Known as the Red Tails, The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American military aviators in the United States armed forces. During World War II, African Americans in many U.S. states still were subject to racist Jim Crow laws. The American military was racially segregated, as was much of the federal government. The Tuskegee Airmen were subject to racial discrimination, both within and outside the army. Despite these adversities, they trained and flew with distinction. Formally, they were the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the U.S. Army Air Corps. Although the 477th Bombardment Group "worked up" on North American B-25 Mitchell bombers, they never served in combat; the Tuskegee 332nd Fighter Group was the only operational unit, first sent overseas as part of Operation Torch, then in action in Sicily and Italy, before being deployed as bomber escorts in Europe where they were very successful in their missions. Flying the North American P-51 Mustang, the Tuskeege Airmen were the first Top Gun pilots. Honor these pilots and the African American heritage with this slik screened design on the back and the P-51 Mustang on front left chest.