World War II airmen meet in historic Naples ceremony

NAPLES, Fla. They were united in service, but segregation kept them apart — until Tuesday.

Retired Army Lt. Col. Vernon “Bo” Sigo flew missions as a navigator in a Boeing B-17 bomber during World War II. George Hardy, another former Army lieutenant colonel, was a P-51 Mustang pilot.

But because Hardy, a member of the renowned Tuskegee Airmen, is black, they were kept apart during their military days. Tuesday, the two men met in a ceremony at Cambier Park.

Bagpipes played, Naples Mayor Bill Barnett spoke, and hundreds of students from Gulf View Middle School came to watch and donate $2,000 to Collier County Honor Flight, the organization that orchestrated the event.

“I’m just flabbergasted,” Sigo said. “I didn’t expect anything like this.”

The Cape Coral resident found out decades ago that the Tuskegee Airmen, an all-black unit, had protected him during his flights. He long held a desire to meet one of them and extend his personal thanks.

“They flew escort for us over German territory and they probably saved our lives,” Sigo said.

The honor flight organization, which flies veterans free of charge to Washington, D.C. so they can see the monuments built in their honor, saw to it that Sigo’s wish was fulfilled, arranging Tuesday’s meeting with Hardy, who lives in Sarasota.

“He could have been in one of the planes we escorted in 1945,” Hardy said.

Both Hardy and Sigo are in their 90s. Only 17 Tuskegee airmen, including Hardy, are still living. Time is running short for ceremonies like Tuesday’s, making it all the more special.

“It’s history, and it’s something you’re not going to see anymore of, World War II vets like
this,” Barnett said.