Forgotten Souls

The Search for the Lost Tuskegee Airmen

By: Cheryl W. Thompson

Narrated by: Cheryl W. Thompson

NPR investigative journalist and the daughter of a Tuskegee Airman, Cheryl W. Thompson explores the stories of the 27 Tuskegee Airmen—the Black pilots who fought for America in WWII—who went missing in combat, the lives they lived, the reasons their planes went down, why the remains of all but two were never found, and the impact their disappearances had on their families and communities.

In 1945, World War II ended one of the deadliest conflicts in history. Geared for battle were nearly 1,000 trailblazing Black pilots trained at the Tuskegee Army Air Field, an unrepentantly segregated facility in Alabama. Hailing from the Iowa cornfields to the Texas Gulf Coast to the tobacco plantations of North Carolina, the Tuskegee Airmen already proved, under the toughest circumstances, to be among the most resilient and defiantly patriotic men of the Army Air Corps.

Twenty-seven of them disappeared during the final critical missions in Europe. So, too, would the government’s efforts to find them or help to bring closure to the loved ones that the valiant 332nd Fighter Group left behind.

In Forgotten Souls, award-winning investigative journalist Cheryl W. Thompson delves into the true stories of the Black combat pilots who faced unimaginable racism—before, during and after the war—from a military that told them they were less than, even as their courage and aviation prowess saved scores of White brothers-in-arms from the enemy and possibly death.

As cruel as war itself could be, the friends, family, communities and fellow Tuskegee Airmen who mourned the lost pilots never imagined how unforgivable it could get. After 80 years, Forgotten Souls honors the impact they made, and the sacrifices they endured on America’s behalf.

“Forgotten Souls is a tenacious reporting journey that illuminates a part of American history too often relegated to the shadows. Its exploration ensures heroic men and women won’t be forgotten, starting with the author’s own father.”—Robert Samuels, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of His Name Is George Floyd

©2026 Cheryl W. Thompson (P)2026 Recorded Books

Every reader will learn something important!

Cheryl W. Thompson's extensive research involving the WWII heroes known as the Tuskegee Airmen in general and the 27 who were MIA and abandoned by our country is a must-read. Despite my lifelong interest in this war, I knew very little about this particular band of brothers, I was unprepared for the depth of knowledge and the emotional responses this book stirred in me.

In her search for answers, Ms. Thompson was fortunate to be able to meet with surviving airmen (quite a few of whom had reached 100 years of age). They provided little-known details about how the program had operated and their own experiences with racial discrimination. In her interviews with families of the lost flyers, their unwavering hope that their loved ones would be recovered was inspiring, yet sad.

The United States was in dire need of fighter pilots but begrudgingly accepted the willing help of Black men - many of whom were college-educated professionals. Even worse, the newest, safest planes were assigned to White flyers while obsolete aircraft prone to engine failure were doled out to the Tuskegee airmen. It is most likely that this was the main reason these 27 lost men crashed or were forced to bail out behind enemy lines.

Each family Ms. Thompson interviewed shared recollections of the upbringing, education, jobs, wives or girlfriends, and hopes and aspirations of these patriotic young men. Many shared cherished photos and souvenirs. These stories were riveting, inspiring and heartbreaking.

Why don't these men share a larger role in the history of our involvement in WWII? This should be required reading for high school students, and I will venture to say that adults of all ages could benefit from a better understanding of our history.