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 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"). Harvey is best known as the first African American U.S. Air Force jet fighter combat pilot to fight in the Korean War. Harvey and his 332nd Fighter Group Weapons pilot team won the U.S. Air Force's inaugural "Top Gun" team competition in 1949. He was a recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007.

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.

Harvey attended primary school in Silver Lake, Essex County, New Jersey and Montclair, New Jersey. In 1930, his family moved from Montclair to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. In 1936, the Harveys moved to Nuangola Station in Northeastern Pennsylvania where they were the sole African-American family in the area.

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.

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.

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. 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.

The Army Air Force 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.

Winner of the 1949 "Top Gun Competition"

In January 1949, the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force 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.

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. His team lead from start to finish.

Harvey's team included the 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 Staff Sergeant Buford Johnson (August 30, 1927 – April 15, 2017) as aircraft crew chief. Harvey and his team competed in P-47N Thunderbolts.

The results and the 3-foot high silver winning trophy (stashed in a Wright Patterson Air Force Base Museum storage area for 55 years) were absent from the Air Force archived until 1995. Flying F-47Ns, a variant of the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, Harvey and his team won against U.S. Air Force fighter group teams in far more advanced aircraft. Harvey remarked: "They knew who won, but did not want to recognize us."

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 (now the Yongsan District in Seoul, South Korea, inflicting heavy damage on an enemy encampment. Harvey flew 140 missions in Korea.

After the Korean War, Harvey served in multiple roles. In 1951, Harvey served as the Assistant Operations Officer, Instrument Instructor Pilot and Aircraft Test Pilot in the 94th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at George Air Force Base in California. In 1955, Harvey served as the Flying Safety Officer of the 27th NORAD Region, Norton AFB in California, receiving the Flight Rating of "Command Pilot". In 1956, Harvey became the Fighter Training Officer of North Eastern Air Command Headquarters at Pepperrell AFB in Newfoundland. In 1959, Harvey served as the Assistant Group Operations Officer of the 1st Fighter Group and the Operations Officer of the 71st Fighter Interceptor Squadron flying F-102 aircraft at Selfridge AFB in Michigan. In 1961, Harvey was assigned to Headquarters 30th NORAD Region, Truax Field, Wisconsin as a Weapons Director Staff Officer and later as Battle Staff Training Officer for the Commanding General and his staff.

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.

On June 7, 1965, American meat and cold cut production company Oscar Mayer hired Harvey as a corporate Salesman, relocating his family of four girls across the U.S. In April 1972, Oscar Mayer transferred Harvey to Denver, Colorado where he lives today. He retired from Oscar Mayer in 1980.

Military 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 of Occupation Medal
• 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

Honors

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