WASHINGTON — Members of Alabama’s federal delegation joined together on the House floor this week to pay their respects to Lt. Col. George Hardy, the youngest fighter pilot of the Tuskegee Airmen.
Hardy died at the age of 100 in late September. He was the last surviving Tuskegee Airman.
Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Mobile, led his colleagues in remembering the life and legacy of Hardy before the chamber observed a moment of silence.
“Lieutenant Colonel Hardy, he kept the mission first, front and center, and with the other Tuskegee Airmen, they exceeded expectations, and they left behind a spectacular record of service and accomplishment,” Figures said on the House floor.
Figures was surrounded by U.S. Sen. Katie Britt and most members of Alabama’s House delegation Wednesday night.
Hardy and the Tuskegee Airmen flew combat missions in Europe during World War II. The pilots broke racial barriers with their service, and their all-Black 332nd Fighter Group had one of the lowest loss records of all the bomber escorts in the war.
Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Birmingham, spoke on how the Airmen trained at Tuskegee Army Airfield and were known as the “Red Tails.”
“They received numerous accolades for their service, including three Distinguished Unit Citations, 96 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 14 Bronze Stars, 744 Air Medals, at least 60 Purple Hearts and one Silver Star,” he said.
Recently, Figures, with the backing of the state’s delegation, introduced a bill to rename a post office after the Tuskegee Airmen.