Tuskegee Airmen receive rousing welcome | News

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA)- Some American heroes got a rousing welcome at Montgomery Regional Airport.  Four Tuskegee airmen are returning to the legendary Moton Field for the first time in decades. But before that, Air Force personnel from Maxwell, community members and city leaders greeted them as they landed in Montgomery.

Flight Officer Robert McDaniel, Captain Claude Platte, Staff Sgt. Homer Houges and Lt. Calvin Spann arrived in Montgomery on their way back to Tuskegee.  They are from the Dallas area.

They knew they were coming back to Alabama, but didn't know they would be welcomed so warmly.

 "I didn't expect this many people to be here," Capt. Platte said.

The crowd formed a "Path of Honor" from the arrival gates upstairs to the baggage claim below.  Among those in the crowd, were members of Tuskegee University's Air Force ROTC.

"The whole reason I went to Tuskegee University was the reputation of the Tuskegee Airmen," said Nemia Noble, who attended the event.  "I'm an aerospace engineer and I thought why not, and it was a honor, I was almost into tears when I saw them."

The Airmen will take a private tour of the Moton Field Historical Site, and will later participate in a symposium at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center at 6 p.m.  The session is open to the public.

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