Lieutenant Colonel George E. Hardy has died at the age of 100.
He was the youngest of the original Tuskegee Airmen, enlisting at age 17.
He was the last living combat pilot of the Airmen.
He served his country in three wars – World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.
Hardy trained in Tuskegee at the Army Air Field. He flew in WWII from 1943 to 1945.
He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1944 and served with the all-Black 99th Fighter Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group in Italy. Flying P-51 Mustangs, he completed 21 combat missions escorting Allied bombers over Germany. He was the youngest Red Tail fighter pilot in the Army Air Corps.
He served a second time from 1948 to 1951. With the newly formed U.S. Air Force, he flew 45 combat missions in B-29 bombers over Korea with the 19th Bomb Group.
He served a third time from 1970 to 1971 in the Vietnam War with 70 combat missions in AC-119K gunships, flying at night over Laos to disrupt enemy supply routes.
Hardy retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1971, having flown a total of 136 combat missions across three wars.
Hardy received military honors, including the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with 11 oak leaf clusters. In 2007, he was among the Tuskegee Airmen awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by President George W. Bush.
After retiring from the Air Force and a subsequent career in engineering, Hardy became a dedicated advocate and motivational speaker. He traveled extensively to share the story of the Tuskegee Airmen with students and veterans, highlighting their perseverance against racism and segregation. His efforts helped preserve the airmen’s legacy through exhibits and educational programs.
He lived out his life in Sarasota, Florida near MacDill Air Force Base.
Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.
Jim Zig Zeigler is a contributing writer for Yellowhammer News. His beat includes the positive and colorful about Alabama – her people, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former State Auditor and Public Service Commissioner. You can reach him at [email protected]
