Maine's Tuskegee Airman: A Son's Perspective

Like so many Americans whose family members served in World War Two, Bob Sheppard was an adult when he first learned the significance of his dad’s military service. The longtime Kittery resident was even more surprised to learn that two other men with connections to Maine had also served as Tuskegee Airmen including the father of a classmate.  

After listening to several presentations by his father, the former broadcast journalist helped James Sheppard put together a presentation for a pilot’s group highlighting the all-black segregated unit of the US Army Air Force, complete with photos of his unit overseas. Understanding the significance of the Tuskegee Airmen’s accomplishments he commissioned a documentary featuring images captured during combat and chronicling the elder Sheppard’s long career in aviation. Over the next two decades, Bob had the privilege of accompanying his father to airshows, conventions, and other special events around the country with some of the other African Americans who flew, maintained, or provided support for aircraft from 1941 until the military was desegregated in 1948.

When James Sheppard was no longer able to share his experiences, Bob began filling in for his dad, including additional background material on the men and women who were part of the Tuskegee experience. His talk will include a portion of the video as well as time for Q & A.