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On March 31, 1965, Harvey retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. He served a combined 22 years in the Army Air Corps and the United States Air Force. He resides in [[Denver, Colorado]].<ref name="auto3"/>
On March 31, 1965, Harvey retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. He served a combined 22 years in the Army Air Corps and the United States Air Force. He resides in [[Denver, Colorado]].<ref name="auto3"/>

On June 7, 1965, Harvey worked for [[Oscar Myers]] as a corporate Salesman, moving his family and four girls in various territories. In April 1972, Oscar Meyer brass transferred Harvey to Denver, Colorado where he lives today.


==Military Awards==
==Military Awards==

Revision as of 00:11, 29 June 2021

James H. Harvey III
Born (1923-07-13) July 13, 1923 (age 101)
Montclair, New Jersey, US
Alma materLangston University
Occupations
  • Military officer
  • fighter pilot
Years active1943-1965

James H. Harvey III (born July 13, 1923) is a retired U.S. Army Air Force officer and former African-American fighter pilot with the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron (Tuskegee Airmen or "Red Tails").[1] Harvey is best known as the first African American U.S. Air Force jet fighter combat pilot to fight in the Korean War.[1]

Harvey was also one of three primary team members of the 332nd Fighter Group Weapons pilot team 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.[2][3][4] 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.[1] Flying F-47Ns, a variant of the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, Harvey and his team won against U.S. Air Force fighter group teams flying far more advanced aircraft.[1]

On March 29, 2007, Harvey — along with every member of the Tuskegee Airmen — was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.[5]

Early Life and education

Harvey was born in Montclair, New Jersey on July 13, 1923. He was the son of James Harvey and Cornelia Harvey. The oldest of four children, Harvey had 3 siblings: brother Charles and sisters Dorothy and Cornelia.[6]

Harvey attended primary school in both Silver Lake, New Jersey and Montclair, New Jersey.[7] In 1930, his family moved from Montclair to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. In 1936, the Harveys moved to Nuangola Station in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The Harveys were the sole African-American family living in the Nuangola Station area.[8]

Harvey attended high school in Mountain Top, Pennsylvania, An excellent student, Harvey served as President of his senior class, anchor man on the tumbling team, captain of the basketball team, and class valedictorian.[1][9]

World War II military career

Harvey attempted to enlist with the U.S. Army Air Corps in January 1943; however, he was turned down because of his race.[3]

Drafted into the U.S. Army in April 1943, Harvey was initially assigned to the US Army Air Corps as an engineer. After applying for the Aviation Cadet Training Program, Harvey took the Cadet Training Exam at Bolling Field, and was admitted to the Tuskegee Flight School's Aviation Cadet Training Program. After attending Basic Training in Biloxi, Mississippi for thirty days, Harvey was transferred to Tuskegee Army Air Field to begin pilot training.[10] 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 Second Lieutenant Flying Officer. 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.[1][11]

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.

On March 29, 2007, Harvey — along with every member of the Tuskegee Airmen — was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.[12]

1949 "Top Gun Competition"

In January 1949, the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Airforce sent out a directive to each Air Force group requesting their participation in an aerial weapons competition. Four later in May 1949, Harvey joined the 332nd Fighter Group Weapons three-member pilot team to compete at 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.[2][3][13]

The competition was held at the Las Vegas Air Force Base (now Nellis Air Force Base.[14][2][3][15]. A grueling 10-day event, 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.[2][3] His team lead from start to finish.[3][16]

Harvey's team included the 100th Squadron's First Lieutenant Harry Stewart, Jr.[17], the 300th Squadron's Captain Alva Temple (Sept. 5, 1917 - August 28, 2004)[18], 99th Squadron's First Lieutenant Halbert Alexander (19 Jun 1922 -25 Mar 1953)[19] (who served as an alternate pilot), and Staff Sergeant Buford Johnson[20] (August 30, 1927 – April 15, 2017) as aircraft crew chief.[15] Harvey and his team competed in P-47N Thunderbolts [15].

