Avondale vets' experiences included in George Lucas feature film "Red Tails" | Arts & Culture

CINCINNATI (FOX19) - The military experiences of Cincinnati natives and World War II veterans John Leahr and Herb Heilbrun will be among those depicted in George Lucas’ latest war movie, Red Tails, released nationwide in theatres this weekend.

Leahr and Heilbrun are the subjects of the book “Black and White Airmen” The True History, the story of their lifelong friendship,  from growing up in the same Avondale neighborhood, as third graders in the same class, to serving as pilots in World War II and returning to Cincinnati to build their lives.

During childhood, they were raised in a generation of segregation, but later reunited through their war experience.  Both serving as pilots at age 21, Heilbrun, Army Air Forces B-17 pilot bomber pilot.  Leahr, a Tuskegee Airman flying B-51 fighter planes.  They fought together in the brutal, high altitude bomber war against Nazi Germany.  These brave Tuskegee Airmen escorted B-17 planes and no pilots were lost in the air fight when escorted.  Though they never reconnected while in the service due to the segregation among the U.S. Army Air Forces, they were American comrades.

Red Tails, released nationwide in movie theaters this weekend, is based on the true events of the Tuskegee Airmen, such as Leahr, and their heroic contributions during World War II.

The Cincinnati veterans are attending a closed screening of the film on Thursday night.

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