Tuskegee Airman Harry Stewart Passes Away at 100-Years-Old

Lt. Col. Harry S. Stewart Jr., one of the last surviving combat pilots of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen, has passed away at the age of 99. The Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Museum announced Monday that Stewart died in his Bloomfield Hills home on February 2.

Born on July 4, 1924, in Newport News, Virginia, Stewart served with distinction in the 332nd Fighter Group during World War II. He was among the elite pilots who escorted bombers over Europe, ensuring their safe passage against enemy attacks. Notably, he was one of only four Tuskegee Airmen to shoot down three enemy aircraft in a single day.

Following the war, Stewart was part of the team that won the Air Force’s first Top Gun Aerial Combat competition in 1949. For his bravery and skill, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

“Harry Stewart was a kind man of profound character and accomplishment with a distinguished career of service he continued long after fighting for our country in World War II,” said Brian Smith, President and CEO of the Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Museum. “We are deeply saddened by his passing and extend our condolences to his family and friends around the world.”

After his military service, Stewart pursued higher education at New York University, earning a degree in mechanical engineering in 1963. He later became Vice President at Detroit’s ANR Pipeline Co., where he worked until his retirement.

His legacy as a trailblazer and hero in both aviation and American history will be remembered for generations.

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