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In winter 1944, the all-Black 332nd Fighter Group first rose into the skies over Europe—guardians of American bombers pushing into the Reich. Recognizable by their distinctive red tails, the 332nd became the most trusted escort group in the 15th AF and bomber crews began asking for them by name—because when the “Red Tails” were overhead, more crews came home.
Our 332nd Fighter Group sign honors these intrepid pilots. Weathered with dents, each sign is based on the real HQ sign at Ramitelli airfield, Italy, and was hand-signed by the last living Tuskegee Airman combat pilot, Lt. Col. George Hardy (1925-2025), who flew P-51s with the 332nd.
More than a display, this sign is a reminder of a record earned the hard way—mission by mission at 25,000 feet. With barely 200 available, secure yours before they’re history.
Shipping added at checkout // size: 19.75" x 7.5" // ships sleeved & boxed
LESS THAN HALF REMAIN!
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MAIN EDITION - LESS THAN HALF REMAIN!
200 limited-edition signs, autographed by decorated 332nd Fighter Group P-51 pilot Lt. Col. George Hardy.
Each sign includes a seal of authenticity on the reverse side bearing the limited-edition number. Extra items shown in display images not included.
OTHER EDITIONS
An Open Edition, bearing no autographs may be released by Valor Studios. A Signer Proof edition of 10 signs exists for project helpers.
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LT. COL. GEORGE HARDY (1925 - 2025)
George Hardy was born in 1925 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the era of legal segregation. In 1943, at age seventeen, he enlisted in the United States Army with the specific objective of entering the Tuskegee flying program. He completed pilot training at Tuskegee Army Air Field, joining the cadre of more than 900 African American aviators who earned their wings there. Of those graduates, only 355 were assigned to combat duty in World War II—Hardy among them.
In early 1945, he deployed to Italy and was assigned to the 99th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group. Operating in the European Theater during the final months of the war, the unit conducted escort and tactical missions in support of Allied operations.
Hardy remained in the Air Force following World War II and transitioned into multi-engine aircraft. During the Korean War, he flew 45 combat missions as a pilot of the B-29 Superfortress, conducting strategic bombing operations under increasingly contested airspace conditions.
In the Vietnam War, Hardy again served in combat aviation, flying 70 missions aboard AC-119 gunships, aircraft configured for close air support and interdiction. His combat service in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam made him one of only two Tuskegee Airmen known to have flown combat missions in three separate wars.
In addition to his operational assignments, Hardy pursued advanced technical education. He earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and a master’s degree in systems engineering from the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology in Dayton, Ohio. He subsequently contributed to the development of the Department of Defense’s first worldwide military telephone system, supporting global command and communications infrastructure during the Cold War.
Lieutenant Colonel George Hardy retired from the United States Air Force in 1971 after nearly three decades of service, concluding a career that spanned piston-engine fighters, strategic bombers, and fixed-wing gunships across three wars.
- Learn more about Lt. Col. George Hardy in this interview.
