Cincinnati mural honors Tuskegee Airman and WWII pilot

Flashback: The men attended North Avondale Elementary School together, but lost touch. During WWII, Leahr flew with the Tuskegee Airmen, who escorted bombers like Heilbrun's.

• They unknowingly flew some of the same missions.
• The two reconnected at a 1997 Tuskegee Airmen reunion in Cincinnati, discovering they'd even appeared in the same third grade class photo.
• The pilots became close friends, traveling the country to promote racial understanding.

Zoom in: Artist Conrad Egyir designed the mural, which is being painted by 1001 Colors' paid youth apprentices.

What's next: A public dedication is planned for spring 2027.

• The artwork is part of a larger initiative honoring Ohio's Tuskegee Airmen.