HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah — The 419th Fighter Wing hosted retired Lt. Col. James H. Harvey III, a member of the historic Tuskegee Airmen, during a tour Feb. 11 here.

The former fighter pilot got an up-close look the F-16 Fighting Falcon along with the Air Force’s newest fighter jet, the F-35 Lightning II. He also toured the aircrew flight equipment shop and took a trip to the flightline to watch F-16s taking off.

Harvey, 93, has flown 12 different airframes and was the first African-American pilot to fly combat missions in Korean airspace. He was also part of the winning team in the reciprocating class at the military’s first “Top Gun” competition in 1949 – a feat he said was only officially recognized in 1995.  

Harvey, who retired from the Air Force in 1965, will serve as guest speaker at the wing’s annual awards banquet at Layton’s Davis Conference Center.

To learn more about Harvey visit http://www.tuskegeetopgun.com/