Civil Air Patrol Marco Squadron Facilitates Donation

Members of the Civil Air Patrol’s Marco Island Senior Squadron gathered in Detroit on June 2, 2026, to support the donation of "The Longest Mission," a historic World War II painting, to the Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Museum.

Donors Dave and Jeanne Rice formally presented the artwork, created by artist Dr. Clint Martin, during a heartwarming ceremony. They were accompanied by a Civil Air Patrol delegation from Florida that included Lt. Col. Bob Nager, Capt. Richard Griessmeyer, 1st Lt. Michael Harms, squadron commander, 1st Lt. Akwete "Lex" Adjei, and member Joe Huber.

"The Longest Mission" vividly depicts American B-17 bombers being escorted deep into enemy territory by P-51 Mustang fighter aircraft during the late stages of World War II. The piece highlights critical air combat battles and has previously been displayed at the Pentagon, the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, and the Smithsonian Institution. Since 2014, it has been on loan to Marco Island Senior Squadron in southwestern Florida.

The artwork honors the famed "Red Tails," the pioneering African American aviators who completed their flight training at two airfields in Tuskegee, Alabama—Moton Field, for primary flight training, and the Tuskegee Army Airfield, for basic, advanced, and operational training. During the historic March 24, 1945, bombing mission over Berlin—a grueling 1,600-mile round trip—the Tuskegee Airmen were tasked with protecting an armada of 150 U.S. bombers targeting heavily defended German industrial sites. These included the Daimler-Benz tank factory in Genshagen, the Bosch electric plant in Kleinmachnow, and a ball-bearing plant in Erkner. Facing a fleet of Focke-Wulf 190s, ME-410s, and the formidable new ME-262 jet fighters, the Tuskegee Airmen successfully defended the bombers and shot down three of the ME-262 jets. German forces reportedly referred to the highly skilled fighter pilots as "Schwarze Vogelmenschen" (Black Birdmen) due to their unmatched aerial combat abilities.

During the visit, the Marco Island delegation was warmly welcomed by Lola Rushin, Public Affairs Director, and Amanda Ford, the museum’s Curator, who introduced the group to Dr. Brian R. Smith, CEO and President of the museum. The museum serves as a vital repository of aviation history, featuring a STEM hangar filled with pictures and artifacts from the pilots, ground crews, and service personnel of the 99th Pursuit Squadron and the 477th Bombardment Group. The facility’s Education Program includes Aircraft Flight and Drone Training, Aircraft Mechanics, Physics, 3D Printing, Rocketry, and the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen.

The group enjoyed a profound discussion about the museum’s purpose, its goals, and future interactive opportunities. Dr. Smith shared how he was taught to fly by the late Ralph Mason, a Tuskegee Airman, and how he flies in airshows—including the Oshkosh Fly-In—in a vintage AT-6, the same type of aircraft the Tuskegee Airmen trained with. He also recalled how, at the age of 14, he began taking apart motorcycle engines and putting them back together. That early curiosity grew into a self-taught mastery of aircraft engine repair, a skill he now teaches at the Museum.

Donors Dave and Jeanne Rice each bring a storied background to the presentation. Jeanne Rice, former Athletic Director for the University of Mississippi, and her family were long-time friends of the Martin family and neighbors of the artist, Dr. Clint Martin, and his family. Jeanne and her family received the painting. Dave Rice is a former athletic director and head football coach at Fordham University, previously coached at Western Connecticut, and played for the original New York Titans football team (which later became the New York Jets). He was inducted into the American Football Association Hall of Fame in 2005.

The legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen, who willingly gave their lives for their country despite facing severe racism at home, continues to command deep respect and admiration. As President George W. Bush stated when presenting the aviators with the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007: "I would like to offer a gesture to help atone for all the unreturned salutes and unforgivable indignities... On behalf of the office I hold, and a country that honors you, I salute you."