Alumnus Founds, Curates Black WWII 历史 Museum

Above, a few of the Tuskegee Airmen. 下面是Bruce W. Bird ' 85在他创立的博物馆里.

According to history alumnus Bruce W. Bird ’85, it was the success of African Americans in World War II that first started to turn the tide of racism in the United States. His expertise lies in military history and, in particular, World War II. 然而, 1.2 million African-American troops who fought in that war hold a special interest 为鸟.

They did their part, and they deserve to be recognized,” Bird 说. 所以，他决定 创建一个博物馆. A collector of military memorabilia for the past 60 years, his collection includes an assortment of military firearms, hundreds of vintage artillery rounds, military models, nearly 1,000 re搜索 books, as well as Army, Navy, and Air 力的制服.

The founder and curator of the Museum of Black WWII 历史 in Pownal, Vt.现在是小鸟 is retired and living in Stamford, Conn., where he is working to reopen his museum. He frequently speaks to various groups about African Americans in WWII, and brings a长 displays of artifacts to exhibit at the presentations.

“I started getting interested in military history when I learned how to read,” he 说. “And before I was a teenager, I had begun to collect various war memorabilia.” But it wasn’t until Bird was 37 that he attended the former North Adams State College – now MCLA – where he enjoyed studying history.

According to Bird, the College nourished and encouraged his love for and knowledge of WWII history, including the contributions of African Americans during the conflict. “I found the instruction to be good, and the professors were interesting,” he 说.

Contributions by African Americans in WWII, Bird 说, led to President Harry Truman’s decision to desegregate the military in 1948, as racist stereotypes were proven false. Bird explained, “It took until 1954 to actually get the job done, but it got started 在那个方向. The military was desegregated before everybody else was.”

It was Eleanor Roosevelt, Bird 说, who insisted that the military allow African Americans to become fighter pilots. 成立于1941年的332^nd Fighter Group was perhaps best known as the Red Tails. 也被称为塔斯基吉飞行员， these fighter pilots flew a长side America’s bombers as they performed their missions, 保护他们不受德国人的伤害.

红尾巴队是首屈一指的. “The bombers were much better protected by them 比任何人都多，”伯德说. “They flew a mission to Berlin that was 1,600 miles 长. It was the 长est escort mission flown in the war. 我真的和一个人谈过 of the bomber crewmen, and he 说 the people were delighted to see the Red Tails 保护他们.”

Another African-American military unit of distinction was the 761^st Battalion, an independent tank battalion that consisted primarily of African-American 士兵. Known as the Black Panthers, they were called “one of the most effective 第二次世界大战中的坦克营.” Many individuals who were members of this unit received medals, including one Medal of Honor, 11 Silver Stars, and approximately 300 Purple 心.

For more information about Bird’s Black WWII 历史 Museum and opportunities to hear 他的讲座，去吧 www.blackww2museum.org.