2009 Medal Tuskegee Airmen 3"

Coin Details

Auction Record

$5,060 PR69 02-01-2012 Goldberg Auctioneers

Description

This 3-inch (76mm) medal honors the Tuskegee Airmen, the pioneering African American military aviators who served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. The Tuskegee Airmen Congressional Gold Medal was authorized in 2006 and presented in 2007 to the surviving members of the program, which trained nearly 1,000 pilots and thousands of ground support personnel at Tuskegee Army Airfield in Alabama between 1941 and 1946. The program shattered racial barriers in the military and demonstrated conclusively that African Americans could excel in the most technically demanding military roles. The obverse features imagery honoring the Tuskegee Airmen's remarkable service record, which included the 332nd Fighter Group's escort missions over Europe where their distinctive red-tailed P-51 Mustangs became a welcome sight to the bomber crews they protected. The Tuskegee Airmen compiled an exemplary combat record, flying over 15,000 sorties and earning more than 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, while simultaneously fighting the double war against fascism abroad and racism at home. Their success in combat directly contributed to President Truman's 1948 executive order desegregating the U.S. military. The reverse carries Congressional Gold Medal inscriptions. The 3-inch bronze format provides ample space for detailed design work honoring the Tuskegee Airmen's legacy, which extends far beyond their wartime service to encompass the broader civil rights movement and the ongoing struggle for equality in American society. The medal recognizes both the individual courage of the airmen and the collective significance of their achievement.

Rarity Notes

Bronze Congressional Gold Medal duplicate, 3 inch (76mm). Authorized 2006, presented 2007. Available from the U.S. Mint.

Cross References

PCGS #508462; Tuskegee Airmen Congressional Gold Medal; 332nd Fighter Group; P.L. 109-213