【2月13日】看軍聞學英語

作者：刀客

原文：

McGee earned his pilot's wings on June 30, 1943, and became one of the nation's first black fighter pilots as part of the storied Tuskegee Airmen. At the time, segregation severely limited opportunities for black aviators, and many felt black people didn't have what it took to be pilots.

But McGee and his comrades in the 332nd Fighter Group, flying P-51 Mustang fighters emblazoned with a distinctive red tail, proved them wrong as they escorted bombers over Europe. They became known and respected for their exceptional fighting skills, and helped pave the way for the military to desegregate after the war.

中譯：

麥基於1943年6月30日獲頒飛行胸章，並成為美國首批由非裔戰鬥機飛行員編成，享有傳奇盛名的塔斯基奇飛行員之一。當時，種族隔離嚴重限制了黑人飛行員的機會，而很多人也認為他們不具備成為飛行員的條件。

但麥基與同屬第332戰鬥機群的同僚，駕駛機尾塗裝獨特紅色標示的P-51野馬戰鬥機，完成護衛轟炸機飛越歐洲的任務，證實了眾人對他們的成見是錯誤的。他們因出色的戰鬥技能而聞名並受到尊重，亦促成軍方於戰後廢除種族隔離。

－關鍵軍語－

※pilot's wings:

Aviator badge, an insignia used to designate those who have received training and qualification in military aviation.

※bomber:

A combat aircraft designed to carry and drop bombs.

例句：

During the Cold War, bombers were the only means of carrying nuclear weapons to enemy targets, and held the role of deterrence.

冷戰期間，轟炸機是向敵方目標投射核子武器的唯一選項，並具有嚇阻能力。