Story Of Md. Tuskegee Airman At Center Of Special Exhibit

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The inspirational story of the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II gets a re-telling through the group's ionic red-tailed fighter jet.

Gigi Barnett explains how one retired colonel from Maryland is at the center of a celebration at the National World War II Museum.

"We attacked rail yards, traffic, truck traffic, anything," said retired colonel Charles McGee.

It was back in college that McGee learned of a chance to fly with the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II.

Their weapon of choice? The P-51 Mustang, a red-tailed war plane that the all-Black 332nd Fighter Group handled to successfully escort scores of U.S. bombers in and out of enemy territory.

"To be able to get into the air and loop, roll and spin and come back and put your feet on the ground was a real thrill for me," Col. McGee said.

It was an opportunity that changed the face of the military, which was completely segregated before the Tuskegee Airmen were allowed to hit the skies.

Later this month, the National World War II Museum in New Orleans is highlighting the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen--and Col. McGee's story--in a special exhibit called "Fighting for the Right to Fight."

The museum has also commissioned a newly-restored version of the P-51 to hang from its ceiling, forever on display.

"We don't want this history repeated, but we need to aware of it because there are valuable lessons in it that are good for the young people today," said Col. McGee.

The 96-year-old says one of those values is to keep flying through the turbulence.

Col. McGee's P-51 Mustang was nicknamed "Kitten" after his wife.

The National World War II Museum will unveil its newly-remodeled P-51D Mustang on April 21 in New Orleans.

Colonel McGee's knowledge on the Tuskegee Airmen and the P-51 Mustang is so respected, that George Lucas used him as a consultant on his 2012 film "Red Tails."