TUSKEGEE AIRMEN EXHIBIT OPENS IN TERMINAL 1 AT LOS ANGELES AIRPORT
(Los Angeles, California – February 19, 2003) In celebration of Los Angeles International Airport’s (LAX's) 75th anniversary, an exhibition saluting "The Tuskegee Airmen" has opened in Terminal 1. The exhibit is a collaboration with the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department and the Art Resource Group, a professional art advisory and appraisal service company.
Passengers can view artifacts, equipment and photographs related to the history of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first all African-American U.S. Army Air Corps Unit formed during World War II. The exhibit, located on the Upper/Departure Level beyond passenger screening, is on display through December 31, 2003, to ticketed passengers.
From 1942 to 1946, 992 African-Americans completed their flight training at Tuskegee Army Air Field in Tuskegee, AL. Nearly 450 of them served overseas as combat pilots in the North African and Mediterranean campaigns. The Tuskegee Airmen have the special distinction of never having lost a single bomber to enemy fighters during the 1,578 missions they conducted throughout World War II. In 1948 President Harry S. Truman announced Executive Order No. 9981, which officially ended racial segregation in the United States military forces, largely due to the contributions of the Tuskegee Airmen to the war effort.
"The Tuskegee Airmen exhibit is an opportunity for the travelling public to rediscover our country’s inspirational and rich aviation history," said Kim Day, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) deputy executive director of Project Facilities Management, responsible for the Art Exhibits Program. "LAX is excited to feature this history in conjunction with the airport’s celebration of its 75th anniversary."
Miriam Smith, Ray Jacob and LuAnn Murphy of the Art Resource Group of Newport Beach, CA, served as guest curators for the exhibition. Artifacts, equipment and photographs are on loan from Theodore R. Davidson of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.; Bruce Orriss of the Los Angeles Heritage Foundation; the Hollywood Wings Film Collection and LAWA.
In addition to "The Tuskegee Airmen" exhibit in Terminal 1, a mural honoring the courageous African-American fighter pilots made its debut at LAX last August on the Lower/Arrival Level of Terminal 3. The 12-foot-by-60-foot mural features 50 pilots and crewmembers. The mural, accessible for public viewing, is on display through October 2003.
The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners approved the memorandum of understanding with the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department to administer and provide curatorial services for the Art Exhibits Program at LAX and Ontario International (ONT) Airports. The purpose of the Art Exhibits Program is to educate and entertain the travelling public while emphasizing a cultural experience that highlights what makes Los Angeles unique and interesting. The exhibits may be artistic, historical, popular or graphic design in nature and may arise from museums, industry, design, fine art, cultures, theater, archives, sports, environment, transportation or other fields. LAX currently has art exhibit displays in Terminals 1, 2 and 3, and the Tom Bradley International Terminal.
