During World War II, Black women served in technical support roles at Tuskegee Army Airfield, including as parachute riggers responsible for packing, maintaining, and inspecting parachutes used by military pilots. Their work supported the training and operations of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first Black military aviators in the United States Army Air Forces.
One press photograph depicting four Black women who served as parachute riggers for the Tuskegee Airmen at the Tuskegee Army Airfield during World War II.
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Press Photograph of four Black Female WWII Parachute Riggers at Tuskegee Airfield Ms-2025-017, Brown University Library
Purchased by Brown University Library 2025
The photograph depicts four Black women parachute riggers working with parachute equipment at Tuskegee Army Airfield during World War II. The 7.5 x 9.5 inch black-and-white silver gelatin press photograph bears a stamp reading “Photograph by U.S. Army Air Corps,” indicating it was likely produced between 1941 and 1942.