U.S. Air Force retired Lt. Col. George E. Hardy, a Tuskegee Airman, stands next to his former P-51D Mustang at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Oct. 4, 2016.

George E. Hardy was the youngest Red Tail fighter pilot at 19 years old and completed 21 missions across Europe during World War II.

(Image credit: Senior Airman Malcolm Mayfield)

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