One of the joys of working with all of you and our local Chicago "DODO" Chapter is our shared commitment to preserving the legacy of those brave men and women who served during WWII, whose combined units became known as the Tuskegee Airmen.
I welcome any opportunity to share facts and examples of their history. I also encourage each of you to forward this newsletter to your friends and family and ask that they signup so they can receive this information automatically.
Sharing in this way also helps promote our chapter activities and mission of supporting post-secondary education and encouraging young people in their pursuit of careers in the aviation and aerospace industries. Most recently our outreach has included greeting acting Chicago Police Superintendent Fred Waller, at the Memorial Day Parade (see the slide show, below), and the King of Ghana at a business exchange event at the DuSable Museum!
Summer is a wonderful time to be taking to the skies and to gather together to enjoy the sun and each other's company. As we continue to grow our visibility with events still to come, including our new Tuskegee Airmen Youth Drone Academy, I also invite you to pause and take a look at past events and honors, pulled from the archives and included below.
Who are we but in service to others? I am honored to work with you to spread goodwill and kindness in the world.
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President
Chicago "DODO" Chapter
Tuskegee Airmen
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Summer Events and Gatherings |
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The Tuskegee Airmen Chicago "DODO" Chapter enjoyed a beautiful day (and caught up with acting Chicago Police Chief Fred Waller) at the annual Chicago Memorial Day Parade.
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Aviation's Salute to Pioneer Colorful Women, June 10, 2023 |
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The annual Aviation's Salute to Pioneer Colorful Women event, celebrating the lives and accomplishments of Bessie Coleman, Willa Brown, and Janet Harmon Bragg, took place that Bult Field on June 10, 2023.
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Midway Airport Tuskegee Airman Mural Installation, 2001 |
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Circa June 2001, the Tuskegee Airmen DODO Chapter joined Chicago Department of Aviation Commissioner Tom Walker for the debut of a 22' x 35' glass fresco at Midway Airport, dedicated to the Tuskegee Airmen. The mural, which fills the entire south wall of the Ticketing Hall, is a tribute to the courage and excellence of those distinguished WWII combat pilots.
“Presented in organized flying formation, as though passing each other in aerial high fives, Karl Wirsum’s stylized planes and pilots reference the aircraft and insignia of the Tuskegee squadrons. The luminous art glass material, dynamic images and vibrant color palette evoke the thrilling, transcendent experience of being airborne.”
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"DODO"s Honored at Black Wings Exhibit Opening, 2003 |
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From the Archives: The Flight Plan Newsletter, Vol. XI no. 1, January 2004, Chicago DODO Chapter, Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. Submitted by Bobbie M. Anthony-Perez. Photo: Bev Dunjill speaking at the event.
On December 16, 2003, thirty “DODO” Chapter members, the Leadership Advisory group of the Art Institute, employees of the Institute, public officials, members of the media, and others attended a slide show about the Tuskegee Airmen, a lecture by Dominick Pisano (a curator at the Smithsonian Institution National Air and Space Museum), and a panel discussion featuring “DODO”s Beverly Dunjill and Shelby Westbrook and moderated by CBS Channel 2 Weatherman and former American Airlines pilot, Jim Tilmon. “DODO”s Debra Rice and Oliver Jones made remarks.
Prior to the events mentioned above, several "DODO"s who arrived early were taken on a tour of the aerospace exhibit, where many photographs were taken of us by Art Institute personnel. Following the tour, a dinner reception was provided before the main event. At the reception, Beverly Dunjill was presented an award for the "DODO"s. In accepting, Beverly pointed out that the Tuskegee Airmen are history, and so the award was presented to history itself.
Exhibit Curator Pisano Acknowledges Tuskegee "DODO" Bill Thompson's Contributions
Following the brief slide show, a large audience of approximately 250 people was thanked for coming by Debra Rice, who said she looked forward to an enlightening evening. She talked about her father's role as a Tuskegee Airman. Pisano, a co-author of Black Wings: The American Black in Aviation, acknowledged the large contribution of "DODO" Bill Thompson to Pisano’s endeavors and talked about the conception and structure of the Black Wings exhibit.
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Coca-Cola and MCLB of Albany, GA celebrate Lt. Charles B. Hall and the Heroic Men of the Tuskegee Airman, 2019 |
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"On July 2, 1943 Lt. Charles B. Hall and his squadron were escorting U.S bombers over Sicily, Italy when a German fighter plane was sighted. It was then that Lt. Charles B. Hall became the first African-American to take down an enemy aircraft during WW II. What was his reward for his extreme bravery you ask… Well his squadron handed him an ice-cold Coca-Cola to celebrate."
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Did you know that you can join to become a member of the Chicago "DODO" Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen? We work to preserve the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen through education and outreach programs to engage youth in pursuing careers in aviation. As a member you get involved in our membership events and volunteer opportunities throughout the year.
Our chapter thrives on membership!
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