On May 2, 1943, the Tuskegee Airmen—America’s first Black military aviators—began deploying for overseas combat operations during World War II. Trained at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama under the Army Air Corps, these men faced racial discrimination both in the military and in society. Despite doubts about their capabilities, they proved to be some of the most skilled and disciplined pilots of the war. Flying primarily in Europe, they escorted bombers and achieved one of the lowest loss records in the war. Their performance helped challenge prevailing racist assumptions and laid the groundwork for President Truman’s 1948 executive order to desegregate the armed forces. The deployment on May 2 marked a turning point in U.S. military history and stands as a symbol of perseverance and patriotism.