Capt. Louis R. Purnell

The Tuskegee Airmen portraits were a gift to the Supreme Court of Ohio from the artist, Robert E. Tanner, in 2008. The five oil paintings are part of a 10-part body of work by the Delaware County artist. Robert Tanner combined his respect for the Tuskegee Airmen, his love of aviation, and his artistic talents to create the series of portraits showing the faces of men who helped change history. Tanner donated the paintings to the Supreme Court of Ohio in the hope the public would view them and remember a group of men who fought for the United States and contributed to the historic social change toward racial equality in America.

Louis R. Purnell was born April 5, 1921, in Wilmington, Del. His interest in aviation began at an early age, with the influence of a black pilot named Hubert Julian. After hearing a speech by Julian, Purnell knew he wanted to one day be a pilot, even though his family wanted him to become a doctor. While Purnell was attending Lincoln University in Chester County, Pa., World War II began and Purnell joined the Civilian Pilot Training program, which was established to allow African Americans to train for war. After a lawsuit against the Air Corps in 1941, African Americans were allowed admission to a segregated military training program, and, as a result, the 99th Pursuit Squadron, an African American cadet class, began flying in July 1941 at Tuskegee Army Air Field in Tuskegee, Ala. The 99th Fighter Squadron is the only unit never to lose a bomber to enemy fire while flying as escorts.