World War II Honoree

George Edward Hardy

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Pearl Thomas

In 1943 at the age of 17, he joined the U.S. Army Air Force Corps and began training at the Tuskegee Air Field. He completed combat training in 1945 and was deployed to Italy. He was one of only 350 Tuskegee Airmen who were deployed overseas. He flew 21 combat missions over Germany in 1945. The majority of his missions he escorted bombers to their target. After the war, he went back to Tuskegee to train pilots. Received the Air Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Congressional Gold Medal.