George Hardy

George Edward Hardy (June 8, 1925 – September 24, 2025) was an American pilot and military officer. In World War II, Hardy served with the Tuskegee Airmen and flew 21 combat missions. In the Korean War, he flew 45 combat missions as the pilot of a bomber. In the Vietnam War, Hardy flew 70 combat missions piloting an AC-119K gunship.

Early life George Edward Hardy was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on June 8, 1925. His parents were Edward Hardy, a podiatrist, and Alma Vargas, a homemaker. When he joined the Army Air Corps in 1943, the U.S. military was segregated.

Education Hardy attended Walter George Smith School and graduated from South Philadelphia High School in 1942. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering in 1957 and a Master of Science degree in systems engineering-reliability in 1964, both from the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology. |group=N

In 1943 when Hardy was 17, he joined the Army Air Corps and that same year he began training to fly at Tuskegee Army Air Field. He was sent to Keesler Army Air Field in Biloxi, Mississippi, for basic training. Hardy became one of only about 450 Tuskegee Airmen pilots who were deployed overseas. He flew 21 combat missions over Germany in 1945.

Korean War Hardy was recalled to military service in 1948 and sent to Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi. He was sent to Guam with the 19th Bomb Group. He then was sent to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa: he flew a B-29 and piloted 45 combat missions over Korea. That B-29 was shot down in North Korean airspace. On a later assignment, Hardy would report to Miller, who experienced a complete turnaround. Miller would regard Hardy as one of his best commanders. Hardy spent much of his retirement traveling throughout the country telling the story of the Tuskegee Airmen and their fight against racial prejudice. He also volunteered at his local church and food pantry.

With the death of LtCol. Harry T. Stewart Jr. on February 2, 2025, at the age of 100, Hardy became the last surviving member of the original Tuskegee Airmen who flew combat missions overseas as a single engine fighter pilot during World War II. He flew with the 99th Fighter Squadron of the "Red Tails" of the 332nd Fighter Group based at Ramitelli AB, Italy; Col. James H. Harvey III, age 103, and Dr. Eugene J. Richardson, age 100, are the two remaining single engined trained Tuskegee Airmen still living as of August, 2026, but they did not serve in combat during World War II.

Hardy turned 100 on June 8, 2025. He later lived in Sarasota, Florida, and died there on September 24, 2025, at the age of 100.

Honors and awards

Military Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor Air Medal with 11 Oak Leaf Clusters Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster. Civilian Congressional Gold Medal (2007) #tag:ref|Hardy remembered the exact words that George Bush said to the Tuskegee Airmen as he awarded the Congressional Medal: "For most of the salutes you didn't get, I salute you."