A 'red tail' in living color

The Tuskegee Airmen used several aircraft types before getting one that became inextricably associated with them: In July 1944, they began flying the North American P-51 Mustang.

The airmen's planes, with their distinctive red tails (thus the title of the movie opening Friday), became widely known. A P-51C model like those flown by the Tuskegee Airmen is on display in South St. Paul. The Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Wing's museum at Fleming Field also has five more old aircraft, several vehicles and a host of World War II displays and memorabilia.