BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —

One of the last original members of the Tuskegee Airmen recently got his final wings. Retired Lt. Col. George Hardy died on Wednesday according to his family.

Hardy was one of the last Tuskegee Airmen’s World War II combat pilots and was one of the first Black military pilots. He flew 21 missions over Germany during World War II and also served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He even made history and became the youngest Tuskegee fighter pilot in 1942 at just 19 years old.

Even after his retirement, Hardy’s stepson Christopher Lott told WVTM 13 he lived a full life—even at 100-years-old.

“During hurricane [Milton or Heline], he would not leave his house in Sarasota, Florida,” Lott said. “I was having people pile on me. ‘Get pop out of there. Now, this is the biggest h

See Full Page