Tuskegee Plane Lands at Institute in Black History Month Celebration

Victor Croswell, a member of the Tuskegee Airmen Organization and program coordinator at the McKinley Park neighborhood’s Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM), has donated his Piper Cherokee 140 that pays homage to the “Red Tails” – the storied African-American pilots who played a pivotal role in the Second World War.

In a ceremony on Thursday, February 8, 2024, Croswell and leaders from the institute and the Tuskegee Airmen cut the ribbon to commemorate arrival of the plane, which was used by the airmen to promote the history of their contribution to aviation and inspire the next generations of black aviators.

Victor Croswell's Tuskegee Airmen Piper Cherokee 140 joins the other aircraft at the Aviation Institute of Maintenance.“AIM is proud to be the custodian of this historically significant aircraft,” said Joel English, the institute’s president. “It is meticulously designed to replicate and honor the remarkable achievements of the Tuskegee Airmen.”

Tuskegee, Alabama

Faculty, staff and guests viewed the plane’s unveiling in a ceremony that commemorated Black History Month and honored the Tuskegee Airmen: the first African-American military aviators in the U.S. armed forces. The group’s name comes from Tuskegee, Alabama, which is where its members trained to be pilots.

A vintage photo shows, from left to right, Tuskegee Airmen Ken Rapier, Victor Croswell and Keith Renfroe in front of Croswell's Piper Cherokee 140."I am thrilled to welcome the Red Tails into our campus community,” said Campus Executive Director Isaac Walters.

Also For Training

“The pivotal role played by the Tuskegee Airmen in securing our nation's triumph in World War Two cannot be overstated,” he said.

In addition to showcasing this history of aviation, the plane will be used to help train AIM students, Walters said.

Black History Month

Stickers on the Tuskegee Airmen Piper Cherokee 140 display the history of the plane and the group's service.The historic plane “deepens our connection to aviation history … and embraces the profound impact of black aviators on the aviation industry,” English said.

“This celebration served as a fitting commencement to Black History Month,” Walters said.

AIM opened to students in 2021 at its McKinley Park neighborhood campus at 3711 S. Ashland Ave., Chicago. It is one of 15 campuses across 12 states and is the largest network of FAA-certified Aircraft Maintenance Technician Schools in the U.S.