Lt. Col. George Hardy, one of the original members of the Tuskegee Airmen and one of the nation’s first Black fighter pilots, had died. He was 100.

Hardy passed away on Tuesday at his home in Sarasota, Florida, according to Tuskegee Airmen Inc., a nonprofit group focused on honoring the history and impact of the group. Hardy was part of the original group of Tuskegee Airmen and is believed to have been the last of the original group’s combat pilots from World War II.

“His legacy is one of courage, resilience, tremendous skill and dogged perseverance against racism, prejudice and other evils,” the group said in its announcement on Friday of Hardy’s passing. “We are forever grateful for his sacrifice and will hold dear to his memory.”

According to Tuskegee Airmen Inc., only 13 of the orig

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