The US enacted its first peacetime draft in 1940, and it included African Americans, although Black soldiers were assigned to segregated units and subjected to racist treatment and even violence.
In 1941, the Roosevelt Administration oversaw the creation of the first US Army Air Forces Fighter squadron crewed by Black pilots.
- Listen now:
Playlist:
Fanfare
Opening War Theme
“The Air Force Song”
Composed in 1938 by Robert MacArthur Crawford. Public domain.
Performed by the United States Navy Band. Public domain recording. Source.
Closing War Theme
Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.
Mark,
Once again, an outstanding episode with plenty of detail and full disclosure. Thank you.
Frank Gulla
Hi. Long term fan and firsr time commenter and sorry that it’s to point out what may be an error The African American man that you say was an acredited ace during the Spanish Civil War ‘s claims appear not to be substantiated. He was a qualied pilot and certainly volunteered to fight in Spain but there is little ecidence that he actually flew. The Abrahan Lincoln Brigade Archive, which has an extensive aechive of American voluntwers in Spain indicates that he didn’t fly.
Correction noted.