Heroes in the Skies

The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American pilots in the U.S. Army. They served during World War II. 

They did many other important jobs, too. Some people helped the pilots to know where to go. Others learned to fix the planes. 

Photo Credit: PF-(aircraft)/Alamy Stock Photo

The Tuskegee Airmen painted their planes’ tails red. People called them the Red Tails!  

The Tuskegee Airmen were brave. The Tuskegee Airmen were skilled.  They received many medals and awards. 

Photo Credit: Malcolm Haines/Alamy Stock Photo

Lt. Col. George Hardy was born in 1925. He grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He became the youngest Tuskegee fighter pilot. He was just 19 years old! He was brave. 

 He received many medals and awards.  

Lt. Col. George Hardy died in September 2025. He was 100 years old. 

What Do You Think? What more about the Tuskegee Airmen would you like to learn? 

Photo Credit: (l)George E. Hardy, Class of 1944, Single Engine Pilots. War Department. Army Air Forces. Official Portraits of U.S. Army Air Force Pilots, Tuskegee, Alabama. National Archives. NAID: 185821337. 1944. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/185821337, (r)Senior Airman Malcolm Mayfield/U.S. Air Force. October 04, 2016. https://www.dvidshub.net/image/2914292/tuskegee-airman-reunites-with-red-tail