During the Second World War, one of the most distinguished American aviation units was one that nobody thought would even have existed when the war began.

It was a unit of African American aviators who were trained at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama.

Over a thousand airmen were trained and served in the European Theater of War,

and some of them were the most decorated pilots of the conflict.

Learn more about the Tuskegee Airirmen and their incredible story on this episode of Everything Everywhere

Daily. The story of the Tuskegee Airman really begins in the 19th century.

If you remember back to my previous episode on The Buffalo Soldiers,

African Americans have fought with distinction ever since the Civil War.

Despite initial reluctance by military leaders such as Ulysses S. Grant, they changed their minds

after seeing how well black troops performed in battle.

As General Grant himself noted after the Battle of Vicksburg,

quote, the Negro troops are easier to preserve discipline among

than our white troops,

and I doubt not will prove equally good for garrison duty.

All that have been tried have fought bravely."

Black soldiers in the Civil War were awarded 18 Congressional Medals of Honor.

After the war, African American soldiers continued to serve with distinction for decades.

However, despite their service, they were not given equal treatment.

Black soldiers were segregated and could not serve in integrated units.

They were placed into all black units with white officers.

The soldiers in these units became known as Buffalo Soldiers, a name given to them by Native Americans.

By the time of the First World War, the term Buffalo Soldier had gone out of fashion,

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