Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day Published March 24, 2022 By Air Force Life Cycle Management Public Affairs The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American fighter pilots and support crews to serve in the U.S. Army Air Forces. The all-Black Airmen famously fought overseas during World War II and their success helped inspire the Presidential executive order that desegregated the U.S. military. The fourth Thursday in March is observed as Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day. AFLCMC's Mobility and Training Aircraft Directorate manages the T-7A Red Hawk, a plane featuring an advanced pilot training system. The Red Hawk features special tail art that honors the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen.