Tuskegee Airmen, U.S. War Heroes Shine in 2012 Americana Heroes & Legends Set

While the checklist of decorated Olympians, U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team stars, astronauts and U.S. Presidents punctuating Panini America’s latest Americana release is quite impressive, there are two groups in particular that truly help 2012 Americana Heroes & Legends live up to its name.

They’re heroic. They’re legendary. And at long last, they’re on trading cards. Panini America officials worked closely with nine members of the Tuskegee Airmen (the first African American aviators in U.S. military history who flew during World War II and the subject of the 2012 motion picture “Red Tails”) and five living U.S. Medal of Honor recipients to make 2012 Americana Heroes & Legends a truly historic endeavor.

The 14 living legends are honored on a major trading card for the first time in 2012 Americana Heroes & Legends, including some with autograph and memorabilia versions. The nine Tuskegee Airmen honored are Charles McGee, Eugene Richardson, Floyd Carter, Herbert Carter, Mal Whitfield, Roscoe Brown, Roscoe Draper, Shade Lee and Theobald G. Wilson. The five Medal of Honor recipients included are Thomas R. Norris, Robert Martin Patterson, George T. Sakato, James L. Stone and Mike Thornton.

An Americana card gallery of the aforementioned heroes and legends follows . . .