Fort Worth, Texas -- Leathernecks with Fort Worth, Texas-based Marine Aircraft Group 41 and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 41 took part in a tribute to America’s veterans along with two of the first African American military pilots, the Tuskegee Airmen, at Casa Manana Theater earlier this month.
The two-day event, which was held in an effort to benefit the Claude R. Platte Future Pilots Flight School, was presented to nearly 1,000 high school students from the Fort Worth and Dallas Independent School Districts. Included in the roundtable discussion were Col. Gary S. Graham, commanding officer of MAG-41 and Maj. Alejandro House, a reserve logistics officer with MALS-41.
House, who is also co-founder and director of operations for the CRP Flight School, is a key player in program development of the school and is very passionate about its mission in expressing the significance of the Tuskegee Airmen to young people.
“The pledge and commitment of the CRP Future Pilots Flight School is to continue the legacy of our world-class original Tuskegee Airmen by educating our local youth in aviation concepts, math, science, aviation maintenance, and piloting principles,” said House.
Founded in February of 2008, the CRP Flight School commenced its first high school program in August that same year. According to House, their initial youth activity was a summer internship program, where they referred a Dallas-based Skyline High School senior to an aircraft manufacturing company, allowing the student to refine his skills he learned while at CRP in the field of aircraft maintenance.
Per House, this training ultimately led the student to recently be selected to attend the U. S. Naval Academy Preparatory School.
Currently, House and local DFW Tuskegee Airmen of CRP are working together to assist aviation maintenance students at Dunbar High School in learning aircraft engine theory. When the class completes the course during the first year, the students are taken on a field trip to DFW American Airlines and are able to put their knowledge to the test.
During year two, they will commence the airframe construction and electrical development for their aviation maintenance technician certification.
In providing a brief example, House explained that “the flight students are working towards their Sport Pilot rating, which takes 30 hours of total flight training. We have one student who has solo in an aircraft at 15.1 hours and a second who will solo at 20 hours next week.”
In addition, CRP Flight School has six flight students on various financial assistance structures for flight training from four different metroplex school districts. House projects that in August of this year, CRP and its team of Tuskegee Airmen will have fully implemented flight training and aviation maintenance courses at A. Maceo Smith High School in Dallas, P. L. Dunbar High School in Fort Worth, and Desoto High School in Desoto, Texas.
In regards to the tribute to America’s veterans and the Tuskegee Airmen, a special performance was given by author, actor, and decorated Korean War veteran, James McEachin.
McEachin performed his one-man, two-act play “Above the Call – Beyond the Duty” on the second day of the event at Casa Manana for the CRP Flight School fundraiser, entertaining over 600 guests and helping to raise over $30,000.
More is on the horizon for CRP Flight School. Their next event will be the Second Annual Aviation Youth Summit during Father’s Day weekend. According to House, the event will host 100 young men from comedian, actor, and radio host, Steve Harvey Foundation’s Boys Camp, along with other local youth at the Dallas Executive Airport.
“We are standing on the shoulders of giants who will help us propel ourselves through the skies of the future,” House reflected. “It’s a pleasure giving back to our youth and making sure that a program of such survives for the long term.”