George Hardy (Tuskegee Airman)

Last updated

Lieutenant Colonel

George Hardy
Lieutenant Colonel George Hardy Tuskegee Airman.jpg
Birth nameGeorge Edward Hardy [1]
Born (1925-06-08) June 8, 1925 (age 99) [2]
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
AllegianceFlag of the United States.svg United States
Service / branch United States Army Air Force
Years of service1943–1971
RankLieutenant Colonel
Unit 332nd Fighter Group
Awards
Spouse(s)2nd wife Bonnie

George Hardy (born June 8, 1925) is an American retired pilot and military officer. In World War II Hardy served with the Tuskegee Airmen and flew 21 combat missions. In the Korean War he flew 45 combat mission as the pilot of a bomber. In the Vietnam War Hardy flew 70 combat missions piloting an AC-119K gunship. [3]

Contents

Early life

Hardy's parents names were Edward Hardy and Alma Vargas. [1] He was exposed to racism and segregation growing up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [4] He graduated high school in 1942 and wanted to join the military because his older brother had joined the U.S. Navy in 1941. [5] When he joined the Army Air Corps in 1943 the U.S. military was segregated. [4] Hardy faced discrimination from commanders in the Army. [6] After WWII (1947) Hardy went to school at New York University School of Engineering and Science until 1948. [7] Hardy wanted to be an engineer; he did not plan to make a career in the Air Force. [8]

Education

Military service

World War II

The Tuskegee Airmen's aircraft had distinctive markings that led to the name, "Red Tails." Tuskegee P-51.jpg
The Tuskegee Airmen's aircraft had distinctive markings that led to the name, "Red Tails."

In 1943 when Hardy was 17, he joined the Army Air Corps that same year he began training to fly at the Tuskegee Air Field late. [4] [6] He was deployed to Keesler Army Air Field in Biloxi, Mississippi, for basic training. [3] He graduated in 1944 as a second lieutenant in the United States Army. He was qualified to fly single-engine planes and sent to Walterboro Army Air Field in South Carolina to train for combat. He completed his combat training in 1945 and was then sent to Italy. [7] Hardy became one of only about 450 Tuskegee Airmen who were deployed overseas. He flew 21 combat missions over Germany in 1945. [3] The majority of his missions he escorted bombers to their targets. After the war, Hardy went back to Tuskegee to train pilots. [10]

Korean War

Hardy was recalled in 1948 and sent to Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi. He was sent to Guam with the 19th Bomb Group. He then was sent to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa: he flew a B-29 and piloted 45 combat missions over Korea. [7] One senior officer, then-Lt Col Fred W. Miller, disliked Hardy because of his race and he removed him from a B-29 mission. [11] [12] That B-29 was shot down in North Korean airspace. [13]

On a later assignment, Hardy would report to Miller who experienced a complete turnaround; Miller would regard Hardy as one of his best commanders. [11]

Vietnam War

Hardy flew 70 missions piloting a C-119 gunship in the Vietnam War. [10] He flew missions at night using infrared to destroy North Vietnamese supply routes and convoys in Laos and Cambodia. [3]

Honors and awards

99th Fighter Squadron patch 99th Fighter Squadron patch.jpg
99th Fighter Squadron patch

After service

Hardy was one of 188 Tuskegee airmen who attended President Barack Obama’s first inauguration. [10] He now travels the country telling the story of the Tuskegee Airmen and speaking about segregation. [16]

By 2019, Hardy, along with 1949 Top Gun winners James H. Harvey, III, and Harry T. Stewart, Jr., and Dr. Eugene J. Richardson, Jr. were among the last surviving members of the Tuskegee Airmen and the last four survivors that graduated from Tuskegee AAF as single-engine fighter pilots. Of these four, only Hardy and Stewart served as fighter pilots flying the red tail painted P-51D's on combat missions with the 332nd FG overseas based at Ramitelli AB, Italy. The actual P-51 that Hardy flew on many of his combat missions was restored to the markings of "Tall in the Saddle" in England and still flies at airshows there. [17]

With the death of Harry Stewart Jr. in February 2025, Hardy is now the last surviving member of the original 355 Tuskegee Airmen who served in World War II; [18] James H. Harvey, III, who did not serve in combat during World War II but later served in combat missions in the Korean War, [19] lives as well, as does Lt. Eugene J. Robertson, who also did not serve in World War II combat missions. [20]

See also

Related Research Articles

The Tuskegee Airmen was a group of primarily African American military pilots and airmen who fought in World War II. They formed the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group (Medium) of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). The name also applies to the navigators, bombardiers, mechanics, instructors, crew chiefs, nurses, cooks, and other support personnel. The Tuskegee airmen received praise for their excellent combat record earned while protecting American bombers from enemy fighters. The group was awarded three Distinguished Unit Citations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles W. Dryden</span> American Tuskegee Airman fighter pilot (1920–2008)

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spann Watson</span> Tuskegee Airman and US government official (1916–2020

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Calvin J. Spann was one of the original Tuskegee Airmen, a fighter pilot with the 100th Fighter Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group. Spann received his wings from the Tuskegee Flight School as a part of graduating class 44G. As a member of the United States Army Air Corps, he served in Europe during World War II, where Spann flew 26 combat missions before the end of the war in the European Theater.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hiram Mann</span> American fighter pilot

