By The Florida Courier
A Tuskegee Airman and other aviation luminaries will be honored at the Greater Miami Aviation Association’s 92th gala on Saturday, Oct. 12 at the Trump National Doral Miami Resort.
Lt. Col. Harold Brown (USAF, Retired) will receive the Pioneer Award for his and other Tuskegee Airman’s courage during World War II and his endurance under the glare of segregation back home.
The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African-Americans to be trained as combat pilots during World War II. Their heroics included escorting B-17 bombers in the European campaign; downing the German jet fighter; and destroying a German cruiser with just machine gunfire.
Other awardees will include:
- Nicolas Finazzo, CEO of AerSale for the Wright Brothers Memorial Award
- Rafael Alonso, past president for Airbus, Latin America for the Juan Trippe Award
- Derry Huff, vice president of Strategic Initiatives for Amerijet International for the Glenn Curtis Award
- John Evans, founder and CEO of Jetscope/Azorra for the Edward V. Rickenbacker Award
- Konrad J. Walter, CEO of Taking Aviation Forward; managing partner for TMSaero for the Lifetime Achievement Award
- Regional One for the Corporate Achievement
Award In addition, 22 students from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida Memorial University, Broward College, Lynn University, Miami-Dade College and George T. Baker Technical College will receive scholarships between $1,000 and $5,000.
This article originally appeared in the Florida Courier.