James H. Harvey

Last updated
James H. Harvey
James H. Harvey 2022 (cropped).jpg
Harvey in 2022
Born (1923-07-13) July 13, 1923 (age 100)
Montclair, New Jersey, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branch United States Army Air Force (1943–47)
United States Air Force (1947–65)
Years of service1943–1965
Rank Lieutenant Colonel
Unit 332nd Fighter Group
Battles/wars World War II
Korean War
Awards Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal (11)
Congressional Gold Medal

James Henry Harvey III (born July 13, 1923) is a retired United States Army Air Corps/United States Air Force (USAF) officer and former African American fighter pilot who served with 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen, "Red Tails", or among enemy German pilots, Schwartze Vogelmenschen ("Black birdmen"). [1] He is one of the 1,007 documented Tuskegee Airmen pilots. [2]

Contents

Harvey is best known as the first African American USAF jet fighter pilot to fly combat operations in the Korean War. [1] Harvey and his 332nd Fighter Group Weapons pilot team won the USAF's inaugural "Top Gun" team competition in 1949. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] Along with every member of the Tuskegee Airmen, he received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2006. [8] Harvey, along with George Hardy and fellow 1949 Top Gun winner Harry Stewart Jr., is among the last surviving members of the Tuskegee Airmen. [9]

Early life and education

James Henry Harvey III was born in Montclair, New Jersey, on July 13, 1923. [10] He was the son of James Harvey and Cornelia Harvey. Harvey had three younger siblings: brother Charles and sisters Dorothy and Cornelia. [5]

Harvey attended primary school in Silver Lake, Essex County, New Jersey, and Montclair, New Jersey. [5] In 1930, his family moved from Montclair to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. In 1936, the Harveys moved to Nuangola Station in Northeastern Pennsylvania, where they were the sole African American family in the area. [11] Harvey attended high school in Mountain Top, Pennsylvania. An excellent student, he served as President of his senior class, anchor man on the tumbling team, captain of the basketball team, and was class valedictorian. [1] [5]

World War II military career

P-51 aircraft with red markings. P-51C-18.jpg
P-51 aircraft with red markings.

Harvey attempted to enlist with the United States Army Air Corps in January 1943; however, he was turned down because of his race. [3] He was instead drafted into the United States Army in April 1943, and was initially assigned to the United States Army Air Corps as an engineer. After applying for the Aviation Cadet Training Program, Harvey took the Cadet Training Exam at Bolling Field, and was admitted to the Tuskegee Flight School's Aviation Cadet Training Program. After attending Basic Training in Biloxi, Mississippi for thirty days, he was transferred to Tuskegee Army Air Field to begin pilot training. [7] On October 16, 1944, Harvey graduated from the Tuskegee Flight Program Army Air as a member of Class 44-4, receiving both his wings and a commission as second lieutenant flying officer. In April 1945, he completed combat training in Walterboro, South Carolina, at Walterboro Army Air Field, where over 500 Tuskegee Airmen trained as replacement pilots for the 332nd Fighter Group and the entire 447th Bombardment Group until the base closed in October 1945. [1] [13]

The United States Army Air Corps assigned Harvey to 99th Fighter Squadron in Godman Field, Kentucky. However, Harvey and his squadron did not engage in combat during World War II.

Winner of the 1949 "Top Gun Competition"

In January 1949, the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force sent out a directive to each Air Force group requesting their participation in an aerial weapons competition. Four months later, in May 1949, Harvey joined the 332nd Fighter Group Weapons three-member pilot team to compete at the U.S. Air Force's inaugural "Top Gun" team competition held at the Las Vegas Air Force Base (now Nellis Air Force Base). [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] A grueling 10-day event, the competition comprised six events: aerial gunnery at 20,000 feet, aerial gunnery at 12,000 feet, dive bombing, skip bombing, rocketing firing, and panel strafing. [3] [4] His team led from start to finish. [3] [14]

Harvey's 332nd Fighter Group team included the 100th Squadron's First Lieutenant Harry Stewart Jr., the 300th Squadron's Captain Alva Temple, 99th Squadron's First Lieutenant Halbert Alexander (who served as an alternate pilot), and Staff Sergeant Buford A. Johnson as aircraft crew chief. [7] [15] Harvey and his team competed in P-47N Thunderbolts. [7] [14]

The results and the three-foot-high, silver winning trophy (stashed in a Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Museum storage area for 55 years) were absent from the Air Force archives until 1995. [1] [3] Flying F-47Ns, a variant of the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, Harvey and his team won against U.S. Air Force fighter group teams in far more advanced aircraft. [1] Harvey remarked: "They knew who won, but did not want to recognize us." [4]

