James H. Harvey: Difference between revisions

James H. Harvey III
Born	(1923-07-13) July 13, 1923 Montclair, New Jersey, US
Alma mater	Langston University
Occupations	Military officer fighter pilot
Years active	1943-1965

James H. Harvey III (born July 13, 1923) is an African-American, retired U.S. Army Air Force officer and former fighter pilot with the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron (also known as the famed Tuskegee Airmen or "Red Tails"). Harvey is best known as the first African American U.S. Air Force jet fighter pilot to engage in combat during the Korean War.

Harvey is also known as one of four 332nd Fighter Group pilots who won the U.S. Air Force's inaugural "Top Gun" team competition held at the Las Vegas Air Force Base (now Nellis Air Force Base in May 1949. Representing the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Squadron, Harvey won with a team comprising 100th Squadron's First Lieutenant Harry Stewart, Jr., the 300th Squadron's Captain Alva Temple, 99th Squadron's First Lieutenant Halbert Alexander (who served as an alternate pilot), and Buford Johnson as ground crew leader. U.S. Air Force brass buried the results of the 1949 Top Gun results for many years until the Airforce updated its archives in 1995. Flying F-47Ns, a variant of the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, Harvey and his team won against U.S. Air Force teams from other fighter groups flying far more advanced aircraft.

On March 29, 2007, Harvey — along with every member of the Tuskegee Airmen — was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.

Early Life and education

Harvey was born in Montclair, New Jersey on July 13, 1923. He was the son of . In 1936, Harvey and his family relocated to from Montclair to Nuangola Station in Nuangola, Pennsylvania where they lived as the sole African-American family.

An excellent student, Harvey attended XXXXX High School, where he became President of his senior class as well as class valedictorian.

World War II military career

In April 1943, Harvey was drafted into the U.S. Army. Harvey was initially assigned to the US Army Air Corps as an engineer. After applying for pilot cadet training, Harvey took the Cadet Training Exam at Bolling Field, and was admitted to the Tuskegee Flight School. On October 16, 1944, Harvey graduated from the Tuskegee Flight Program Army Air as a member of Class 44-4, receiving both his wings and a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. In April 1945, Harvey completed combat training in Walterboro, South Carolina at Walterboro Army Air Field where over 500 Tuskegee Airmen trained as replacement pilots for the 332nd Fighter Group and the entire 447th Bombardment Group until the base closed in October 1945.

The Army Airforce assigned Harvey to 99th Fighter Squadron in Godman Field, Kentucky. Harvey and his squadron did not engage in combat during World War II.

1949 "Top Gun Competition"

In May 1949, Harvey and a team of fellow 332nd Fighter Group pilots won the U.S. Air Force's inaugural Air Force-wide "Top Gun" competition, competing in their P-47N Thunderbolts. Also known as "William Tell" and "Gunsmoke"), the competition was held at the Las Vegas Air Force Base (now Nellis Air Force Base.

Representing the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Squadron, Harvey won with a team comprising 100th Squadron's First Lieutenant Harry Stewart, Jr., the 300th Squadron's Captain Alva Temple, 99th Squadron's First Lieutenant Halbert Alexander (who served as an alternate pilot), and then-Staff Sergeant Buford Johnson as aircraft crew chief.

The competition comprised six events: aerial gunnery at 20,000 feet, aerial gunnery at 12,000 feet, dive bombing, skip bombing, rocketing firing, and panel strafing. His team lead from start to finish.

U.S. Air Force brass buried the 1949 results and the silver winning trophy for many years until the Airforce updated its archives in 1995. Flying F-47Ns, Harvey and his team won against U.S. Air Force teams from other fighter groups flying far more advanced aircraft. Harvey remarked:

"They knew who won, but did not want to recognize us."

Later career and retirement

Harvey became the first African American jet fighter pilot to engage in combat during the Korean War. Harvey was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and several other Air Medals leading four F-80s amidst bad weather conditions during a bomber support mission October 16, 1950 near Yongsan, Korea, inflicting heavy damage on an enemy encampment. Harvey flew 140 missions in Korea.

After the Korean War, Harvey served in multiple roles including a test pilot, flight commander, and Battle Staff Training Officer for the Commanding General of NORAD.

On March 31, 1965, Harvey retired as a Lieutenant Colonel, with a combined 22 years in the Army Air Corps and the United States Air Force. He resides in Denver, Colorado.

Awards

Harvey earned the following awards during his 22 year career in the U.S. Air Force:

• Distinguished Flying Cross
• Air Medal with 10 Oak Leaf Clusters
• Distinguished Unit Citation with 10 Oak Leaf Clusters
• Good Conduct Medal
• American Campaign Medal
• World War II Victory Medal
• Army Occupation Medal (Japan)
• National Defense Service Medal
• Korean Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars
• Air Force Longevity Service Award ribbon with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
• Air Force Reserve Medal
• Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
• United Nations Service Medal

Aircraft flown

During his 22 year career, Harvey flew the following aircraft:

• Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
• Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
• North American P-51 Mustang
• Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star
• North American F-86 Sabre
• North American F-86D Sabre
• Northrop F-89 Scorpion
• Lockheed F-94 Starfire
• Lockheed T-33
• Convair F-102 Delta Dagger