“Nothing’s difficult. Everything’s a challenge. Through adversity to the stars. From the last plane to the last bullet to the last minute to the last man, we fight. We fight! We fight!”
– Joe “Lightening” Little (Red Tails)
The story behind the movie Red Tails is one of my favorite stories in American military history. It was a dark time for the world and I wish I could say that America was doing everything right. There were plenty of mistakes or bad decisions on both sides, but there were those that fought for and did what they believed was right and just.
Red Tails, like many movies based on historical events, was not itself, completely accurate. The movie industry is notorious for taking certain liberties with events and that is something that we, as the audience need to understand. That being said, this was based on true events and while the characters themselves were not 100% based on real individuals, the 332nd Fighter Group was real.
They were told they were inferior, they had more roadblocks put in their way than any other unit, and every excuse was made to not let them fly, they were given inferior aircraft at first, yet the 332nd was one of the best flying units of the war. I love how much effort was put into Red Tails to show that they were truly a special group that did an extraordinary job under the most difficult of circumstances.
I highly recommend the movie Red Tails for many reasons. It is a great story, the special effects were great, the cast was impressive, and it was a truly inspirational moment in American history. Sure, there are a few rough edges. It was a sensitive subject during a time of ignorance and the exploration of possibilities. What those brave men did was an example of bravery, courage, and commitment to the cause. It was inspirational.
Journeyman's Legacy 