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Photos

Snapshots of what’s happening in the Defense Department.

Tuskegee Airman retired Col. Elmer Jones smiles as he looks at an oil painting depicting some of the history of the Tuskegee Airmen on display in the Pentagon on Nov. 10, 2005. The Airmen are at the Pentagon to receive briefings on the state of the Air Force, an update on global operations and have lunch with Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld. During World War II, the Tuskegee Airmen were credited with destroying 261 aircraft, damaging 148 aircraft, flying 15,553 combat sorties and 1,578 missions over Italy and North Africa. They destroyed or damaged over 950 units of ground transportation and escorted more than 200 bombing missions. As an escort fighter wing during World War II, they never lost a bomber to enemy fighters.

Tuskegee Airman retired Col. Elmer Jones smiles as he looks at an oil painting.

Tuskegee Airman retired Col. Elmer Jones smiles as he looks at an oil painting depicting some of the history of the Tuskegee Airmen on display in the Pentagon on Nov. 10, 2005. The Airmen are at the Pentagon to receive briefings on the state of the Air Force, an update on global operations and have lunch with Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld. During World War II, the Tuskegee Airmen were credited with destroying 261 aircraft, damaging 148 aircraft, flying 15,553 combat sorties and 1,578 missions over Italy and North Africa. They destroyed or damaged over 950 units of ground transportation and escorted more than 200 bombing missions. As an escort fighter wing during World War II, they never lost a bomber to enemy fighters.

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