In 1941, the United States began training African-Americans to fly and maintain combat aircraft as part of the U.S. Army Air Corps. These Airmen overcame adversity, segregation, and prejudice to become one of the most highly respected fighter groups of World War II, executing more than 1,200 combat missions. The Tuskegee Airmen's achievements, together with the men and women that supported them, paved the way for a full integration of the U.S. military, breaking the race barrier.