Hiram Mann was an American aviator, retired lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force, and member of the Tuskegee Airmen's 332nd Fighter Group, an elite squadron of African-American airmen during World War II. Mann flew forty-eight missions over Europe as a member of the 332nd Fighter Group during the war. Mann was a member of the "Red Tails," as the Tuskegee Airmen were called at the time, so-called because the tails of the P-51D Mustangs flown by the African-American pilots in combat missions were painted crimson red.. Mann nicknamed his own fighter plane "The Iron Lady" after his wife.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walter Manning</span> African-American pilot and veteran (1920–1945)

Walter P. Manning (POW) † was an American fighter pilot of the primarily African American Tuskegee Airmen. He flew 50 missions, and was awarded the Air Medal for heroism six times. After being shot down in 1945, he was captured in Austria and subsequently lynched by a mob. He was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007 along with all other Tuskegee Airmen. Manning is the only known black man to have been lynched in Austria during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James H. Harvey</span> American Tuskegee Airman fighter pilot (born 1923)

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clarence C. Jamison</span> American Tuskegee Airmen fighter pilot (1918–2014)

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Price D. Rice</span> Tuskegee Airman (1916–1999)

Price D. Rice was a U.S. Army Air Corps/U.S. Air Force officer and combat fighter pilot of the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen. He was one of 1,007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herman A. Lawson</span> Tuskegee Airman Fighter Pilot (1916–1995)

Herman Albert "Ace" Lawson was a former Sacramento, California city councilman, Fresno State University football standout, highly decorated U.S. Army Air Force/U.S. Air Force officer, combat fighter pilot, and combat flight instructor with the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Pursuit Squadron, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen or "Red Tails". He was one of 1,007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William H. Holloman</span> Tuskegee Airman (1924–2010)

William Hugo Holloman III was a U.S. Army Air Force officer, combat fighter pilot, and high-profile member of the prodigious 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen, "Red Tails", or "Schwarze Vogelmenschen" among enemy German pilots.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "George Edward Hardy". Cincinnatilibrary. The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  2. ↑ Miller, S (June 8, 2016). "A Birthday to Remember: Tuskegee Airman Celebrates Birthday Onboard". southwestaircommunity. Southwest Airlines Co. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Cox, Billy (April 20, 2016). "George Hardy, 90, flew 21 combat missions in the spring of 1945". Gatehouse Media LLC. Archived from the original on September 22, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Fowler Jr., Vernon L. (February 16, 2016). "MacDill hosts a Tuskegee Airman". amc. Official United States Air Force Website. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  5. ↑ DuBois, Maya (January 18, 2019). "A living legend visits FAMU". thefamuanonline. College Media Network. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  6. 1 2 Shastri, Devi (July 28, 2018). "The Tuskegee Airmen fought a world war and racism. Now, they're telling kids their story". Oshkosh Northwestern. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  7. 1 2 3 "George E. Hardy". redtail. CAF Red Tail Squadron. Archived from the original on July 23, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  8. 1 2 Erickson, Jim. "Honoring Heroes". newsmagazinenetwork. West Media Inc. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  9. ↑ Rice, Markus. "The Men and Their Airplanes: The Fighters." Tuskegee Airmen, 1 March 2000.
  10. 1 2 3 Dean, Vicki (October 18, 2018). "Sarasota resident George Hardy reflects on his service as Tuskegee Airman". Gatehouse Media LLC. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  11. 1 2 American Veterans Center (January 10, 2019). Lt. Colonel George Hardy, Tuskegee Airmen (Full Interview) . Retrieved October 25, 2024– via YouTube.
  12. ↑ "28 Bomb Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  13. ↑ Avery, Brad (October 27, 2015). "Tuskegee Airmen give speech on race, history at Framingham State". Gatehouse Media LLC. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  14. 1 2 Rojas, Josh. "Tuskegee Airman George Hardy, 87, Broke Down Racial Barriers". postnewsgroup. Post News Group. Archived from the original on July 25, 2019. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  15. 1 2 "George Hardy - Tuskegee Airman - Sarasota, FL". FVHOF Society. Florida Veterans Hall of Fame. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  16. ↑ Dunlap, Tiare. "Veterans from World War II's All-Black Aviation Unit on How They Shattered Racial Stereotypes: 'We Proved That Thinking Wrong'". people. Meredith Corporation. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  17. ↑ Ph.D, Scott Rank (June 18, 2019). "An Interview with 95-Year-Old Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Harry Stewart". History. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  18. ↑ Barrett, Claire (February 4, 2025). "One of the last remaining Tuskegee World War II veterans dies at 100". Military Times. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Lt. Col James Harvey III". American Veterans Center. 2020. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Lt. Eugene J. Richardson, Jr. (1925-". Greater Philadelphia Chapter Tuskegee Airmen. Retrieved February 4, 2025.

Notes

  1. ↑ The red markings that distinguished the Tuskegee Airmen included red bands on the noses of P-51s as well as a red rudder; their P-51B and D Mustangs flew with similar color schemes, with red propeller spinners, yellow wing bands and all-red tail surfaces. [9]
  2. ↑ Hardy remembered the exact words that George Bush said to the Tuskegee Airmen as he awarded the Congressional Medal: “For most of the salutes you didn’t get, I salute you.” [14]


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