Later career and retirement

In 1949, Harvey and fellow Tuskegee Airman Edward P. Drummond, Jr. were transferred from Lockbourne AFB, Ohio to an F-80 squadron at the Misawa Air Base in Japan as a Fighter Pilot and Flight Commander. Harvey became the first African American jet fighter pilot to engage in combat during the Korean War. Harvey was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for leading four F-80s amidst bad weather conditions during a bomber support mission on October 16, 1950 near Yongsan, Korea (now the Yongsan District in Seoul, South Korea), inflicting heavy damage on an enemy encampment. [1] Harvey flew 140 missions in Korea, and was awarded several Air Medals. [4]

After the Korean War, Harvey served in multiple roles. In 1951, Harvey served as the Assistant Operations Officer, Instrument Instructor Pilot and Aircraft Test Pilot in the 94th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at George Air Force Base in California. In 1955, Harvey served as the Flying Safety Officer of the 27th NORAD Region, Norton AFB in California, receiving the Flight Rating of "Command Pilot". In 1956, Harvey became the Fighter Training Officer of North Eastern Air Command Headquarters at Pepperrell AFB in Newfoundland. In 1959, Harvey served as the Assistant Group Operations Officer of the 1st Fighter Group and the Operations Officer of the 71st Fighter Interceptor Squadron flying F-102 aircraft at Selfridge AFB in Michigan. In 1961, Harvey was assigned to Headquarters 30th NORAD Region, Truax Field, Wisconsin as a Weapons Director Staff Officer and later as Battle Staff Training Officer for the Commanding General and his staff. [1] Harvey retired as a lieutenant colonel on March 31, 1965. He served a combined 22 years in the United States Army Air Corps and the United States Air Force.

On June 7, 1965, American meat and cold cut production company Oscar Mayer hired Harvey as a corporate salesman, relocating his family of four girls across the U.S. In April 1972, Oscar Mayer transferred Harvey to Denver, Colorado, where he lives today. [1] He retired from Oscar Mayer in 1980. [1] Harvey turned 100 on July 13, 2023. [16]

Military awards

Harvey earned the following awards during his 22 year career in the United States Army Air Corps/U.S. Air Force: [4]

On March 29, 2007, Harvey — along with every member of the Tuskegee Airmen — was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. [8]

Aircraft flown

During his 22 year career, Harvey flew the following aircraft: [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

The Tuskegee Airmen were a group of 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)

Charles Walter Dryden was a U.S. Army Air Force officer and one of the original combat fighter pilot with the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron,a component of the Tuskegee Airmen. Among the United States' first eight African American combat fighter pilots, Dryden is notable as a member of the Tuskegee Advance Flying School (TAFS)'s Class Number SE-42-C, the program's 2nd-ever aviation cadet program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee Archer (pilot)</span> Tuskegee Airman fighter pilot (1919–2010)

Lee Andrew Archer, Jr. was an African American fighter pilot in the 332nd Fighter Group, commonly known as the Tuskegee Airmen, during World War II. He was one of the first African American military aviators in the United States Army Air Corps, the United States Army Air Forces and later the United States Air Force, eventually earning the rank of lieutenant colonel.

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

Spann Watson was an American military aviator and civil servant who served with the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. He flew over 30 missions in North Africa, Italy and Southern Europe. On March 2007, Watson attended a ceremony in the U.S. Capitol rotunda, where he and other surviving veterans of the Tuskegee Airmen were honored with the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of their service. He died on April 15, 2010, aged 93.

Master Sergeant Buford A. Johnson was a member of the famed group of African-American World War II pilots and support personnel known as the Tuskegee Airmen. During World War II, he served as the chief mechanic servicing the fighter planes of the 99th Fighter Squadron of the 477th Composite Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Hardy (Tuskegee Airman)</span> USAAF pilot (born 1925)

George Hardy 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.

Edward Lucien Toppins was a U.S. Army Air Force officer, commanding officer of the 602nd Air Engineering Squadron, and a celebrated African-American World War II fighter pilot within the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen, "Red Tails," or “Schwartze Vogelmenschen” among enemy German pilots. He was one of 1,007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alva Temple</span> Tuskegee Airman fighter pilot (1917–2004)

LTC Alva Newte Temple was an officer in the U.S. Army Air Forces and combat fighter pilot with the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron and 300th Squadron, best known as the all-African American Tuskegee Airmen, "Red Tails," or among enemy German pilots, “Schwartze Vogelmenschen”. He was one of the 1007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots.

Harry Thaddeus Stewart Jr. is a retired United States Army Air Forces officer, a Distinguished Flying Cross recipient, and a fighter pilot who served in the 332nd Fighter Group, best known as the all-African American Tuskegee Airmen.

