Air Force Times Letter Writer Overly Critical of Tuskegee Airmen

Dear Editor: This is in response to Robert F. Dorr (General Norton Schwartz can help preserve...) OP-ED Air Force Times. I found it a bit condescending and highly critical of the original WW II veteran Tuskegee Airmen. I hope Mr. Dorr or former Air Force Dorr understands there is a difference between the two. Meaning the organization of the Tuskegee welcomes others outside the realm of the original "Red Tails" case in point, myself. And More importantly, Air Force Chief of Staff,General Norton Schwartz who unlike myself is a dues paying official member of THE TUSKEGEE AIRMAN INC. I was an American Legion escort for THE TUSKEGEE AIRMAN when they visited the city of Columbia South Carolina some years back. As not to be offensive as was the case of Robert Dorr I will not list the names of both the fighter pilots,the aircrews or the newer generation of non-world war veterans that I escorted and welcomed to Columbia. Mr. Dorr mentioned at the end of his OP-ED and I paraphrase 'that no one can take away from what the originally WWII accomplished and no one should add to it either.' In my opinion he contradicts himself. His OP-ED mentioning the history of the Red Tails never losing a bomber was the stuff that made and added to the legend of The Tuskegee Airmen. And with due respect to the late Tuskegee Airman Lieutenant Colonel Archer Dorr in critical of him not denying his claim of having been the ACE fighter pilot of course of the Tuskegee Airmen legend. So it seems that Mr. Dorr is in fact taking away and mucking up what has been written about the original Tuskegee Airman of Tuskegee Institute. I had in my career had this happen to me like Colonel Archer's having shot down four enemy planes instead of 5 to become an ACE. However up until his death and all of history records him as an ACE. Even though Colonel Archer did try to set the record straight. How many people have awards and decs. that though rightfully awarded or earned may have some sort of embellishment. It happens. Even if you try to explain the precise story such as what Mr. Dorr has gained. But at what price. Is Robert Dorr trying to besmirch the reputation of these WWII Hero's I hope not. But I found this letter very offensive. Equally offensive to some of my relatives. My father who attended Tuskegee Institute studying Electrical Engineering and who had to drop out in the sixties and with the permission of his parents enlisted to fight in the Vietnam War when he was stationed in U-Tapao Thailand. I am sure he'd be very offended. Like the Tuskegee Airmen though he was far too young to have been in WWII or an original Airman. My dad continued their legacy when he retired as a Senior Master Sergeant and as the former Chief of Weapons and Recon. for Langley Air Force Base and former VFW Commander for Grafton Virginia. In a nutshell Mr. Dorr you owe THE Tuskegee Airmen, Tuskegee Airman Inc and we that respect the legacy and memory of The Red Tails an apology or a retraction for some of your letter