Harlem Resident, Former Tuskegee Airman Dies At 103: Report

HARLEM, NY — A Harlem man who served during World War II as one of the storied Tuskegee Airmen has died at the age of 103, NY1 reported on Tuesday.

Reginald Brewster was among roughly 16,000 men in the all-Black group of military pilots and airmen. Brewster was not a pilot himself, but rather a member of the support staff, working under base commanders in England and France, according to NY1.

The barrier-shattering group, which was initially stationed in Tuskegee, Ala., fought fascism while abroad but endured racism at home, including from within the U.S. Army, which remained racially segregated.

Brewster recalled his time with the airmen fondly, telling a Fordham University alumni magazine in 2018 that he'd been "graciously received" in England.

"I was treated with a great deal of respect and a great deal of consideration. I didn’t feel the scorn or sting of discrimination," he said.

Brewster was honorably discharged from the military after suffering a shrapnel injury, later heading to New York and receiving a law degree in 1950 from Fordham Law School. He continued practicing law until his retirement at age 90.

A 2017 profile by NY1 showed Brewster playing piano inside his Harlem apartment, an activity that he said helped keep his mind sharp. He was believed to be one of only about 100 Tuskegee Airmen still alive that year.

Brewster died peacefully on Monday, his son told NY1.