Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site in Macon County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
The Control Tower
Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site
— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —
From Moton Field’s Control Tower, controllers directed flight operations and signaled landing instructions to pilots through a system of flashing colored lights. Dispatchers called cadets for their flights. The tower overlooked the busy – and noisy – flow of aircraft, pedestrian, and vehicle traffic between two hangars.
The tower was where the dispatcher would look out on the field and call the cadets over the loudspeaker to tell them about their flight assignments. Also in that tower was a big chamber in which parachutes were hung to dry.
Roscoe Draper, 2001
Born in Haverford, Pennsylvania in 1919, Roscoe Draper completed the Civilian Pilot Training (CPT) Program at Hampton Institute in 1940. He came to Tuskegee Institute for advanced training and became a CPT instructor. In 1943 Draper was made a civilian Primary Flight Training instructor at Moton Field. Later, he worked for the Federal Aviation Administration as an operations inspector in Philadelphia.
[Background photo caption reads] PT-17s taxi from the tie-down area behind Hangar No. 2, possibly in preparation for flight training. They received taxi clearance from the Control Tower.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Air & Space • Patriots & Patriotism • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and the Tuskegee Airmen series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 2001.
Location. 32° 27.466′ N, 85° 40.79′ W. Marker is in Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, Alabama, in Macon County. Marker is on the national historic site grounds at Moton Field, 1616 Chappie James Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Tuskegee AL 36083, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A Typical Day (a few steps from this marker); Moton Field Expands (within shouting distance of this marker); Waiting for the Bus (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Bath and Locker House (about 300 feet away); Oil Storage Shed (about 300 feet away); A Bit to Eat (about 300 feet away); It Was Called "Dope" (about 300 feet away); FIRE! (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site.
Also see . . .
1. Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site. (Submitted on April 13, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (Submitted on April 13, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 29, 2019. It was originally submitted on April 13, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 804 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 13, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.