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Tuskegee Airman, WWII pilot Harry Stewart Jr. has died at age 100

Tuskegee Airman Harry Stewart Jr. dies at 100
Tuskegee Airman Harry Stewart Jr. dies at 100 02:27

(CBS DETROIT) - The Tuskegee Airman National Museum in Detroit has confirmed the death of Lt. Col. Harry T. Stewart Jr., one of the last surviving fighter pilots of that era. 

Stewart, who died in his Bloomfield Hills home on Feb. 2, turned 100 on July 4, 2024. The museum held a birthday party in his honor that day.

"He was always, of course, one of the favorite uncles. He always had adventurous stories to talk about. He was such a pleasant and optimistic person," said Stewart's nephew, Robert Brown. 

The Tuskegee Airmen was the name for the first all-African American fighter pilot squadron, formed during the 1940s when the U.S. military segregated units by race. Nearly 1,000 served as pilots, and others in support roles. The museum shares the history and artifacts of that era while encouraging interest in aviation and aerospace engineering. 

Stewart enlisted at age 18 in the Army Air Corps to qualify as a pilot. He completed 43 combat missions and earned three aerial victories in a single day. 

Brown said he will never forget the stories his uncle shared with the family about his accomplishments while serving his country. 

"What he did and the success he had as an airman was something that absolutely inspired the whole family," he said.

The Tuskegee Airmen who still survived in 2007 were presented with a Congressional Gold Medal "in recognition of their unique military record, which inspired revolutionary reform in the Armed Forces." 

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs featured Stewart in its "America 250" vignette series in 2022.

"He was one of my heroes. I would say one of the last heroes that I have on this earth still, It's touching me a lot that he's gone," said Brian Smith, the President and CEO of the Tuskegee National Museum in Detroit. "It was an inspiration just to be around him, and that is what we'll miss here at the museum, bringing him in and letting him talk to the young students. Now they got to look at me, and hopefully, I can be half of the inspiration that he was."

Stewart remained active in honoring his fellow airmen at the Tuskegee National Museum up until his death. Brown said his uncle visited the museum two weeks ago to talk with aspiring aviation students at City Airport, where old aircraft are stored. 

Brown said Stewart often spoke about the challenges of serving in the military when segregation was the law, but he never allowed his circumstances to prevent him from living the life he wanted and accomplishing his dreams. 

"He never became bitter about that he remained that patriot he believed in his country he believed in his service that was another great lesson for my kids and for me that yes life is going to throw you some curveballs, but he never used that as an excuse, he used it in fact as inspiration to go on and achieve just so many things in his life," Brown said. 

Stewart leaves behind a daughter named Lori. He also chronicled his life and career in his 2019 memoir, "Soaring to Glory: A Tuskegee Airman's Firsthand Account of World War II."  

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