Friends of Detroit City Airport

2025 Tuskegee Airmen Monument Kiosk

Help Us Complete the Monument by Memorial Day 05/26/2025

The Friends of Detroit City Airport (FDCA), a 34 year 501©3 non-profit community organization, erected and dedicated a life-size bronze monument in tribute to four WWII U. S. Army Air Corps Pilots at the Coleman A. Young International Airport (KDET) in Detroit, MI. These highly trained pilots later became known as “Tuskegee Airmen” or “Red Tails” collectively of African Americans men who broke many barriers to become pilots to fight in the war to defend democracy abroad and at home. Over 992 pilots were trained with 350 of them serving in combat from 1942-45. The war ended before the remaining pilots were deployed overseas. The four pilots on the monument is a depiction of an actual picture that was taken in 1942 of Captain Wendell O. Pruitt, Lt Andrew Maples, Lt John A. Gibson, and Lt Milton T. Hall while on the flight-line of Moton Field in Tuskegee, AL. Let’s keep their legacy alive! Add your name to the monument by purchasing a brick paver to support the completion.

Friends of Detroit City Airport 2025 Objectives:

1. Expose youth to the field of Aviation/Aerospace- STEM for a career path via “Detroit Aero Club”

2. Promote aviation /education through our youth programs “Blacks in Aviation” Mon Feb 24^th 6PM

3. Honor “Women in Aviation” Mon March 24^th 6PM @ 11499 Conner, Bldg 2 “Detroit Fly Girls”

4. Begin campaign for Phase 2 in building a new hangar next to our $1Mil Bldg @ 11499 Conner, Bldg 2

5. Tuskegee Airmen Monument Kiosk Ceremony Memorial Day May 26, 2025 @ Noon -1PM

6. Free Cookout Memorial Day Tribute to Mayor Coleman A. Young 2PM @ 11499 Conner Bldg 2

7. Drive economic development and revitalization of Detroit City Airport/Coleman A. Young Intl Airport

8. Support our free Summer Youth Day Camp program “Airport 101” July 28^th –Aug 1, 2025

9. Promote beautification/clean-up of airport and Conner Creek Greenway ARISE Detroit Day Aug 2

10. Girls in Aviation Day (8-16yrs) 11^th annual free event Sat Sept 20, 2025, 8:30 -1PM lunch @KDET

11. Friends of Detroit City Airport 35th Anniversary Reception, Sat Oct 28^th 5PM KDET (Souvenir Book)

12. Support the 22^nd annual “Community Christmas Celebration” Stuff a Plane with Toys Sat, Dec 20, 4PM

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Donations are tax deductible. Tax ID # 38-3076103 In God We Trust

Be a Part of History! Help Us Complete the Monument by Memorial Day 2025!

2022 marked the 80^th Anniversary of that moment in time with four Black pilots. While the monument is fully erected and in its place of honor in front of the main terminal at KDET (which is named after former Tuskegee Airmen, the Honorable Mayor Coleman A. Young who was a navigator/ bombardier) it is lacking black granite, historical context tiles, military logos and the brick pavers. We are offering an opportunity for people to support the completion of this awesome project by purchasing a 4 x 8 brick paver for $100 or a 8 x 8 brick paver (+ logo) for $500 with your name on it or as a memorial tribute to a family member or immortalize a service member from any branch of the U. S. Military from any war or conflict. A 4 x 4 replica tile is also available for $25.00 with the purchase of your paver. You may want to salute an individual WWII Pilot, Mechanic, Doctor, Nurse, Military Police, Air Traffic Controller, Quarter Master, or other staff (10,000 +) who supported the war effort. All were “Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen” (DOTA). We will also honor Detroiters who have made notable achievements. Tributes to a youth are encouraged as we seek to connect new generations to the proud Tuskegee Airmen legacy. Corporate sponsors are needed to help complete the base foundation and the concrete approach areas at an estimated cost of $40,000. Corporate sponsors will be listed on the monument and in the souvenir program book at the FDCA’s 35th Anniversary Dinner/ Reception, Saturday October 25, 2025 5PM @ KDET. 11499 Conner, Bldg 2, Detroit, 48213