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Thu, Apr 02, 2015

Gone West: Tuskegee Airman John Leahr

Passed Away Last Friday At The Age Of 94

Another of the storied Tuskegee Airmen has Gone West.

John Leahr, a native of Cincinnati, OH, passed away on Friday, March 27, at the age of 94.

Leahr had been one of the pilots to fly fighter escort for bomber missions during World War II. Cincinnati.com reports that Leahr had an early interest in flying but was told at a career day at Lunken Airport in 1938 that there was no place for Negroes in aviation.

But he later joined the 332nd Fighter Group, the Tuskegee Airmen, and flew bomber escort sorties in Europe. After returning from the war, Leahr met up with Herb Helibrun, another Cincinnati native who had flown during the war. Helibrun was white, and had flown one of the bombers the Leahr had helped protect. They later discovered they had attended attended the same elementary school, and had stood side-by-side in a 1929 class photo.

The two became friends, and a book "Black and  White Airmen: Their True Story" was published about their experiences during the war.

(Image courtesy of tuskegeeairmen.org)

FMI: http://tuskegeeairmen.org/

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