Lt. Col. George E. Hardy, Tuskegee Airman and decorated veteran, dies at 100
Lt. Col. George E. Hardy, one of the original Tuskegee Airmen, died at 100; his death was announced by Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. on Sept. 26, 2025 and reported by NPR on Sept. 27. Born June 8, 1925, in Philadelphia, Hardy joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in July 1943, graduated Tuskegee pilot training in September 1944 as the youngest Red Tail fighter pilot and flew 21 combat missions in World War II, then 45 in the Korean War and 70 in the Vietnam War. He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1971 after earning degrees from the Air Force Institute of Technology, helped develop the Department of Defense’s first global military telephone system, and received honors including the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor, the Air Medal with 11 oak leaf clusters and the Congressional Gold Medal, and he accepted the National WWII Museum’s American Spirit Award on behalf of the Tuskegee Airmen in 2024.
📰 Sources (3)
- Confirmed date of death: September 27, 2025 (reported by Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. spokesperson to NPR).
- Service details: completed 21 combat missions in World War II; later flew 45 combat missions in the Korean War and 70 in the Vietnam War.
- Biographical specifics: born June 8, 1925 in Philadelphia; joined U.S. Army Air Corps in July 1943; graduated Tuskegee pilot training September 1944 and was the youngest Red Tail fighter pilot.
- Honors and education: Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor; Air Medal with 11 Oak Leaf Clusters; Congressional Gold Medal awarded in 2007; bachelor's in electrical engineering and master's in systems engineering‑reliability from USAF Institute of Technology.
- Quote: Leon Butler Jr., national president of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., praising Hardy's work to preserve the legacy of the original Tuskegee Airmen.
- Hardy was the youngest Red Tail fighter pilot to fly his first combat sortie at age 19.
- Service totals specified: 21 combat missions over Germany/occupied Europe in WWII, plus 45 missions in the Korean War and 70 missions in the Vietnam War.
- Post-service career detail: earned degrees at the Air Force Institute of Technology and helped develop the Department of Defense's first global military telephone system; retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1971.
- Recent honors noted: accepted the National WWII Museum’s American Spirit Award on behalf of the Tuskegee Airmen in 2024.
- Hardy was born in 1925 and died at age 100; the death was announced by Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. on Sept. 26, 2025.
- Military record: completed 21 combat missions in WWII, 45 in the Korean War and 70 in the Vietnam War; he was the youngest Red Tail pilot to fly a WWII combat sortie.
- Postservice: earned a bachelor’s in electrical engineering and a master’s in systems engineering, worked with the Department of Defense on the first worldwide military telephone system, and accepted the National WWII Museum's American Spirit Award on behalf of the Tuskegee Airmen in 2024.