Under the Wing of Tuskegee Airmen
Colin Banks, 17, sits at the controls of a single-engine Cessna, taking off under the supervision of his instructor and under the wing of a legendary group of fliers.
"The Tuskegee Airmen have big shoes and they're hard to fill," Colin said.
Colin would never have gotten this high or this far without the help of the Tuskegee Airmen, the all-black corps of about 1,000 fighter pilots who fought their way past segregation and shot their way through the Luftwaffe, building their reputation as heroes, reports CBS News correspondent Richard Schlesinger.
Retired Col. Charles McGee has his memories of the past, but he and the roughly 100 other surviving Airmen like Bill Broadwater worry about the future. Who will take their place?
"We were there to show and prove that it could be done and that's the thing we're protecting as our legacy to hand down to the younger generations," said Bill Broadwater, with the Airmen.
The Air Force reports only 265 of its 13,805 pilots identify themselves as black - that's just 1.9 percent.
"They're giving me a chance to fly like they did and be able to live my passion as they did," Colin said.
It's an expensive passion and while he lacked money, he did not lack enthusiasm.
"You see the houses getting smaller and then everyone says the same thing: 'I'm flying,'" Colin said.
The Tuskegee Airmen spent close to $7,000 for Colin's flying lessons. They've paid for programs across the country encouraging more than 160 young people to become pilots, just like they were.
"It makes me real proud," Broadwater said.
It's a long way from a Cessna to a fighter. And Colin is on his way. Soon he'll go to the U.S. Air Force Academy Prep School, and if he's successful, as corny as it sounds, for him the sky really will be the limit.
To submit an idea for The American Spirit send us an e-mail: theamericanspirit@cbsnews.com
