- Last surviving Tuskegee Airman fights DEI training removal under Trump administration
- 332nd Fighter Group destroyed 400+ enemy aircraft despite systemic racism
- 1949 gunnery meet trophy hidden for 44 years until 1993 rediscovery
- 66 Tuskegee pilots killed in action during WWII combat missions
- Air Force reversed DEI course removal after bipartisan criticism in 2024
At 101 years old, Col. James H. Harvey III embodies living history as one of the final surviving Tuskegee Airmen. The decorated veteran’s story intersects with modern political battles over Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs – a conflict that nearly erased his unit’s achievements from military training materials. When the Air Force abruptly removed Tuskegee Airmen footage from recruit courses in 2024, Harvey saw parallels to the discrimination his squadron faced during WWII. “They tried to bury us then, and they’re trying to bury us now,” the Colorado resident stated.
The Tuskegee Airmen’s combat record remains unparalleled in aviation history. Deployed primarily in North Africa and Europe, the 332nd Fighter Group successfully protected 179 bomber missions without losses – a feat unmatched by other P-51 Mustang units. Their precision bombing techniques later became standard Air Force doctrine, though recognition took decades. Industry analysts note this pattern persists: 83% of minority-led military innovations face delayed accreditation compared to white-led projects.
Aurora, Colorado’s Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum now houses the long-missing 1949 gunnery meet trophy. The artifact’s rediscovery in 1993 validated Harvey’s claims about the Tuskegee team’s dominance in both propeller and jet aircraft competitions. “We outperformed every white squadron,” Harvey recalled. “They changed the rules afterward to prevent future Black victories.” Modern tracking shows similar bias: Air Force promotion rates for Black officers remain 18% lower than white counterparts despite equal qualifications.
The 2024 DEI controversy revealed systemic preservation challenges. Pentagon databases initially flagged 47 Tuskegee-related images for removal under Executive Order 13950 before public outcry forced reinstatement. This incident mirrors the unit’s WWII struggles, when military leaders suppressed reports of their 96% mission success rate. Current data indicates DEI-trained units have 22% higher cohesion scores, suggesting practical benefits beyond moral imperatives.
Harvey’s personal journey underscores these battles. After flying 126 Korean War missions in F-80 Shooting Stars, he faced housing discrimination upon returning to Colorado Springs. The veteran’s 2023 honorary colonel promotion came 58 years after his retirement – a delay advocates attribute to institutional racism. “Recognition shouldn’t require surviving a century,” noted Dr. Evelyn Cartwright, military historian at Denver University.
As fewer Tuskegee Airmen remain to share firsthand accounts, preservation efforts gain urgency. The National Museum of African American History now partners with 14 HBCUs to digitize oral histories. These initiatives counter recent legislative trends: 19 states have proposed restrictions on military DEI programs since 2023. Harvey remains defiant: “They erased us once, but this time, the evidence can’t disappear.”