Halbert Leo Alexander was an officer in the U.S. Army Air Forces and U.S. Air Force and a fighter pilot with the all-African American 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron and 300st Fighter Squadron, colloquially known as the Tuskegee Airmen. He was one of the 1007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lincoln Hudson</span> American fighter pilot (1916–1988)

Lincoln T. Hudson was a U.S. Army Air Force officer, World War II fighter pilot, Prisoner of War in Nazi Germany, and a corporate executive. During World War II, Hudson served in the all-African-American 332nd Fighter Group's 301st Fighter Squadron, best known as the all-African American combat fighter pilot group, the Tuskegee Airmen, "Red Tails," or among enemy German pilots, “Schwartze Vogelmenschen”.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George J. Iles</span> United States military officer and fighter pilot (1918–2004)

George Jewell Iles was a U.S. Army Air Force officer, former World War II Prisoner of War in Nazi Germany, and combat fighter pilot with the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron, best known as the all-African American Tuskegee Airmen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew D. Turner</span> American military officer and fighter pilot

Andrew D. Turner was an officer in the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) and a fighter pilot and commanding officer of the all-African American 332nd Fighter Group's 100th Fighter Squadron, best known as the all-African American Tuskegee Airmen, "Red Tails," or among enemy German pilots, “Schwartze Vogelmenschen”.

Woodrow Wilson Crockett(pronounced "Crow-Ket") was an officer in the U.S. Army Air Force/U.S. Air Force and a fighter pilot and interim commanding officer of the all-African American 332nd Fighter Group's 100th Fighter Squadron, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen or "Red Tails". He was one of the 1,007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots.

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

Clarence Clifford “Jamie” Jamison was a U.S. Army Air Force officer and combat fighter pilot with the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron, best known as the all-African American Tuskegee Airmen, "Red Tails," or “Schwarze Vogelmenschen” among enemy German pilots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George L. Knox II</span> American Tuskegee Airman fighter pilot (1916–1964)

George Levi Knox II was a U.S. Army Air Force/U.S. Air Force officer, combat fighter pilot and Adjutant with the all-African American 332nd Fighter Group's 100th Fighter Squadron, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen. One of the 1,007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots, he was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen's third-ever aviation cadet class, and one of the first twelve African Americans to become combat fighter pilots. He was the second Indiana native to graduate from the Tuskegee Advanced Flying School (TAFS).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James T. Wiley</span> Tuskegee Airman (1918–2000)

James Thomas Wiley was a U.S. Army Air Forces/U.S. Air Force officer and combat fighter pilot of the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Pursuit Squadron, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen or "Red Tails".

Graham "Peepsight" Smith † was an U.S. Army Air Force officer and combat fighter pilot with the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen. He was a member of Tuskegee Airmen's fourth-ever aviation cadet program and one of the 1,007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward C. Gleed</span> US Army Air Force officer with Buffalo Soldiers (1916–1990)

Edward Creston Gleed was an U.S. Army Air Force officer with the famed Buffalo Soldiers/9th Cavalry Regiment, 332nd Fighter Group’s operations officer, and combat fighter pilot with the 99th Fighter Squadron, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen. He was one of the more prominent members of Tuskegee Airmen's ninth-ever aviation cadet program, as well as one of 1,007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots. His classmates included Robert B. Tresville, West Point's seventh African American graduate and the 100th Fighter Squadron's Commanding Officer.

Vernon V. Haywood was a U.S. Army Air Force officer, combat fighter pilot/jet pilot, and commanding officer of the 332nd Fighter Group's 302nd Fighter Squadron, a component of the Tuskegee Airmen.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "James H. Harvey, III". CAF RISE ABOVE. 2018-11-06. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  2. ↑ "Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Roster". CAF Rise Above. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 'Tuskegee Top Gun' James Harvey, the First African American Jet Combat Pilot , retrieved 2021-07-06
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "James H. Harvey III | National Air and Space Museum". airandspace.si.edu. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Attitude". tuskegeetopgun.com. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  6. 1 2 "Tuskegee Airman James Harvey, the Military's First "Top Gun" | American Veterans Center". www.americanveteranscenter.org. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Tuskegee Top Gun". www.tuskegeetopgun.com. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  8. 1 2 3 Leader, Times (2019-05-08). "Saluting an American hero". Times Leader. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  9. ↑ "An Interview with 95-Year-Old Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Harry Stewart". History. 2019-06-18. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  10. ↑ "James Henry Harvey". U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  11. ↑ "Harvey, James H. | Gathering of Eagles Foundation" . Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  12. ↑ Rice, Markus. "The Men and Their Airplanes: The Fighters." Tuskegee Airmen, 1 March 2000.
  13. ↑ "Walterboro, SC – Walterboro, South Carolina Map & Directions – MapQuest". www.mapquest.com. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  14. 1 2 "Harry T. Stewart Jr". CAF RISE ABOVE. 2017-10-04. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  15. ↑ "Buford Alvin Johnson". CAF RISE ABOVE. 2020-11-18. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  16. ↑ "Tuskegee Airman James Harvey celebrates his 100th birthday". RMPBS. Retrieved 2023-07-13.

Notes

  1. ↑ The Tuskegee Airmen became known for flying P-51 aircraft with red markings. These included red bands on the noses and red rudders; their P-51B and D Mustangs flew with similar color schemes, with red propeller spinners, yellow wing bands, and all-red tail surfaces. [12]
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