U.S. Air Force brass buried the 1949 results and the 3-foot high silver winning trophy (stashed in a Wright Patterson Air Force Base Museum storage area for 55 years) for many years until the Airforce updated its archives in 1995.[1][3] Flying F-47Ns, Harvey and his team won against U.S. Air Force teams from other fighter groups flying far more advanced aircraft.[1] Harvey remarked:

"They knew who won, but did not want to recognize us."[2]

Later career and retirement

In 1949, Harvey and fellow Tuskegee Airman Edward P. Drummond, Jr. (1926-2014) were transferred from Lockbourne AFB, Ohio to an F-80 squadron at the Misawa Air Base, Japan as a Fighter Pilot and Flight Commander. 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.[1] Harvey flew 140 missions in Korea.[2]

After the Korean War, Harvey served in multiple roles including test pilot, flight commander, and Battle Staff Training Officer for the Commanding General of NORAD.[1]

On March 31, 1965, Harvey retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. He served a combined 22 years in the Army Air Corps and the United States Air Force. He resides in Denver, Colorado.[1]

On June 7, 1965, Harvey worked for Oscar Myers as a corporate Salesman, moving his family and four girls in various territories. In April 1972, Oscar Meyer brass transferred Harvey to Denver, Colorado where he lives today.

Military Awards

Harvey earned the following awards during his 22 year career in the U.S. Air Force[2]:

Aircraft flown

During his 22 year career, Harvey flew the following aircraft:[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Cafe Rise Above. "James H. Harvey III'". https://cafriseabove.org/james-h-harvey-iii/
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. "Wall of Honor Level: Air and Space Friend/Dedicated Panel: Tuskegee Airmen - Mr. James H. Harvey, III." https://airandspace.si.edu/support/wall-of-honor/james-h-harvey-iii
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Youtube. American Veterans Center. "Tuskegee Top Gun' James Harvey, the First African American Jet Combat Pilot." Interview with James H. Harvey III. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqA1ihi_0MU
  4. ^ Tuskegee Top Gun. http://tuskegeetopgun.com/attitude.php
  5. ^ The Times Leader. "Saluting an American Hero." Dan Stokes. May 8, 2019. https://www.timesleader.com/top-stories/742830/saluting-an-american-hero
  6. ^ Tuskegee Top Gun. http://tuskegeetopgun.com/attitude.php
  7. ^ Tuskegee Top Gun. http://tuskegeetopgun.com/attitude.php
  8. ^ "The Eagle Plan - Harvey, James H. Harvey." https://goefoundation.org/eagles/harvey-james-h/
  9. ^ Tuskegee Top Gun. http://tuskegeetopgun.com/attitude.php
  10. ^ Tuskegee Top Gun. http://www.tuskegeetopgun.com/
  11. ^ Mapquest. Walterboro - Description (History). https://www.mapquest.com/us/south-carolina/walterboro-sc-282032128
  12. ^ The Times Leader. "Saluting an American Hero." Dan Stokes. May 8, 2019. https://www.timesleader.com/top-stories/742830/saluting-an-american-hero
  13. ^ Tuskegee Top Gun. http://tuskegeetopgun.com/attitude.php
  14. ^ The American Veterans Center. "Lt. Col. James H. Harvey III." https://www.americanveteranscenter.org/2020/05/tuskegee-airman-james-harvey-the-militarys-first-top-gun/
  15. ^ a b c "Tuskegee's Top Gun." http://www.tuskegeetopgun.com/
  16. ^ Cafe Rise Above. "Harry T. Stewart Jr. https://cafriseabove.org/harry-t-stewart-jr/
  17. ^ Cafe Rise Above. "Harry T. Stewart Jr. https://cafriseabove.org/harry-t-stewart-jr/
  18. ^ Find a Grave. "LTC Alva Newte “Top Gun” Temple." https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/176722402/alva-newte-temple
  19. ^ Later killed in an F-86 Aircraft accident, while flying over Chelmsford, Massachusetts on March 25, 1953. Find a Grave. CPT Halbert Leo “Top Gun” Alexander . https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/127515440/halbert-leo-alexander
  20. ^ Later became a Master Sergeant. Cafe Rise Above. Buford Alvin Johnson. "https://cafriseabove.org/buford-alvin-johnson/
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