Tragedy Touches Tuskegee Airmen Movie

The pilot killed in the Friday collision of two P-51s at EAA AirVenture was a key figure in the development of a movie honoring the Tuskegee Airmen. Gerald Beck was the lead hand in a restoration project depicted in the documentary Red Tail Reborn. A Mustang, complete with the signature red tail that signified the famed black squadron is at Beck's shop in Wahpeton, N.D., being rebuilt after a 1994 crash all but destroyed it and killed its pilot. Filmmaker Adam White of Hemlock Films told AVweb that the restoration project will continue with Beck's staff and volunteers taking over management of the work. The film, which includes interviews with members of the squadron, is described as an "emotional documentary," will air on PBS in February. White said the movie pays homage to the squadron members who were, at first, considered unfit for combat because of their race. It didn't take long for B-17 daylight bomber crews to overcome that notion as the squadron proved its effectiveness escorting the aircraft over Europe. Few, if any, B-17s were lost when escorted by the Red Tails, although the long-held belief that the squadron had a perfect record has been recently disputed.