AURORA, Colo. — As the members of a groundbreaking Black Air Force unit age, efforts to honor their legacy continue. The 332nd Fighter Group, known for its pioneering role during World War II, faced the challenge of remaining recognized amid changing directives from the government.
Col. James H. Harvey III, at 101 years old, stands among the last of the illustrious airmen who not only fought bravely but also proved that a Black unit could excel in combat. Harvey made history as the first Black jet fighter pilot to fly in Korean airspace and completed an impressive 126 missions, earning numerous accolades, including being part of the first U.S. Air Force Gunnery Meet in 1949, a precursor to the acclaimed Navy “Top Gun” school.
Reflecting on the prejudices he faced, Harvey recounts how they were labeled as incapable, asserting, “They said we didn’t have any ability … So we showed them.”
In the wake of President Donald Trump’s inauguration, the Air Force took steps to remove training materials that featured the contributions of the Tuskegee Airmen. This decision was met with widespread criticism across the political spectrum and led to an immediate backlash from the White House. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth condemned the abrupt change, calling it “malicious implementation” of Trump’s executive order.
The Air Force quickly retracted its decision. General David Allvin, the Air Force Chief of Staff, clarified that the initial removal was to demonstrate compliance with Trump’s order without hesitation.
The deleted training materials included videos and images of the Tuskegee Airmen, which were part of diversity training courses for new recruits. Harvey expressed disappointment, highlighting a troubling trend of increasing prejudice in America, which he believes is exacerbated by recent political decisions.
“I’ll tell him to his face. No problem,” Harvey stated, expressing his readiness to confront any political leader about racism in society. “What can they do to me? Just kill me, that’s all.”
The legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen began in 1941 with the establishment of the 99th Pursuit Squadron at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. The unit became the 332nd Fighter Group and achieved remarkable success, destroying over 400 enemy aircraft by the end of the war and even sinking a German destroyer.
Out of the 992 trained Tuskegee pilots, 335 were deployed, facing severe risks with 66 killed in action and 32 becoming prisoners of war. By 1949, the Air Force began to integrate Black and white troops, leading to the incorporation of the Tuskegee Airmen into other units.
It took the Air Force nearly 50 years to formally recognize the 332nd’s achievements, particularly their success in aerial gunnery. Initially, the winners’ names were listed as “unknown,” but this oversight was eventually corrected.
“We won them all,” Harvey proudly asserted. “We weren’t supposed to win anything because of the color of our skin.”
Though Harvey trained during World War II, he wasn’t deployed until later. In Korea, he piloted the F-80 Shooting Star and received the Distinguished Flying Cross among other honors. He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1965 and received an honorary promotion to colonel in 2023. In a gesture of recognition, Trump promoted another Tuskegee Airman, Charles McGee, to brigadier general before McGee passed away at 102 in 2022.
For Harvey, the Air Force Gunnery Meet remains his crowning achievement, one finally acknowledged by the Air Force in 1993, along with the rediscovery of their long-lost trophy.
“We were good, and they couldn’t take it away from us,” Harvey emphasized. “We were good. And I’ll repeat it until I die.”
