Both Served In The Now-Famous Unit

We learned late this month of the passing of two more Tuskegee Airmen during the month of December.

Lowell Steward (pictured) passed away at the age on 95 in Ventura, CA December 17. NPR reports that, according to his family, he died at a hospital in Ventura following an unspecified illness.

Steward joined the Army Air Corps just after graduating Santa Barbara College in 1941, He flew 143 missions in airplanes ranging from P-39 Aircobras to P-40 Warhawks and eventually the P-51 Mustang. Steward was presented with many awards for his service, including the Distinguished flying Cross, according to the report.

Despite his distinguished war record, Steward was reportedly denied a mortgage when he returned from overseas because he was black. He went on to a 40-year real estate career.

The other Tuskegee Airman to pass this month was Gerald Adwin Dupre Sr., who died December 16th at his home in New Orleans, LA after a brief illness.

Not much is reported about his service in the segregated unit, but his passing was note on the Tuskegee Airmen Facebook page with a link to an obituary in the New Orleans Advocate. Dupre was 86 years old.

(Image from Facebook)

FMI: https://www.facebook.com/cafredtailsquadron?hc_location=timeline