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Otis Willie
October 17th 03, 11:45 PM
World War II Pilots Honored at Luncheon

(EXCERPT) By JOSEPH M. TARTAKOFF Contributing Writer

Roughly six years ago, a World War II aviator attended a ceremony in
honor of the black fighter pilots who had protected bombers like
himself, looking for someone to thank.

He found a forgotten third grade classmate.

Yesterday the aviator, Herbert H. Heilbrun, and his classmate, John M.
Leahr, were honored by the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and
Race Relations at a lunch in Winthrop Dining Hall.

They were recognized for their service to the nation and recent
efforts to improve race relations.

During the war, Heilbrun flew 32 combat missions. Leahr flew 132
missions as a Tuskegee airman, a member of the all-black fighter group
trained at the Tuskegee Institute and Tuskegee Air Field in Alabama.

The Tuskegee airmen never lost a bomber they escorted, Heilbrun told
the crowd of 50. Theres a good chance I wouldnt be sittin...

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Otis Willie
Associate Librarian
The American War Library
http://www.americanwarlibrary.com

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