Harry Stewart Jr. facts for kids

Harry Thaddeus Stewart Jr. (born July 4, 1924 – died February 2, 2025) was a brave pilot in the United States Army Air Forces. He was known for being a Distinguished Flying Cross recipient. He was also a fighter pilot with the 332nd Fighter Group. This group was famous as the all-African American Tuskegee Airmen.

Stewart achieved an amazing feat during World War II. He shot down three German airplanes in a single day! Only four Tuskegee Airmen, including Stewart, managed to get three victories in one day. The others were Joseph Elsberry, Clarence D. Lester, and Lee Archer.

Stewart was also part of the all-African American 332nd Fighter Group team. This team won the first-ever "Top Gun" competition held by the United States Air Force in 1949. In 2006, the Tuskegee Airmen were honored with the Congressional Gold Medal. In 2019, Stewart helped write a book about his experiences called “Soaring to Glory.”

Early Life and Family

Harry Stewart Jr. was born in Newport News, Virginia, on July 4, 1924. When he was two years old, his family moved to Queens, New York. They lived near LaGuardia Airport.

Stewart married Delphine Alice Friend Stewart. She was the sister of another Tuskegee Airman, Robert Friend. They were married until Delphine passed away in 2015. They had one daughter, Lori Collette Stewart.

Becoming a Military Pilot

When he was 18, Stewart volunteered for the United States Army Air Forces. He passed the exam to become a pilot cadet. On June 27, 1944, Stewart finished his pilot training. He earned his wings and became a Tuskegee Airman in Class 44-F-SE. Interestingly, he learned to fly an airplane before he learned to drive a car!

After his training, Stewart was sent to Italy. He joined the 332nd Fighter Group's 302nd Fighter Squadron. Later, he moved to the 301st Fighter Squadron.

Flying in World War II

Stewart flew 43 missions to protect bombers for the 15th Air Force. These missions took him over Eastern Europe.

Amazing Feats in the Sky

On Easter Sunday, April 1, 1945, Stewart had an incredible day. While escorting B-24 bombers near Linz, he shot down three German Focke-Wulf 190 planes. For this brave act, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Stewart was one of only four Tuskegee Airmen to achieve three aerial victories in a single day. He was also one of only nine pilots in the 332nd Fighter Group with at least three confirmed kills during World War II. Other pilots with three or more confirmed kills included:

• Joseph Elsberry – 4 Confirmed Kills
• Edward L. Toppins – 4 Confirmed Kills
• Lee Archer – 4 Confirmed Kills
• Charles B. Hall – 3 Confirmed Kills
• Leonard M. Jackson – 3 Confirmed Kills
• Clarence D. Lester – 3 Confirmed Kills
• Wendell O. Pruitt – 3 Confirmed Kills
• Roger Romine – 3 Confirmed Kills
• Harry Stewart Jr. – 3 Confirmed Kills

The P-47 Crash and Rescue

On March 25, 1948, Stewart was flying a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt plane. He was on a training mission over Eastern Kentucky. Suddenly, his plane's engine failed at 20,000 feet during a thunderstorm. Stewart had to bail out of the plane. Since the P-47 didn't have an ejection seat, he had to slide the canopy back and release his seat belt. As he tried to get out, the wind pushed him against the plane's tail. This broke his left leg.

Stewart opened his parachute and landed on a tall pine tree. His parachute got stuck, and he dangled two feet above the ground. He noticed his sock was soaked with blood from his broken leg. He cut himself down and crawled under a rock. He used his white silk flying scarf to stop the bleeding.

Stewart had landed in a remote area called Butcher Hollow, Kentucky. A 9-year-old neighbor, Callie Daniels, saw his white parachute. She thought it was a large white eagle. Callie told her father, Lafe Daniels. Lafe rode his horse into the hills and found Stewart. Lafe helped the injured Stewart onto another horse and took him to his home.

Lafe's wife, Mary Daniels, helped Stewart. She used bedsheets to bandage his leg. Then, Lafe took Stewart to a local clinic in Paintsville, Kentucky. News of the crash spread, and many local people came to see the injured pilot. The town's mayor and police chief even visited him. The next day, a representative from the Air Force picked up Stewart.

Years later, in 2005, a local teacher named Danny Keith Blevins found Stewart. He shared a funny local story about the crash. People in the area used to believe that a B-52 bomber had been stolen and shot down. Stewart found this amusing because B-52 planes didn't even exist in 1948!

In 2006, the town of Van Lear, Kentucky, which includes Butcher Hollow, honored Stewart. They made him the parade marshal for their annual Homecoming Day parade. During his visit, Stewart met the family of famous country music singers Loretta Lynn and Crystal Gayle.

Winning the "Top Gun" Competition

In January 1949, the U.S. Air Force decided to hold its first aerial weapons competition. In May 1949, Stewart joined a three-pilot team from the 332nd Fighter Group. They went to Las Vegas Air Force Base (now Nellis Air Force Base) to compete.

This was a tough 10-day event. It included six different challenges, like shooting targets from the air and dive bombing. Stewart's team led the competition from start to finish.

Stewart's team members included James H. Harvey, Captain Alva Temple, and First Lieutenant Halbert Alexander. Staff Sergeant Buford A. Johnson was their aircraft crew chief.

The results of this competition, including their winning silver trophy, were hidden for 55 years. They were finally found in 1995. Stewart's team flew older F-47N planes. They won against other U.S. Air Force teams flying much newer aircraft. James H. Harvey, a teammate, said, "They knew who won, but did not want to recognize us."

Life After the Military

In 1950, Stewart left active duty in the military. However, he continued to serve in the U.S. Air Force Reserves. He later retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

After World War II, Stewart wanted to become a pilot for commercial airlines. But two airlines, including Trans World Airlines, would not hire him because he was African American. Years later, in 2015 and 2018, Delta Airlines and American Airlines honored him with honorary Captain status.

Stewart went back to school and earned his high school diploma. He then went to New York University (NYU) and graduated in 1963 with a degree in mechanical engineering. While at NYU, he was the president of the student council.

Stewart later became a Vice President at the ANR Pipeline Company in Detroit, Michigan. This company operates a large natural gas pipeline system.

In 2019, Stewart co-wrote his book, “Soaring to Glory: A Tuskegee Airman's Firsthand Account of World War II.” He wrote it with Philip Handleman.

Harry Stewart Jr. lived in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, with his daughter, Lori Collette Stewart. He turned 100 years old on July 4, 2024, and passed away on February 2, 2025.

See also

• List of Tuskegee Airmen Cadet Pilot Graduation Classes
• List of Tuskegee Airmen
• Military history of African Americans
• Dogfights (TV series)
• Executive Order 9981
• The Tuskegee Airmen (movie)