Black History & Air and Sea History

celebrating

BLACK HISTORY in air & sea history

Bessie Coleman was the first African American to hold a pilot license. However, when she tried to attend flight school in the US, she was denied acceptance on behalf of her race. She instead trained in France and later became renowned for her stunt flying.

She used her platform to raise awareness of race discrimination in aviation, refusing to fly in events which were segregated.

BESSIE COLEMAN

Willa Brown was the first African American woman to earn a pilot license in the U.S., as well as a commercial pilot license. Following in the footsteps Bessie Coleman, she cemented herself in US history, paving the wave for others to break the barriers that had been in place for years.

WILLA BROWN

Cornelius Coffey was the founder of the first African American owned aeronautical school in the US. After facing challenges getting accepted into flight schools, he took matters into his own hands.

Coffey built his own plane and taught himself how to fly it. He was married to Willa Brown, the first African American woman to earn a pilot and commercial license in the US.

CORNELIUS COFFEY

CATHAY WILLIAMS Cathay Williams was a trailblazer for women in the US armed forces. She was the first black women to enlist in the US Army, enlisting during the prohibition of women serving in the military. She posed as a man under the pseudonym ‘William Cathay’.

THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN The Tuskegee Airmen made history as the first African American pilots in the armed forces of the United States.

Named for the institute where they trained, the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, they became pilots in WWII.

CAPTAIN REMOSHAY NELSON Captain Remoshay Nelson made history as the first black female to hold the rank of 'Officer' in the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. She was the first in 2021, but will not be the last!

Eugene ‘Jacques’ Bullard was the first African American combat aviator. Bullard bravely served with the French Foreign Legion after traveling around Europe during his initial career in boxing. After the war broke out, he was denied an attempted transfer to serve with the US armed forces due to his race. His efforts were not left unsung, however. He was named ‘Chevalier in the Legion of Honor’, similar to a knight in England.

EUGENE 'JACQUES' BULLARD

James Banning was the first African American to fly coast to coast. Him and his mechanic, nicknamed the ‘Flying Hoboes’, made the flight with a plane made from surplus parts.

They made the fight from LA to NY stopping at multiple legs along the trip to raise funds for their travel.

JAMES BANNING