Did The Tuskegee Airmen Really Sink A German Destroyer???
I love this film! But you have to admit that it ... as well as the Lucas film (Red Tails) ... perpetuates many myths about the Tuskegee Airman. One that I clearly struggled with was how could a little P40 take out a German Destroyer with out the use of bombs. Just doesn't seem possible.
The following is from a website that I found about the myths in these two films that puts the Destroyer question into perspective.
The myth that the Tuskegee airmen sank a German destroyer
The 332nd FG mission report for June 25, 1944 notes that the group sank a German destroyer in the Adriatic Sea near Trieste that day. The pilots on that mission undoubtedly believed they had sunk a German destroyer, but other records cast doubt on whether the ship actually sank and its nature.
Research indicates the ship in question was the TA-22, an ex-Italian destroyer converted to a minelayer and used by the Germans. It was not actually sunk in the attack but was so heavily damaged that it never saw further action and no longer posed a threat to Allied operations.
The website I mention is pretty good and I suggest anyone who enjoyed this as I did should check it out. It seems very fair and balanced!
http://ghostgrey.gaetanmarie.com/articles/2012/Nine%20Myths/Nine%20Myths%20about%20the%20Tuskegee%20Airmen.htm
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