and our Thanks. Ed and Jill Miller

Thanks again to Gary for keeping the 303rd flying on the internet, this remains the best internet based WW II bomb group… it was so sad to see they completed their final mission, I am honored I was in Washington DC to see the event in person a couple years ago, and to witness the final visit to Molesworth in 2000.

My Dad went thru WWII in a Sherman Tank of the famed 741st Tank Battalion from D-Day onward through The Bulge, to Germany and he made it home to have a hell of a party with m' mom to make me. But dad was always in love with flight. I have one of the many handmade wooden models he made in the 30's as a boy. It is one of my most cherished possessions. Given his choice I'm sure dad would have become an airman... But alas he wasn't able to. Yet through him I learned of,-and to love airplanes -and history. I ramble, but to me that was no better airplane to bring it's crew back than a B-17. They have (the airplanes, the crews,and the support crews...) my utmost respect. Again congratulations on your labor of love. You've done your father proud.

HOWARD GEORGE WEINBERG - Howie was tall, gentle, mischievous, and charming. Mom used to say he feigned helplessness because it attracted girls. He was his father’s dream, his mother’s hope, everyone’s hero.

World War II came to our door. Howie enlisted in the Army Air Force. He became a bombardier, and was sent overseas. When he was on a mission over Germany in April, 1945, two B-17s in his formation collided, both went down, everyone died. Howie was twenty-three years old. The War in Europe would be over in a month.

It was a tragedy of such proportion that all our lives were changed forever. Gone was that infectious laughter. Gone was the gaiety, the twinkle, the fun we had when Howie was home. We once had been a joyous family. We took it for granted. But nothing -- ever -- was the same again.