Tuskegee Airmen in Italy (1944-1945)

American war photographer Tony Frissell  (right), and the fighter pilot, Major George S. «Spanky» Roberts, deputy commander of the Tuskegee Airmen 332nd Fighter Group, on the wing of a fighter P-51D "Mustang" at the airport in Ramitelli (Italy), March 1945. The aircraft is named «Marcelle»; in front of number 37 you can see three prominent German cross - mark the victories of pilot.

Four American fighters P-51 "Mustang" in flight over the airfield Ramitelli in Italy,  March 1945. Author: Toni Frissell

Italian goats withP-51 "Mustang» from 332 th Fighter Squadron in the background  at the airport Ramitelli. Italy, in March 1945. Author: Toni Frissell

American fighter pilot Edward C. Gleed from the 332nd Fighter Squadron watches as two aviation technician instaling additional fuel tank on the P-51D «Mustang»  «Creamer's Dream» at the airport Ramitelli. Italy, in March 1945. Judging by the inscription on the tank, its capacity is 110 US gallons (about 416 liters). Author: Toni Frissell .

American fighter pilot Edward C. Gleed from the 332nd Fighter Squadron with his aircraft  P-51D «Mustang» named «Creamer's Dream» Italian airport Ramitelli in March 1945. Judging by the inscription on the external tank, its capacity is 110 US gallons (about 416 liters). Author: Toni Frissell

American fighter pilots, Colonel Benjamin SO. Davis, commander of the 332 th Fighter Squadron and Edward C. Gleed  with  P-51D «Mustang»  «Creamer's Dream» Italian airport Ramitelli . Italy, in March 1945. Author: Toni Frissell

Aviation technicians Marcellus G. Smith, (left) and Roscoe C. Brown repairing fighter F-51D «Mustang» from 332 th Fighter Squadron at the airport Ramitelli. Italy, in March 1945. The aircraft is named Tootsie , name  she belonged to the pilot Lowell Steward.

Aviation technician Marcellus G. Smith doing his job on fighter F-51D «Mustang» from 332 th Fighter Squadron at the airport Ramitelli. Italy, in March 1945. Author: Toni Frissell

Fighter Pilot  from 332 th Fighter Squadron US Air Force Newman C. Golden looks at the sky on the Italian airport Ramitelli. In the background of the pictures - tent to store parachutes. Italy, in March 1945. Author: Toni Frissell

US Air Force Col. Benjamin SO. Davis is standing near his fighter P-51D «Mustang»  at the airport Ramitelli. Italy, in March 1945. Author: Toni Frissell

American pilots from 332 th Fighter Squadron receive rescue kit on the Italian airport Ramitelli. In the photo: sitting - Theodore G. Lumpkin, Jr.; standing from left to right Joseph L. «Joe» Chineworth, Robert C. Robinson, Driskell B. Ponder, Robert W. Williams. Italy, in March 1945. Author: Toni Frissell

Black pilots from 332 th Fighter Squadron US Air Force in front of parachute storage building near the Italian airport Ramitelli, March 1945. Author: Toni Frissell

Black Lieutenant Edward Glid (Edward Gleed) shows on the map the route of flight to northern Italy to fighter pilots of 332nd Fighter Group. They are seen (right) - "The objectives for today", "The course of the target - 56 degrees", "Reverse Course - 265 degrees.

American black Col.Benjamin SO. Davis, right, is watching when  machine-gun belts for 12.7-mm machine gun Browning M2 (0.5 Browning M2) in his aircraft P-51 "Mustang» (North American P-51 Mustang) have been loading at Italian airport Ramitelli. Belts are charging by Roscoe C. Brown,( left) and Marcellus G. Smith, (center).  Italy,  March 1945. Author: Toni Frissell

Aircraft USAF sitting on the wing of a fighter P-51 "Mustang» (North American P-51 Mustang) Italian airport Ramitelli, March 1945. Author: Toni Frissell

Three  American aircraft technicians looking at the sky on the Italian airport Ramitelli, March 1945. Special airfield covered metal grid, allowing the planes take off and land in any weather. Author: Toni Frissell