Tuskegee Airman George Hardy
Lt. George Hardy flew with the 99th FS, 332nd FG in 1945. His assigned aircraft was "Tall in the Saddle" which had originally had belonged to Captain Wendell Lucas.
Hardy joined the 99th in April 1945. He was just 19 years of age and had arrived as a replacement pilot. He flew flew as a wingman on 21 combat missions, most of them were high altitude escort missions but some of them were also strafing missions. He received the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters.
Lt. Hardy returned to the states in August 1945 and was discharged in November 1946. He returned to active duty in June 1948 as a P-47 pilot with the 301st Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, Lockbourne AFB, Ohio.
After the Air Force desegregated in July 1949, Hardy was reassigned to the 19th Bomb Group (B-29s) on the island of Guam. During the Korean War the 19th BG moved to Okinawa and flew bombing missions over Korea. George flew 45 combat missions over Korea. He was rated as a Command Pilot in September 1959.
During the Vietnam War Hardy was assigned to the 18th Special Operations Squadron at Phan Rang AB, Vietnam from April 1970 to April 1971. He was the Operating Location Commander at Udorn, Thailand and then as Operating Location Commander at Danang AB, Vietnam he flew 70 combat missions in AC-119K Gunships over Northern Laos and along the Ho Chi Min Trail. Lt. Col Hardy retired from the Air Force in November 1971. His career decorations include the DFC with Valour, and the Air Medal with 11 OLC.
Hardy joined the 99th in April 1945. He was just 19 years of age and had arrived as a replacement pilot. He flew flew as a wingman on 21 combat missions, most of them were high altitude escort missions but some of them were also strafing missions. He received the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters.
Lt. Hardy returned to the states in August 1945 and was discharged in November 1946. He returned to active duty in June 1948 as a P-47 pilot with the 301st Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, Lockbourne AFB, Ohio.
After the Air Force desegregated in July 1949, Hardy was reassigned to the 19th Bomb Group (B-29s) on the island of Guam. During the Korean War the 19th BG moved to Okinawa and flew bombing missions over Korea. George flew 45 combat missions over Korea. He was rated as a Command Pilot in September 1959.
During the Vietnam War Hardy was assigned to the 18th Special Operations Squadron at Phan Rang AB, Vietnam from April 1970 to April 1971. He was the Operating Location Commander at Udorn, Thailand and then as Operating Location Commander at Danang AB, Vietnam he flew 70 combat missions in AC-119K Gunships over Northern Laos and along the Ho Chi Min Trail. Lt. Col Hardy retired from the Air Force in November 1971. His career decorations include the DFC with Valour, and the Air Medal with 11 OLC.