James H. Harvey
James Henry Harvey III (born July 13, 1923) is a retired United States Army Air Corps/United States Air Force (USAF) officer and former African American fighter pilot who served with 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen, "Red Tails", or among enemy German pilots, Schwartze Vogelmenschen ("Black birdmen"). He is one of the 1,007 documented Tuskegee Airmen pilots.
James H. Harvey | |
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Harvey in 2022 | |
| Born | July 13, 1923 Montclair, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | United States Army Air Force (1943–47) United States Air Force (1947–65) |
| Years of service | 1943–1965 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit | 332nd Fighter Group |
| Battles/wars | World War II Korean War |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal (11) Congressional Gold Medal |
Harvey is best known as the first African American USAF jet fighter pilot to fly combat operations in the Korean War. Harvey and his 332nd Fighter Group Weapons pilot team won the USAF's inaugural "Top Gun" team competition in 1949. Along with every member of the Tuskegee Airmen, he received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2006. Harvey, along with George Hardy and fellow 1949 Top Gun winner Harry Stewart Jr., is among the last surviving members of the Tuskegee Airmen.