Military pilots marvel at parallels in their lives

Harvard University recently honored the two men.
CINCINNATI (AP) -- Herbert Heilbrun and John Leahr lived just across town from one another for most of their lives.
They served in the Army Air Corps together during World War II, and even flew some of the same missions. But because Heilbrun is white and Leahr is black, they didn't realize until about six years ago that they've lived parallel lives, mostly on the east side of Cincinnati. Both men are now 84.
"I flew B-17 bombers, and John flew P-51 Mustangs," Heilbrun said. "The Red Tails escorted us on our missions, and they were great fliers."
The Red Tails was the nickname of the 332nd Fighter Squadron from Tuskegee, Ala. So-called because they had red tails, the planes were flown by the Tuskegee Airmen, the legendary group of black pilots who broke racial barriers and earned the respect of white flyers like Heilbrun for their heroic service.
The Americans were suffering serious losses among their bomber groups, and the bomber pilots were thankful the Tuskegee Airmen were in the skies to fight off the Messerschmitts and Focke Wolfes the Germans threw against them, Heilbrun said.
"The Tuskegee airmen never lost a bomber they escorted," Heilbrun said.
He said that he owed his life to the Tuskegee Airmen. Heilbrun and Leahr both flew out of bases in Italy during the war, but because the military was still segregated, they landed and took off at different air strips.
They wouldn't meet for 50 years -- until Heilbrun went to a Tuskegee Airmen's reunion at Fountain Square in Cincinnati.
He was moved to do that, Heilbrun said, because of a long-standing desire to thank the pilots who had kept him safe.
"Maybe I could find a guy and thank him," Heilbrun said. Leahr, of Cincinnati, recalls the meeting but said he's tired of telling the story, after having often recounted it.
The two men have been honored at Harvard and recently spoke at Clarion University in Clarion, Pa., about equity.
Comparisons
Heilbrun, who now lives in Sycamore Township near Cincinnati, said the coincidences in their lives were remarkable. When they compared their flight records, it was clear Leahr had protected Heilbrun on at least two bombing runs, one over Germany and one over Czechoslovakia.
When they talked further, however, it became clear they had even more in common. They both grew up in Cincinnati and even attended the same third-grade class at North Avondale Elementary School.
"I got out my [class] picture. There were 40 people in the class, and there was one black boy. He was standing right next to me," Heilbrun said.
Since meeting, they've become great friends and have spoken dozens of times to groups about racism, Heilbrun said.
Eleanor Roosevelt told the United Nations it's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness, Heilbrun recalled.
"I know Johnny and I aren't about to warm the whole world, but I know we've lighted a few candles," he said.