Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Lt. Col. (ret.) James Warren, Senator Lois Wolk, Aubrey Matthews and Edith Roberts proudly present the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway sign that will be displayed on Interstate 80 Feb. 6 at the Veterans Hall in Dixon, Ca. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Madelyn Brown)Retired Lt. Col. James Warren (right), Senator Lois Wolk, Aubrey Matthews and Edith Roberts proudly present the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway sign that will be displayed on Interstate 80 Feb. 6, 2014, at the Veterans Hall in Dixon, Cali. Warren joined the armed forces in 1942 as a pilot and began his 35-year legacy as an original Tuskegee Airman. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Madelyn Brown)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Road to the past: Portion of highway dedicated to Tuskegee AirmenPublished Feb. 19, 2014
                    
                    By Senior Airman Madelyn Brown
                    
                    
                    60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
            **TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) --**Although retired Lt. Col. James Warren established a distinguished flying career throughout three wars in the U.S. Army Air Force, he was once arrested for simply having the wrong skin color in the wrong establishment.
Warren joined the armed forces in 1942 as a pilot and began his 35-year legacy as an original Tuskegee Airman. 
The preservation of the Tuskegee Airmen legacy that Warren worked for was memorialized in the form of a 17-mile stretch of Interstate 80. As of Feb. 6, drivers will pass by the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway signs that serve as tribute to the "Red Tails" and their history.
"By designating this 17-mile stretch of highway, we pay homage to their service and sacrifice," said Lois Wolk, a California senator for the third district. "We will remember and others will learn who the Tuskegee Airmen are."
A crowd of more than 100 veterans, civic leaders, elected officials and supporters filled the Veterans Hall in Dixon, Calif. to witness the public tribute to the historic Airmen. Warren was both the speaker of honor for the ceremony as well as the driving force behind the highway dedication.
"The pride I get from this is the greatest pride I've felt in a long time," Warren said. "It means I'm leaving a legacy behind."
During his time in service, Warren fought America's enemies in foreign skies while simultaneously fighting for his civil rights at home. 
He served in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. His 35 years of service culminated in more than 12,000 flying hours. 
Due to his precision as a pilot, Warren was selected to be the navigator on Homecoming One, a C-141 Starlifter that flew into North Vietnam to return the first group of prisoners of war in 1973. 
Warren's distinguished career started out with the strife of racial tensions within the armed forces. In 1945, he was one of 104 African American protestors arrested at Freeman Field, Ind.
The 477th Bombardment Group was comprised of African American pilots being trained to fly bomber aircraft. When the group relocated to Freeman Field the commander created a Club Number One and a Club Number Two. The 477th pilots came in waves of 10 to 20 and would stage sit-ins at Club Number One; the club where African American trainees were not permitted. Most were arrested, many were reprimanded and a few were court-martialed. The day would historically become known as the Freeman Field Mutiny.
"Tuskegee Airmen never quit," Warren said. 
To this day, Warren maintains this mantra. At the age of 87 he became certified for his private pilot's license.
At the dedication ceremony, Warren said it was a dream come true to see the respect and understanding of the Tuskegee Airmen legacy fill the room.
"We know this recognition is long overdue, but it is sincere and we are honored to be a part of making this happen," Wolk said.Tuskegee Airmen Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                SecAF, CSAF, CMSAF begin Indo-Pacific trip focused on ACE
                    
                    DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fightInnovation
                F-16s arrive to be modified for autonomous testing
                    
                    AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalistsMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil