Staff Sgt. Manny Acuna, 477th Fighter Group Maintenance Squadron, holds a banner for Lt. Col. Alvin Spann to sign on a symbolic group patch at the Tuskegee Airmen's 38th Annual National Convention held in Las Vegas, Nev.

Staff Sgt. Manny Acuna, 477th Fighter Group Maintenance Squadron, holds a banner for Lt. Col. Alvin Spann to sign on a symbolic group patch at the Tuskegee Airmen's 38th Annual National Convention held in Las Vegas, Nev. Several members of the 477th Fighter Group attended the convention to meet and honor the courageous aviators from World War II, that not only fought the Nazis overseas but battled discrimination at home. The 477th FG's history traces back to the original Tuskegee Airmen as its 302nd Fighter Squadron was part of the 332nd Fighter Group, also known as the famed 'Redtails.' The 477th is connected to another Tuskegee Airmen unit--the 477th Bombardment Group-- that was activated in 1944. The 477th BG members trained and were ready to deploy just as the war ended. Several other original Tuskegee Airmen attended the 2007 reactivation ceremony of the 477th Fighter Group, linking their incredible heroism and courage during WWII with the 477th FG's exciting future. (Air Force Photo / Maj. Cary McPartlin)