The first African-American aviator… was a WOMAN! Bessie Coleman (1892-1926) was the daughter of two sharecroppers in Atlanta, GA. She first became interested in flight after hearing stories of World War I aviators. Since she was not able to gain admission to American flight schools, she moved to France where on June 15, 1921, Coleman obtained her pilot license from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (almost 2 years prior to Amelia Earhart), becoming the first African American (male or female) to hold such. On April 30, 1926, she was killed when her plane malfunctioned while she was performing an aerial maneuver at an air show--- the only way she was able to earn money at the time as a civil aviator. Coleman paved the way for all of the African American aviators and astronauts currently in the sky.
Photo of Bessie Coleman (cir. 1921)
Copy of Coleman's pilot license issued on June 15, 1921. Amelia Earhart was issued this same license almost two years later.
Photo of Bessie Coleman (cir. 1925)
No comments:
Post a Comment