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==Military Career, Combat Fighter Pilot with the Tuskegee Airmen==
==Military Career, Combat Fighter Pilot with the Tuskegee Airmen==
At the age of 17, Stewart volunteered for the U.S. Army. When he turned 18, Stewart took and passed the Pilot Cadet exam. On June 27, 1944, Stewart completed cadet pilot training, receiving his wings and graduating in Class 44-F-SE.<ref> Cafe Rise Above. “Harry T. Stewart Jr.” “https://cafriseabove.org/harry-t-stewart-jr/ </ref> Stewart learned to fly before he learned how to drive an automobile. <ref> WAMC. WWII Through The Eyes Of A Tuskegee Airman. Transcript version. JIM LEVULIS. MAY 25, 2020
At the age of 17, Stewart volunteered for the U.S. Army. When he turned 18, Stewart volunteered for the [[U.S. Army Air Corps]], taking and passing the Pilot Cadet exam. On June 27, 1944, Stewart completed cadet pilot training, receiving his wings and graduating in Class 44-F-SE.<ref> Cafe Rise Above. “Harry T. Stewart Jr.” “https://cafriseabove.org/harry-t-stewart-jr/ </ref> Stewart learned to fly before he learned how to drive an automobile. <ref> WAMC. WWII Through The Eyes Of A Tuskegee Airman. Transcript version. JIM LEVULIS. MAY 25, 2020
https://www.wamc.org/post/wwii-through-eyes-tuskegee-airman </ref>
https://www.wamc.org/post/wwii-through-eyes-tuskegee-airman </ref>


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In 1950, Stewart received an honorable discharge from active duty. He served in the Reserves for several years, retiring as a [[Lieutenant Colonel]].<ref> Cafe Rise Above. “Harry T. Stewart Jr.” “https://cafriseabove.org/harry-t-stewart-jr/ </ref>
In 1950, Stewart received an honorable discharge from active duty. He served in the Reserves for several years, retiring as a [[Lieutenant Colonel]].<ref> Cafe Rise Above. “Harry T. Stewart Jr.” “https://cafriseabove.org/harry-t-stewart-jr/ </ref>

Stewart remarked that he hid from his military doctors a heart murmur and a childhood bout with polio.


==Winner of the 1949 "Top Gun Competition"==
==Winner of the 1949 "Top Gun Competition"==

Revision as of 23:05, 29 June 2021

Harry T. Stewart Jr.
Born1924
Newport News, Virginia, US
Occupations
  • Military officer
  • fighter pilot

Harry T. Stewart Jr (born 1924) is a retired U.S. Army Air Force officer, a Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) recipient, and former African-American fighter pilot with the 332nd Fighter Group's 301st Fighter Squadron (Tuskegee Airmen or "Red Tails").[1]

Stewart is best known as a member of the all-African American 332nd Fighter Group Weapons pilot team that won the U.S. Air Force's inaugural "Top Gun" team competition in 1949.[2][3][4][5] Stewart, along with fellow 1949 Top Gun winner James H. Harvey, are among the last surviving members of the Tuskegee Airmen.[6]

Stewart — along with every member of the Tuskegee Airmen — received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007.[7]

In 2021, Stewart co-wrote “Soaring to Glory: A Tuskegee Airman's Firsthand Account of World War II,” co-written by Philip Handleman.[8]

Early Life

Stewart was born in Newport News, Virginia in 1924.[9]

After living near Langley Field, a United States Air Force base located between Hampton, Virginia and Newport News, Virginia, Stewart and his family moved to Queens, New York near LaGuardia Airport when he was two years old.[10][11][12]

Military Career, Combat Fighter Pilot with the Tuskegee Airmen

At the age of 17, Stewart volunteered for the U.S. Army. When he turned 18, Stewart volunteered for the U.S. Army Air Corps, taking and passing the Pilot Cadet exam. On June 27, 1944, Stewart completed cadet pilot training, receiving his wings and graduating in Class 44-F-SE.[13] Stewart learned to fly before he learned how to drive an automobile. [14]

After completing combat and fighter training at Walterboro Army Air Field in Walterboro, South Carolina, Stewart was assigned to the all-African American 332nd Fighter Group’s 301st Fighter Squadron - best known as the "Tuskegee Airmen" or "Red Tails."[15] After being shipped off to France, Stewart and his fellow pilots sailed from Marseille, France to a port in Taranto, Italy onboard the luxury cruise liner, Citie Doran.[16]

