A United States airman aged 102 is in
Italy to fulfil his dream of returning to the skies of Molise
that he fought in during World War II.
Daniel Keel was a member of the 477th Composite Group of the
Tuskegee Airmen and was one of the first African-American
military pilots.
He flew B-25 bombers in the war and will return to his old
runway at Campomarino on Friday, when Italy's celebrates the
80th anniversary of its liberation from Fascism and the Nazi
occupation, to get back in the air on a light aircraft.
"I feel honoured and surprised," Keel told ANSA after receiving
an award and inaugurating murals featuring pilots who died
during the Second World War.
"Flying from the United States all the way here just to see the
view, the country, was exciting and fantastic.
"Being a pilot and black was an honour.
"Those were difficult times for us. Being able to fight a war of
that kind was difficult for various reasons.
"Against all expectations we were managed to fight a war of that
magnitude in the same way as other people".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
