Tuskegee Airman Harry Stewart Jr. Dies at 100, Leaving Legacy of Courage

Retired. Lt. Col. Harry Stewart Jr., one of the few remaining Tuskegee Airmen and a famous fighter pilot from World War II, has passed away at 100, according to the Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Museum. Stewart, a leader in military flying, died peacefully at his home in Michigan on Sunday.

Stewart was part of the 332nd Fighter Group, an all-Black U.S. Army Air Force unit. They broke racial barriers and played a key role in protecting bombs flying over Nazi-occupied Europe. During his 43 combat flights, he received the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

One of his most impressive accomplishments was shooting down three German planes in one day on April 1, 1945. This was a rare feat among WWII pilots, making him one of only four Tuskegee Airmen to achieve it.

Stewart was born on July 4, 1924, in Newport News, Virginia, and he loved flying from a young age. After moving to New York, he spent hours watching planes take off, hoping to become a pilot one day. He made his dream come true by training at the segregated Tuskegee Army Airfield in Alabama, becoming one of the first 1,007 Black Army pilots.

After the war, Stewart continued promoting aviation and writing about his adventures in his book Soaring to Glory: A Tuskegee Airman’s Firsthand Account of World War II. His reputation as a leader and hero will continue to inspire future generations.

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