| Lieutenant Colonel George Hardy | |
|---|---|
| File:File:Lieutenant Colonel George Hardy Tuskegee Airman.jpg | |
| Birth name | George Edward Hardy[1] |
| Born | June 8, 1925[2] |
| Place of birth | Philadelphia, PA |
| Allegiance |
 United States |
| Service/branch | United States Army Air Force |
| Years of service | 1943-1971 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit | 332nd Fighter Group |
| Awards |
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| Spouse(s) | 2nd wife Bonnie |
Lieutenant Colonel George Hardy (born June 8, 1925) is a highly decorated member of the famed group of World War II-era African-American pilots known as the Tuskegee Airmen. Hardy had a 30 year military career and he flew combat missions in three wars. In World War II Hardy 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 flew 70 combat missions piloting an AC-119K gunship.[3]
Military service[]
World War II[]
The Tuskegee Airmen's aircraft had distinctive markings that led to the name, "Red Tails."[N 1]
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.[5][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 Caroline to train for combat. He completed his combat training in 1945 and was then sent to Italy.[7] Hardy became one of only 350 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.[8]
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 disliked Hardy because of his race and he removed him from a B-29 mission. That B-29 was shot down in North Korean airspace.[9]
Vietnam War[]
Hardy flew 70 missions piloting a C-119 gunship in the Vietnam War.[8] He flew missions at night using infrared to destroy North Vietnamese supply routes and convoys in Laos and Cambodia.[3]
Awards[]
99th Fighter Squadron patch
Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor- The Air Medal
- 11 Oak Leaf Clusters
- Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster.[5][10]
- Congressional Gold Medal (2007)[11]
Hardy remembers the exact words that George Bush said the to Tuskegee Airmen as he awarded the Congressional Medal: “For most of the salutes you didn’t get, I salute you.”[11]
Education[]
- Walter George Smith School[1]
- South Philadelphia High School[1]
- Bachelor of Science Degree - Electrical Engineering
- Master of Science Degree - Systems Engineering-Reliability - U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology
- Honorary Doctorate of Public Service from Tuskegee University.[5]
Personal life[]
Hardy's parents names were Edward Hardy and Alma Vargas.[1] He was exposed to racism and segregation growing up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[5] He graduated high school in 1942 and wanted to join the military because his older brother had joined the U.S. Navy in 1941.[12] When he joined the Army Air Corps in 1943 the U.S. military was segregated.[5] Hardy faced descrimination 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.[10]
Hardy was one of 188 Tuskegee airmen at President Barack Obama’s first inauguration.[8] He now travels the country telling the story of the Tuskegee Airmen and speaking about segregation[13] He lives in Sarasota, Florida.
See also[]
- Executive Order 9981
- List of African American Medal of Honor recipients
- Military history of African Americans
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "George Edward Hardy". The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. https://digital.cincinnatilibrary.org/digital/collection/p16998coll27/id/4088/. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
- ↑ Miller, S. "A Birthday to Remember: Tuskegee Airman Celebrates Birthday Onboard". Southwest Airlines Co.. https://www.southwestaircommunity.com/t5/Southwest-Stories/A-Birthday-to-Remember-Tuskegee-Airman-Celebrates-Birthday/ba-p/43155. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Cox, Billy (20 April 2016). "George Hardy, 90, flew 21 combat missions in the spring of 1945". Gatehouse Media LLC. https://www.heraldtribune.com/article/LK/20160420/News/605206265/SH/. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
- ↑ Rice, Markus. "The Men and Their Airplanes: The Fighters." Tuskegee Airmen, 1 March 2000.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Fowler Jr.,, Vernon L.. "MacDill hosts a Tuskegee Airman". Official United States Air Force Website. https://www.amc.af.mil/News/Features/Display/Article/787470/macdill-hosts-a-tuskegee-airman/. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Shastri, Devi (28 July 2018). "The Tuskegee Airmen fought a world war and racism. Now, they're telling kids their story.". Oshkosh Northwestern. https://www.thenorthwestern.com/story/news/local/oshkosh/airventure/2018/07/28/eaa-2018-tuskegee-airmen-inspire-generations-caf-red-tail-squadron/853417002/. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "George E. Hardy". CAF Red Tail Squadron. https://www.redtail.org/george-hardy/. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Dean, Vicki (18 October 2018). "Sarasota resident George Hardy reflects on his service as Tuskegee Airman". Gatehouse Media LLC. https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/20181018/sarasota-resident-george-hardy-reflects-on-his-service-as-tuskegee-airman. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
- ↑ Avery, Brad (27 October 2015). "Tuskegee Airmen give speech on race, history at Framingham State". Gatehouse Media LLC. https://www.metrowestdailynews.com/article/20151027/NEWS/151025906. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Erickson, Jim. "Honoring Heroes". West Media Inc.. http://www.newsmagazinenetwork.com/nn/2013072237715/honoring-heroes/. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Rojas, Josh. "Tuskegee Airman George Hardy, 87, Broke Down Racial Barriers". Post News Group. https://postnewsgroup.com/2013/02/23/tuskegee-airman-george-hardy-87-broke-down-racial-barriers/. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
- ↑ DuBois, Maya. "A living legend visits FAMU". College Media Network. http://www.thefamuanonline.com/news/view.php/1036633/A-living-legend-visits-FAMU. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
- ↑ Dunlap, Tiare. "Veterans from World War II's All-Black Aviation Unit on How They Shattered Racial Stereotypes: 'We Proved That Thinking Wrong'". Meredith Corporation. https://people.com/celebrity/tuskegee-airmen-share-how-they-shattered-racial-stereotypes-in-world-war-ii/. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
Notes[]
External links[]
- Tuskegee Airmen at Tuskegee University
- Tuskegee Airmen Archives at the University of California, Riverside Libraries.
- Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
- Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service)
- Tuskegee Airmen National Museum
- Fly (2009 play about the 332d Fighter Group)
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