DAYTON, Ohio — The Air Force Museum Theatre at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force will kick off its 2016 Living History Film Series on Saturday, Feb. 20, with an event commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Tuskegee Airmen.
Beginning at 4 p.m., the theater will premiere “In Their Own Words: The Tuskegee Airmen,” a 90 minute documentary that tells the story of America’s first squadron of African American pilots.
Complete with interviews, rare photographs and computer-generated recreations, the film chronicles the Tuskegee Airmen story from the rocky start in 1941 to their acceptance of the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007.
2016 will mark the 75th anniversary of the inauguration of the U.S. Army Air Corps 99th Pursuit Squadron, the formation of the Tuskegee Airmen.
A panel discussion featuring Lt. Col. (Ret.) George Hardy, one of the youngest pilots of the Tuskegee Airmen, producer Bryan Williams, director Denton Adkinson and others associated with the project will follow the screening.
Members of the Ohio Memorial Chapter will be in attendance, with the Tuskegee Airmen Show Car.
The panel discussion will be filmed for use during the theatrical premiere of “In Their Own Words: The Tuskegee Airmen,” presented Fathom Events partnering with Bryton Entertainment, which will take place on March 29 at approximately 150 theaters nationwide.
The theater’s Feb. 20 event is the first of eight Living History Film Series events planned for 2016. Tickets are available at the theater’s ticket counter for $10 a film ($8 for Friends Members). Discounts for school or youth groups are available with advance reservations.