The 99th Fighter Squadron, also know as the Tuskeegee airmen, was the first unit manned entirely by African American pilots.  They trained at Dale Mabry Field in Tallahassee.

Douglas Wilkinson (97.0012)

 Racial Tensions During the War

Florida experienced significant racial tension during the war. Difficulties arose partially from the atmosphere created by a segregated society that was often unfair in its treatment of minority citizens.  Although all troops received certain benefits, some whites resented that Black soldiers were also entitled to them. There was a notion that benefits would result in idleness and disorderly conduct.  Blacks, on the other hand, resented the treatment they received.

At MacDill Field, German POWs refused to work if Blacks were allowed to dine with the whites; Blacks were then segregated to separate mess halls.  Black troops complained to the NAACP that German POWs at Camp Blanding were given preferential treatment over them and that they received abusive treatment at the hands of Dale Mabry officers.

Some of the most serious disorders occurred in Tallahassee, near Dale Mabry Field and Camp Gordon Johnston, where Black troops were trained.  Disturbances erupted in 1942 over seating at FAMU football games when Blacks were relegated to standing on the sidelines while whites sat in the stands.  In 1944 Black troops staged a mutiny at Dale Mabry Field by refusing to obey orders until their grievances about racial practices were heard.  After two riots that year, Black soldiers were banned from Tallahassee.  Due to racial prejudice and bigotry form their white compatriots during and since the war, some Black veterans have been reticent about their war-time experiences.