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Lt. Col. George Hardy, Legendary Tuskegee Airman, Dies at 100
Lieutenant Colonel George Hardy, one of the last surviving members of the renowned Tuskegee Airmen, has passed away at the age of 100. His death marks the end of an era for a decorated pilot who embodied courage, skill, and an unwavering fight against prejudice.
Hardy served with distinction during World War II as part of America’s first Black military pilots. At just 19 years old, he became the youngest “Red Tail” fighter pilot to embark on his initial combat sortie over Europe, according to the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. National Office.
“His legacy is one of courage, resilience, tremendous skill and dogged perseverance against racism, prejudice and other evils,” the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. national office stated on Friday. “We are forever grateful for his sacrifice and will hold dear to his memory.”
Stationed at Ramitelli Air Field in Italy during WWII, Lt. Col.
Hardy successfully completed 21 missions over Germany and occupied Europe, flying the iconic P-51 Mustang aircraft. His passing leaves only 13 Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen alive today.
Born in Philadelphia in 1925, Hardy was the second of seven children. He was at home doing homework on December 7, 1941, when news of the Pearl Harbor attack broke.
In 1944, he entered the U.S. Army Air Forces, receiving training at Tuskegee Army Air Field before being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant.
By early 1945, Hardy was deployed to Italy with the African American 99th Fighter Squadron, part of the 332nd Fighter Group.
Lt. Col.
Hardy’s extensive military service stretched beyond World War II. He went on to fly 45 missions during the Korean War and another 70 missions in the Vietnam War.
After his active combat career, he furthered his education at the Air Force Institute of Technology and played a key role in developing the Department of Defense’s first global military telephone system. He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1971.
In his retirement, Hardy became a dedicated advocate for preserving the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen, frequently speaking to students across the nation. The Tuskegee Airmen were collectively awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007 and, in 2024, received the National WWII Museum’s American Spirit Award.
Reflecting on their groundbreaking achievements when accepting the American Spirit Award, Hardy once shared, “When I think about the fellas who flew before me and with me at Tuskegee, and the fact that we did prove that we could do anything that anyone else could do, and it’s paid off today … it’s hard to believe that I’m here receiving this award — with them.” His words underscore the profound impact of his generation’s fight for equality and excellence in the face of adversity.