The 452nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion

The 452nd Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion, staffed by Black soldiers, protected vital installations and shot down 68 enemy aircraft during WWII. During the Second World War, the airplane became a true menace. Flying faster, higher, and capable of carrying a heavier payload, air forces of the warring nations formed a formidable threat to the forces on the ground. To counter this, special anti-aircraft artillery battalions were created by the US Army. Several of these battalions, including the 45