Retired Lt. Col. Harry Stewart Jr., a celebrated World War II aviator known for shattering racial barriers as a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, has passed away at the age of 100.
Stewart was among the last surviving combat pilots from the esteemed 332nd Fighter Group, recognized as the nation’s first Black military pilots.
His death was announced by the Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Museum, which stated that he died peacefully at his residence in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, on Sunday.
Stewart was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery in shooting down three German planes during a dogfight on April 1, 1945. Furthermore, he was part of a four-member team of Tuskegee Airmen that triumphed in the U.S. Air Force Top Gun flying competition in 1949, an achievement that went officially acknowledged decades later.
“Harry Stewart was a gentle soul with an immense legacy and a service career that continued well beyond his contributions during World War II,” remarked Brian Smith, the president and CEO of the Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Museum.
Born on July 4, 1924, in Virginia, Stewart’s family moved to New York during his childhood. Inspired by watching planes at LaGuardia airport, he aspired to become a pilot from a young age, as recounted in the book “Soaring to Glory: A Tuskegee Airman’s Firsthand Account of World War II.” Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, 18-year-old Stewart enlisted in an experimental program designed to train Black military pilots. The unit came to be recognized as the Tuskegee Airmen from their base of training in Alabama, and they were also known as the Red Tails owing to the distinctive red markings on their P-51 Mustangs.
Reflecting on his wartime experiences, Stewart said in a 2024 interview, “At that moment, I did not fully grasp the significance of our mission; I simply felt it was my duty to respond.”
Although he grew up in a diverse community, the harsh realities of segregation and prejudice in the Jim Crow South shocked Stewart. Nonetheless, he was resolute in completing his training. After successfully earning his wings, he and his fellow pilots were tasked with escorting U.S. bombers in Europe. The Tuskegee Airmen are credited with significantly fewer bomber losses when compared to other fighter units.
Stewart expressed the exhilaration he experienced while flying, noting, “It was breathtaking to see the sprawling scene before me—hundreds of bombers and fighter planes, all trailing condensation in a mesmerizing display, creating a sense of belonging to something monumental.”
In a humble reflection of his achievements, Stewart often noted that he was more focused on the joy of flying than on the historic impact of his actions, as detailed in his autobiography.
After his military service, Stewart aspired to become a commercial airline pilot but was denied opportunities due to racial discrimination. He later graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering from New York University. Eventually, he moved to Detroit and concluded his career as the vice president of a natural gas pipeline firm.
In a poignant moment shared with Michigan Public Radio in 2019, Stewart recounted being moved to tears during a commercial flight upon seeing two female African American pilots in the cockpit.
Recently, the Air Force briefly removed educational materials featuring the Tuskegee Airmen and the Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASPs, to align with a prior administration’s directives against diversity initiatives. However, these materials were quickly reinstated following bipartisan criticism.
