Summary
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]
Lieutenant Colonel George Hardy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Birth name | George Edward Hardy[1] |
| Born | June 8, 1925[2] Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ | 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 |
Early life edit
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 edit
- 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.[4]
Military service edit
World War II edit
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 edit
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 edit
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 edit
- The Air Medal
- Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster.[4][8]
- Congressional Gold Medal (2007)[14][N 2]
- Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor
- Florida Veterans Hall of Fame[15]
- 11 Oak Leaf Clusters
- Tuskegee University - Honorary Doctorate Degree of Public Service (2006)[15]
After service edit
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]
Hardy, along with 1949 Top Gun winners James H. Harvey and Harry Stewart, Jr., are among the last surviving members of the Tuskegee Airmen.[17]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c d "George Edward Hardy". Cincinnatilibrary. The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
- ^ Miller, S (June 8, 2016). "A Birthday to Remember: Tuskegee Airman Celebrates Birthday Onboard". southwestaircommunity. Southwest Airlines Co. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
- ^ a b c d 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.
- ^ a b c d e Fowler Jr., Vernon L. (February 16, 2016). "MacDill hosts a Tuskegee Airman". amc. Official United States Air Force Website. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
- ^ DuBois, Maya (January 18, 2019). "A living legend visits FAMU". thefamuanonline. College Media Network. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b c "George E. Hardy". redtail. CAF Red Tail Squadron. Archived from the original on July 23, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
- ^ a b Erickson, Jim. "Honoring Heroes". newsmagazinenetwork. West Media Inc. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
- ^ Rice, Markus. "The Men and Their Airplanes: The Fighters." Tuskegee Airmen, 1 March 2000.
- ^ a b c Dean, Vicki (October 18, 2018). "Sarasota resident George Hardy reflects on his service as Tuskegee Airman". Gatehouse Media LLC. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
- ^ a b American Veterans Center. "Lt. Colonel George Hardy, Tuskegee Airmen (Full Interview)". Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTyxrHSigj0
- ^ Air Force Historical Research Agency. "28 Bomb Squadron (ACC)." Published March 07, 2008. https://www.afhra.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/433634/28-bomb-squadron-acc/
- ^ Avery, Brad (October 27, 2015). "Tuskegee Airmen give speech on race, history at Framingham State". Gatehouse Media LLC. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b "George Hardy - Tuskegee Airman - Sarasota, FL". FVHOF Society. Florida Veterans Hall of Fame. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ An Interview with 95-Year-Old Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Harry Stewart" History on the Net. © 2000–2021, Salem Media. June 25, 2021. https://www.historyonthenet.com/interview-94-year-old-tuskegee-airman-lt-col-harry-stewart.
Notes edit
- ^ 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]
- ^ 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]
External links edit
- Fly (2009 play about the 332d Fighter Group)
- George Hardy Interview
- George Hardy in television interview prior to the 2019 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
- 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