Ramitelli Collection

TUSKEGEE AIRMEN, 1945. Members of the Tuskegee Airmen 332nd Fighter Group at a briefing at Ramitelli Airfield, Italy, March 1945. Photograph by Toni Frissell

WWII: P-51 MUSTANGS, 1945. Four P-51 Mustang fighter planes flying in formation over Ramitelli, Italy. Photograph by Toni Frissell, March 1945

WWII: TUSKEGEE AIRMEN, 1945. Edward Gleed and two other Tuskegee Airmen adjust an external 75 gallon drop tank on the wing of a P-5/D fighter plane Creamers Dream, at Ramitelli Airfield, Italy

Goats on the runway at an airfield in Ramitelli, Italy. Photograph by Toni Frissell, March 1945
WORLD WAR II: AIRFIELD. Goats on the runway at an airfield in Ramitelli, Italy. Photograph by Toni Frissell, March 1945

Group of Tuskegee Airmen playing cards in the officers club at Ramitelli Airfield, Italy
WWII: TUSKEGEE AIRMEN, 1945. Group of Tuskegee Airmen playing cards in the officers club at Ramitelli Airfield, Italy. Photograph by Toni Frissell, March 1945

WWII: TUSKEGEE AIRMEN, 1945. Tuskegee Airment Roscoe Brown, Marcellus Smith and Benjamin Davis, with ammunition at Ramitelli Airfield in Italy. Photograph by Toni Frissell, March 1945

WWII: TUSKEGEE AIRMEN, 1945. Tuskegee Airmen leaving the parachute room at Ramitelli Airfield in Italy, March 1945. Left to right

WWII: TUSKEGEE AIRMEN, 1945. Members of the Tuskegee Airmen ground crew at Ramitelli Airfield in Italy, looking skyward. Photograph by Toni Frissell, March 1945

TUSKEGEE AIRMAN, 1945. Sergeant William Bostic of the Tuskegee Airmen 301st Fighting Squad, in the control tower at Ramitelli Airfield, Italy. Photograph by Toni Frissell, March 1945

TUSKEGEE AIRMAN, 1945. Crew chief Marcellus Smith of the Tuskegee Airmen 100th Fighting Squadron, working on an airplane at Ramitelli Airfield in Italy. Photograph by Toni Frissell, March 1945

WWII: TUSKEGEE AIRMEN, 1945. Group of Tuskegee Airmen playing cards in the officers club at Ramitelli Airfield, Italy. Photograph by Toni Frissell, March 1945

WWII: TUSKEGEE AIRMAN, 1945. Fighter pilot Newman Golden of the Tuskegee Airmen scans the skies. Behind him is the parachute room, at Ramitelli Airfield, Italy. Photograph by Toni Frissell, March 1945

TUSKEGEE AIRMEN, 1945. Tuskegee Airmen at a briefing at Ramitelli Airfield, Italy. Photograph by Toni Frissell, March 1945

TUSKEGEE AIRMEN, 1945. Tuskegee Airmen mechanics Marcellus Smith (left) and Roscoe Brown, working on a fighter plane at Ramitelli Airfield, Italy. Photograph by Toni Frissell, March 1945

TUSKEGEE AIRMEN, 1945. William Campbell (left) and Thurston Gaines, Jr. of the Tuskegee Airmen 332nd Fighter Group at Ramitelli Airfield, Italy, March 1945. Photograph by Toni Frissell

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"Ramitelli: The Historic Hub of the Tuskegee Airmen in WWII" During World War II, Ramitelli Airfield in Italy became a significant base for the legendary Tuskegee Airmen. In March 1945, members of the 332nd Fighter Group gathered at Ramitelli for a crucial briefing before their missions. Captured by photographer Toni Frissell, this iconic image showcases Gentry Barnes, Samuel Watts, and Wendell Lucas in the front row. The dedication and skill of these African American pilots were evident as they prepared their aircraft for combat. Edward Gleed and two fellow Tuskegee Airmen can be seen adjusting an external drop tank on Creamers Dream, a P-51D fighter plane stationed at Ramitelli Airfield. This photograph serves as a testament to their technical expertise. Formation flying was another remarkable feat achieved by these brave aviators. Four P-51 Mustangs soar gracefully over Ramitelli in perfect unison—a breathtaking sight that symbolizes unity and strength amidst adversity. Beyond their duties as warriors, camaraderie played an essential role in boosting morale during wartime. At the officers' club at Ramitelli Airfield, Tuskegee Airmen engaged in friendly card games during moments of respite from combat duty. Walter Mo Downs and William Price III are captured enjoying some well-deserved downtime. However, not all aspects of war were lighthearted; survival tools were necessary precautions for every pilot's safety. Fighter pilots like Theodore Lumpkin Jr. , Joseph Chineworth, Robert Robinson, Driskell Ponder, and Robert Williams received escape kits containing cyanide capsules—an unsettling reminder of the risks they faced daily while defending freedom. While goats may seem out of place on an airfield runway photo taken by Toni Frissell at Ramitelli Airfield demonstrates how life continues even amidst conflict—nature persists, reminding us of the resilience and adaptability of both humans and animals.