Dozens of Black pilots disappeared during WWII. Who are the men still lost?

This episode of NPR's The Sunday Story explores the overlooked tragedy of 27 Black pilots from the Tuskegee Airmen who went missing during World War II and were never recovered. While the Tuskegee Airmen are celebrated as heroes—awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007—this episode sheds light on the families who were left in limbo, with no closure, no official acknowledgment, and no follow-up from the U.S. government. NPR investigative correspondent Cheryl W. Thompson, whose father was a Tuskegee Airman, shares her personal connection to the story and reveals how years of research uncovered the deeply human lives of these young men—college-educated, full of hope, with girlfriends, families, and dreams—before they were lost in war. Her book, *Forgotten Souls: The Search for the Lost Tuskegee Airmen*, gives voice to their stories and exposes the systemic neglect faced by Black service members, even as they fought for a nation that segregated them. Thompson emphasizes that these families, many still alive today, have endured decades of silence and emotional abandonment. Despite national honors for surviving Airmen, the families of the missing were ignored—never contacted, never informed, and never acknowledged. The episode underscores a powerful call for recognition: not just for the fallen, but for the enduring pain of those left behind. The takeaway is clear: honoring history means remembering not only the triumphs but also the tragedies and the people who were forgotten in the process.