AlaDefense.com
Tuskegee Airman fighter pilot and pioneer “Top Gun,” James H. Harvey III, at the age of 100 is in the news with a new rank.
During halftime of the Army-Air Force football game in Denver on Nov. 4, 2023, Harvey received an honorary promotion to the rank of colonel.
It is another in a long list of accolades for the World War II and Korean War veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps and its successor, the U.S. Air Force. The New Jersey native served from 1943-1965.
Harvey graduated at Tuskegee Army Air Field on Oct. 16, 1944, as a second lieutenant. He became a command pilot and in the early 1950s flew the F-80 Shooting Star in Korea on 126 missions.
He retired in 1965 as a lieutenant colonel after spending 22 years in the Army Air Corps and the Air Force. During that time, he flew P-40, P-47, P-51, F-80, F-86A-E-F &D, F-89, F-94, T-33 and the F-102.
Awards and decorations include: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 10 Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Unit Citation with 10 Oak Leaf Clusters, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Army Occupation Medal (Japan), National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, Air Force Longevity Service Award ribbon with four Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Reserve Medal, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation and United Nations Service Medal.
The following transcript is from Harvey’s website page at https://www.tuskegeetopgun.com/ and explains his role as a “Top Gun:”
AFTER THE 1986 Hollywood release “Top Gun,” there has been a wide misconception that this country’s first Top Gun Program was developed by the Navy in the 1980’s, competing in F-14 Tomcats. Again, not the case.
In fact, the military’s first “Top Gun” gunnery meet originated decades before and was established by the newly formed Unites States Air Force.
What is also virtually unknown, is that Tuskegee Airmen, Captain Alva Temple, 1st Lieutenant Harry Stewart, 1st Lieutenant James H Harvey III and alternate pilot Halbert Alexander, competing in their P-47N Thunderbolts, would go on to win the USAF very “First Top Gun” Weapons Meet (also known as “William Tell” and “Gunsmoke”) in May of 1949, at what would later become Nellis AFB.
Accolades go to our Maintenance Personnel, because without them the missions could not have been flown with success. They were the Best in the USAF. A special thank you is extended to my aircraft crew chief (then Staff Sergeant) Buford Johnson.
It would be Lt. Col Harvey’s natural abilities as a top aviator that would later distinguish him as the military’s “First Black” Jet Fighter Pilot to fly missions over Korean Airspace.
(Photo above: Trevor Cokley, U.S. Air Force)
Harvey’s graduating class in Tuskegee.
