It's been more than 70 years since Jack Lyle flew into combat in the skies above German-held territory in World War II.

This weekend, one of the last surviving Tuskegee airmen is being celebrated on Veteran's Day with a beer named in his honor.

97-year-old Jack Lyle is one of the last living Tuskegee airmen -- a unit of elite African-American pilots formed during World War II when blacks were not allowed to fly with whites.

"They're always talking about the black pilots prove themselves...I never heard anybody talk about improving anything. They all liked what they were doing,” Jack said.

On Thursday, Jack and his wife Eunice drove over from their Southside home to pay a visit to Argus Brewery in the historic Pullman neighborhood where they're regulars after meeting the brewers during a tour.

They're visited to see the new beer Argus has brewed in Jack's honor, called ‘Tuskegee Airmen Pursuit.’ His picture is on the label.


It goes on sale this weekend with five dollars from every bottle going to a Tuskegee airman charity -- teaching teens in Gary how to fly.

"This Sunday we're going to be doing a bottle signing. Jack is gonna drive to Kimbark Bottle Shop in Hyde Park himself and get out and meet and greet, and we're going to open the beer to the public,” said Nick Lubovich of Argus Brewery.

And get to hear Jack's stories, like how he nearly flunked out on his first training flight.

"He's not paying attention. And I wasn't. I was looking out the window all the time. Ooooh! I was afraid. Never been in an aircraft before,” Jack said.

Jack wound up flying 27 combat missions over German-held territory in a P-51 mustang, escorting bombers and even shooting down a German plane.

There are only 300 bottles of the beer. It is a farmhouse ale, aged in wine barrels and if you'd like to get one signed by Jack, he'll be at the "Kimbark Bottle Shop" on 53rd Street in Hyde Park on Sunday, starting at 3 p.m.