The Journey of Flight.pdf - Valkyrie Cadet

Chapter Chapter 3 3 3 - - - The The The Golden Golden Age: Age: 1919 1919 -1939 -1939
-1939
The Tuskegee Airmen
marked the beginning
of the second era of
black aviation
progress. It dispelled
doubts as to the black
man’s ability to
perform in all areas of
aviation. CPTP
produced many
famous African-
American airmen.
One of the segregated
schools was
West Virginia Institute.
Another, the
Coffey School of
Aeronautics in Chicago,
operated by
Willa Beatrice
Brown, became the
hub of African-
American Civil Air Patrol (CAP) activity in 1941. Instructors at Coffey included famous aviators such
as Henri Fletcher, Charles Smallwood, and Edward Gibbs who founded Negro Airman International.
The real start of African-American participation in the CPTP, and in the Army Air Corps, came as
a result of a chance meeting. On May 9, 1939, Dale White and Chauncy Spencer set out on a 3,000
mile round-trip demonstration cross-country flight to promote African-American aviation to the public,
and to urge Congress to allow more opportunities for African-Americans in the field of aviation.
On a stopover in Washington DC, the two men accidentally met Senator Harry Truman. The Senator
was unaware that not only were African-Americans excluded from the Air Corps, but also did not
figure in the proposed CPTP. This chance meeting led to the intervention of Congress on behalf of
African-Americans regarding aviation opportunities.
From it came the activation of the famous 99th Pursuit Squadron, an all black unit, on March 22,
1941, at Tuskegee Sub Depot, Tuskegee, Alabama. This was the first CPTP for African-Americans,
and was also the most well-known. The First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, did a lot to promote equal
opportunity for African-Americans in aviation and worked to help make the Tuskegee program a success.
The Tuskegee program was run by Major James Ellison, base commander, and Charles Alfred
“Chief’” Anderson, who was the principal flight instructor. A famous airman from Tuskegee was
Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., whose father was an Army general. Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., earned the
Distinguished Flying Cross and the Silver Star in World War II. He also commanded the all-black 99th
Pursuit Squadron in March 1941 and served in combat in North Africa in 1943. He became commander
of the 332nd Fighter Group (“Red Tails”), and was the first African-American to be promoted to
Brigadier General in the United States Air Force.
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