T was one of the most sparkling nights in the Rainbow Room – 64 stories high offering breathtaking views on all four sides serving to remind everyone how beautiful New York is. Everyone had gathered to honor a fabled group of aviators – the legendary Tuskegee Airmen. Having faced prejudice, intolerance and bigotry in the United States, these gallant men flew and fought beside their fellow countrymen and achieved one of the finest flying records ever made.
David Bythewood, a USO board member, organized the evening. He was backed by a powerhouse committee that included Myron J. Berman, Phyllis Criscuoli, Melvin I. Douglass, Clarice Joynes, Kimberly Guilfoyle Newsome, William D. Rueckert, and Raymond Shepherd.
They were all there to honor former Eleanor Roosevelt, the guiding light of these courageous men, whose flight with Charles "Chief" Anderson led the way to their being commissioned into the Army Air Corps. Col. Lee A. Archer and Dr. Roscoe C. Brown were also honored. It was a magical, historical evening recognizing the courage and heroism of these gallant airmen.