Today I want to tell you about Harry Stewart Jr., one of the Tuskegee Airmen whose determination helped to change history.
Harry Thaddeus Stewart Jr. was born on the 4th of July 1924 in Newport News, Virginia. His family moved to Queens, New York, close to LaGuardia Airport. He grew up surrounded by aircraft, and gained a fascination with flying. At a time when opportunities for African Americans were severely limited, becoming a military pilot seemed almost impossible, but Harry refused to let prejudice stand in his way.
At just eighteen years old, he volunteered for the United States Army Air Forces. On the 27th of June 1944, he graduated from the famous Tuskegee Army Air Field, earning his pilot's wings before he had even learned to drive a car. After further training, he was sent to Italy, where he joined the 332nd Fighter Group, better known as the Tuskegee Airmen.
Harry flew forty-three bomber escort missions over Europe. On Easter Sunday, the 1st of April 1945, during a mission near Linz, Austria, he achieved something extraordinary. He shot down three German Focke-Wulf 190 fighter aircraft in one day, this earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross.
After the Second World War, Harry continued to serve in the newly formed United States Air Force. In 1949, he became part of the all-African American team that won the Air Force's very first Fighter Gunnery Competition, later known as the "Top Gun" competition. Despite their remarkable achievement, their victory went largely unrecognised for many years before finally receiving the recognition it deserved.
After leaving active military service, Harry studied mechanical engineering at New York University and built a successful civilian career, eventually becoming a company vice president. In 2006, he along with the other Tuskegee Airmen were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to finally recognise their service and contribution to American history.
Harry Stewart Jr. celebrated his one hundredth birthday in 2024 before sadly passing away on the 2nd of February 2025.
If you had the chance to ask Harry Stewart Jr. one question about his life, what would it be?
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