On April 1, 1945, Stewart shot down three enemy German Focke-Wulf 190s during a B-24 bomber escort mission near Linz, Austria. He became one of four Tuskegee Airmen with three aerial kills in one day. For this feat, the U.S. Army Air Corps awarded Stewart the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States). In all, Stewart completed 43 combat missions in the European Theater.[17]

After World War II in 1948, Stewart bailed out of his P-47 fighter jet after it encountered severe engine failure. Crash landing in the hills of Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, a coal-mining community in Johnson County, Kentucky (and the home of Country Music Legend Loretta Lynn), Stewart was engaged in a simulated armed reconnaissance from Columbus, Ohio, to Greenville, South Carolina. He was found by a 9-year-old Callie Daniels, who mistook Stewart’s parachute for a white eagle. Stewart fractured his leg in two places. Callie's father, Lafe Daniels, found Stewart, transported Stewart to the Daniels family home where Lafe’s wife, Mary Daniels, disinfected and bandaged Stewart's fractured legs. After giving Stewart moonshine for pain relief, the Daniels transported Stewart to Paintsville Clinic. An U. S. Air Force arrived and transported Stewart back to his base in Ohio. Local legend held that the U.S. Air Force shot down a stolen B-52 bomber, the culprit: an African American man.[18][19]

In 1950, Stewart received an honorable discharge from active duty. He served in the Reserves for several years, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.[20]

Stewart remarked that he hid from his military doctors a heart murmur and a childhood bout with polio.

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 months later in May 1949, Stewart 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.[2][3][21][22][23]

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.[2][24]

Stewart's team included the 99th Squadron's James H. Harvey, 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) who served as the team’s aircraft crew chief.[23][25][26] Harvey and his team competed in obsolete P-47N Thunderbolts.[23]

The results and the 3-foot high winning silver trophy, stashed in a Wright Patterson Air Force Base Museum storage area for 55 years, were absent from the Air Force archived until 1995.[1][2] Flying F-47Ns, a variant of the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, Stewart and his team won against U.S. Air Force fighter group teams in far more advanced aircraft.[1] Stewart's teammeaber, James H. Harvey remarked: "They knew who won, but did not want to recognize us."[3]

Post Military Career, Book Author

After returning from World War II]], Stewart applied to become a pilot in the commercial airline industry; however, two separate airlines denied Stewart because of his race. Years later, Delta Airlines and American Airlines granted Stewart honorary Captain status as recompense.[27] As a backup plan, Stewart attended New York University (NYU), graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering. [28] While at NYU, Stewart served as President of NYU’s student council and chair of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.[29]

Stewart retired as Vice President of the ANR Pipeline Company (formerly the Michigan-Wisconsin Pipe Line Company) in Detroit, Michigan, a large-scale interstate natural gas pipeline system operations.[30]

In 2021, Stewart co-wrote “Soaring to Glory: A Tuskegee Airman's Firsthand Account of World War II,” co-written by Philip Handleman.[31]

Stewart currently lives in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.[32][33]

