Italy gave the Tuskegee Airmen a home. Now an Italian corporation hopes to make its home in Alabama for what could be a transformational project. Italian ambassador Armando Varricchio visited Moton Field in Tuskegee today, touring the training home of the celebrated World War II fighter pilots. Along with Varricchio was William Lynn III, CEO of Leonardo DRS, the North American arm of the Italian aeronautics and defense contractor.

The company plans to build the T-100 trainer jet for the U.S. Air Force at Tuskegee. But that's if the U.S. Air Force awards the contract for the project. Company officials believe that decision will come this summer. Tuskegee traveled - or perhaps flew - over many competitors to get to this point. The Macon County city beat out 142 sites for consideration, and one big factor was the history of the Airmen, who made their base in Italy during the Second World War.