Soaring to Glory: A Tuskegee Airman's Firsthand Account of World War II

Lt. Col. Harry Stewart Jr. was one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen pilots who experienced air combat during World War II. This book captures the essence of his experience, including the legendary mission in which he downed three enemy fighters. It also reveals the cruel injustices he and his fellow Tuskegee Airmen faced during their wartime service and upon return home. Stewart's heroism was not celebrated as it should have been in postwar America, but his courage and determination will never be forgotten.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 03 February 2022
Publisher: Regnery History

This book is a true masterpiece, capturing the essence of the Tuskegee Airmen's experience from the perspective of one who lived it. The action sequences transport the reader back to the cockpit of a P-51C Kitten, evoking a sense of exhilaration and nostalgia. If you seek to understand what it was like fighting German interceptors in European skies while also achieving equal opportunity at home, this book is a must-read.

Colonel Charles E. McGee, USAF (ret.), former president of Tuskegee Airmen Inc., expressed his profound admiration for the airmen, stating, "All Americans owe Harry Stewart Jr. and his fellow airmen a huge debt for defending our country during World War II. In addition, they have inspired generations of African American youth to follow their dreams."

Henry Louis Gates Jr., Alphonse Fletcher University Professor at Harvard University, echoed these sentiments, adding, "They have inspired generations of African American youth to follow their dreams."

Harry Stewart Jr.'s journey to Army basic training in Mississippi in 1943 was marked by segregation in the segregated rail car. However, his determination and resilience led him to achieve remarkable feats. Two years later, at the age of twenty, he found himself at the controls of a P-51, soaring through the Austrian countryside, hunting for Luftwaffe aircraft at five thousand feet. By the end of World War II, he had etched his name in history as an American hero.

Lt. Col. Harry Stewart Jr.'s story is a testament to the indomitable spirit of the Tuskegee Airmen. Award-winning aviation writer Philip Handleman has skillfully recreated the harrowing action and heart-pounding drama of Stewart's combat missions, including the legendary mission in which he downed three enemy fighters.

Soaring to Glory also sheds light on the cruel injustices that Stewart and his fellow Tuskegee Airmen faced during their wartime service and upon their return home after the war. Their heroism was not celebrated as it should have been in postwar America, but their boundless courage and determination have left an indelible mark on our nation's history.

This book is a must-read for anyone who seeks to understand the remarkable contributions of the Tuskegee Airmen and the enduring legacy of their bravery and resilience. It is a tribute to the power of perseverance and the pursuit of equality, and a reminder that heroes can emerge from the most challenging circumstances.

Weight: 366g
Dimension: 154 x 229 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781684511914