References

  1. ^ a b c Cafe Rise Above. "James H. Harvey III'". https://cafriseabove.org/james-h-harvey-iii/
  2. ^ a b c d e 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
  3. ^ a b c d 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
  4. ^ Tuskegee Top Gun. http://tuskegeetopgun.com/attitude.php
  5. ^ 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/
  6. ^ An Interview with 95-Year-Old Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Harry Stewart" History on the Net. © 2000-2021, Salem Media. June 25, 2021. https://www.historyonthenet.com/interview-94-year-old-tuskegee-airman-lt-col-harry-stewart.
  7. ^ The Times Leader. "Saluting an American Hero." Dan Stokes. May 8, 2019. https://www.timesleader.com/top-stories/742830/saluting-an-american-hero
  8. ^ Soaring to Glory A Tuskegee Airman's Firsthand Account of World War II. Philip Handleman with Harry T. Stewart Jr. June, 2021. ISBN-13: 9781684511914. https://www.regnery.com/9781684511914/soaring-to-glory/#:~:text=Soaring%20to%20Glory%20A%20Tuskegee%20Airman%27s%20Firsthand%20Account,back%20in%20the%20cockpit%20of%20my%20P-51C%20%27Kitten%27%21
  9. ^ Community Walk. “Tuskegee Airmen.” https://www.communitywalk.com/TuskegeeAirmen#0004=k]F
  10. ^ Michigan Radio. "Tuskegee Airman discusses service and discrimination in new book." STATESIDE STAFF. NOV 11, 2019. https://www.michiganradio.org/post/tuskegee-airman-discusses-service-and-discrimination-new-book
  11. ^ Cafe Rise Above. “Harry T. Stewart Jr.” “https://cafriseabove.org/harry-t-stewart-jr/
  12. ^ WAMC. WWII Through The Eyes Of A Tuskegee Airman. Transcript version. JIM LEVULIS. MAY 25, 2020 https://www.wamc.org/post/wwii-through-eyes-tuskegee-airman
  13. ^ Cafe Rise Above. “Harry T. Stewart Jr.” “https://cafriseabove.org/harry-t-stewart-jr/
  14. ^ WAMC. WWII Through The Eyes Of A Tuskegee Airman. Transcript version. JIM LEVULIS. MAY 25, 2020 https://www.wamc.org/post/wwii-through-eyes-tuskegee-airman
  15. ^ Cafe Rise Above. “Harry T. Stewart Jr.” “https://cafriseabove.org/harry-t-stewart-jr/
  16. ^ History Net. “You’ll Never Believe What This Tuskegee Airman Accomplished In His First Dogfight.” https://www.historynet.com/tuskag+.ee-airman-harry-stewarts-triple.htm
  17. ^ Cafe Rise Above. “Harry T. Stewart Jr.” “https://cafriseabove.org/harry-t-stewart-jr/
  18. ^ L. Mueller, "WWII Pilot to Revisit Site of Kentucky Crash - Over Van Lear, Tuskegee Pilot Bailed Out in '48," Lexington Herald-Leader, 07/06/05.
  19. ^ Community Walk. “Tuskegee Airmen.” https://www.communitywalk.com/TuskegeeAirmen#0004=k]F
  20. ^ Cafe Rise Above. “Harry T. Stewart Jr.” “https://cafriseabove.org/harry-t-stewart-jr/
  21. ^ Tuskegee Top Gun. http://tuskegeetopgun.com/attitude.php
  22. ^ 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/
  23. ^ a b c "Tuskegee's Top Gun." http://www.tuskegeetopgun.com/
  24. ^ Cafe Rise Above. "Harry T. Stewart Jr. https://cafriseabove.org/harry-t-stewart-jr/
  25. ^ Later killed in an F-86 Aircraft accident, while flying over Chelmsford, Massachusetts on March 25, 1953.
  26. ^ Later became a Master Sergeant. Cafe Rise Above. Buford Alvin Johnson. "https://cafriseabove.org/buford-alvin-johnson/
  27. ^ WAMC - Northeast Public Radio. “WII Through The Eyes Of A Tuskegee Airman.” Jim Levulis. MAY 25, 2020. https://www.wamc.org/post/wwii-through-eyes-tuskegee-airman
  28. ^ Face2Face Africa. “After 74 years, this Tuskegee Airman shares incredible war stories of historic black pilots in WWII.” Mildred Europa Taylor. https://face2faceafrica.com/article/after-74-years-this-tuskegee-airman-shares-incredible-war-stories-of-historic-black-pilots-in-wwii
  29. ^ Cafe Rise Above. “Harry T. Stewart Jr.” “https://cafriseabove.org/harry-t-stewart-jr/
  30. ^ Cafe Rise Above. “Harry T. Stewart Jr.” “https://cafriseabove.org/harry-t-stewart-jr/
  31. ^ Soaring to Glory A Tuskegee Airman's Firsthand Account of World War II. Philip Handleman with Harry T. Stewart Jr. June, 2021. ISBN-13: 9781684511914. https://www.regnery.com/9781684511914/soaring-to-glory/#:~:text=Soaring%20to%20Glory%20A%20Tuskegee%20Airman%27s%20Firsthand%20Account,back%20in%20the%20cockpit%20of%20my%20P-51C%20%27Kitten%27%21
  32. ^ Michigan Radio. "Tuskegee Airman discusses service and discrimination in new book." STATESIDE STAFF. NOV 11, 2019. https://www.michiganradio.org/post/tuskegee-airman-discusses-service-and-discrimination-new-book
  33. ^ Face2Face Africa. “After 74 years, this Tuskegee Airman shares incredible war stories of historic black pilots in WWII. MILDRED EUROPA TAYLOR. https://face2faceafrica.com/article/after-74-years-this-tuskegee-airman-shares-incredible-war-stories-of-historic-black-pilots-in-wwii
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