Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. George E. Hardy, a distinguished Tuskegee Airman, pictured next to his P-51D Mustang at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, October 4, 2016.
Senior Airman Malcolm Mayfield/U.S. Air Force
Lt. Col. George E. Hardy, the final living member of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen who flew combat sorties over Europe during World War II, has passed away at the age of 100.
His death was confirmed on Thursday by a representative of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., who shared the news with NPR on Saturday. The organization honored Hardy’s enduring legacy, highlighting his bravery, unwavering determination, exceptional skill, and steadfast fight against racial discrimination and injustice in a heartfelt social media tribute on Friday.
Leon Butler Jr., national president of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., reflected on Hardy’s character, telling NPR, “Colonel Hardy was a remarkable individual – a true patriot who deeply cherished his family, community, and our organization. He dedicated himself tirelessly to safeguarding the history and honor of the Tuskegee Airmen, not for personal recognition, but to honor his fellow airmen and their families.”
Born on June 8, 1925, in Philadelphia, Hardy enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps at 18 in July 1943. By December of that year, he began pilot training at the Tuskegee Army Air Field. He completed his training and earned his commission as a second lieutenant in September 1944, at just 19 years old.
During the war, Hardy served with the 332nd Fighter Group stationed at Ramitelli Air Base in Italy, flying with the 99th Fighter Squadron. The U.S. Air Force records show he flew 21 combat missions across Europe. Notably, he was the youngest pilot among the famed Red Tail Tuskegee Airmen, the pioneering African American aviators of the U.S. military.
In an interview with the Veterans History Project, Hardy recounted that while stationed in Italy, he did not face the overt systemic racism prevalent in the United States, though segregation was still present.
Lt. Col. George Hardy, Tuskegee Airman, photographed in December 2023.
Cheryl W. Thompson/NPR
He described the social environment in Italy, saying, “We had our own club in Naples, so we didn’t attend the White club. That was just the reality of life at the time.”
After the conclusion of the European conflict in 1945, Hardy returned to the United States as a first lieutenant. He served as a supervising pilot at Tuskegee Army Air Field until its closure in 1946, then moved back to Philadelphia. He later pursued higher education at New York University and married in 1947.
In 1949, Hardy was assigned to the 19th Bomb Group stationed in Guam, where he was the sole Black American officer. With the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, he was transferred to Okinawa. Throughout the Korean conflict, he flew 45 combat missions. Hardy’s military career extended into the Vietnam War, where he completed 70 combat sorties, according to U.S. Air Force records.
He concluded his distinguished military service in 1971, as detailed in an interview with AVI-8’s The Aviation Journal.
Hardy’s valor and dedication earned him numerous accolades, including the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor, a Commendation Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster, and an Air Medal adorned with 11 Oak Leaf Clusters. In 2007, he and his fellow Tuskegee Airmen were collectively honored with the Congressional Gold Medal.
While Hardy took great pride in his military accomplishments, Leon Butler Jr. emphasized that his educational achievements were among his most significant milestones.
Hardy graduated from South Philadelphia High School and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, followed by a master’s degree in systems engineering-reliability from the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology. Additionally, he was awarded an honorary doctorate of public service from Tuskegee University.
