*On this date in 1931, the Negro Formation Flying Group performed in Los Angeles. This event occurred before the Tuskegee Airmen and served to demonstrate to the public that Blacks were skilled enough to handle an airplane. Put together by William Powell, who had set a date for Labor Day that year, these were three black airplane pilots flying […]
learn moreOn this date in 1938, Cornelius Coffey became the first African American registered pilot.
Coffey obtained his commercial license (#36609) so that he could teach both at Curtiss-Wright and then at his own school in Chicago.
learn morehe birth of Lloyd Newton in 1942 is marked on this date. He is an African American Air Force general (retired), educator, and administrator.
learn moreBernard A. Harris, Jr., was born on this date in 1956. He is an African American scientist, surgeon, and former NASA astronaut.
Born in Temple, TX, he is the son of Mrs. Gussie H. Burgess, and Mr. Bernard A. Harris, Sr. He graduated from Sam Houston High School, San Antonio, in 1974, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Houston in 1978. In 1982, Harris received his doctorate in medicine from Texas Tech University School of Medicine.
learn more*The 1958 founding of Underwater Adventure Seekers (UAS) is celebrated on this date. They are the oldest African American scuba diving club in the world.
UAS, located in Washington, D.C., has trained thousands of individuals to scuba dive during its history. Their dive travel experiences have taken them from Australia to Africa, all of the Caribbean, most of the Bahamas, and parts of Central America. Although it is not commonly known, African Americans have been involved in recreational scuba diving since its introduction to the United States over 50 years ago.
learn moreMichael P. Anderson was born on this date in 1959. He was an African American pilot and astronaut.
He was born on Christmas Day in Plattsburgh, New York, the son of Bobby and Barbara Anderson. His father was an Air Force serviceman and had a great influence on his son’s career choice. Young Anderson dreamed of the universe and space flight from the time he was a boy. He knew from an early age that he would become an astronaut. He got his first toy airplane at age 3.
learn more*Negro Airmen International (N.A.I.) was founded on this date in 1967. N.A.I. helps Americans of African descent to learn about the field of aviation. Edward Albertis Gibbs and several Tuskegee Airmen trainers were responsible for creating and organizing the N.A.I. and incorporating the organization in New York State in 1967. Many of the present African […]
learn more*On this date in 1976, the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) is celebrated. OBAP is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the encouragement and advancement of minorities in all aviation and aerospace careers. Thirty-eight African American pilots and aviation industry pioneers, representing nearly 50% of the worldwide minority-pilot population, convened in Chicago to address the […]
learn moreThis date in 1991 celebrates the founding of The National Association of Black Scuba Divers (NABS). They are an African American group of scuba divers and other interested people.
learn more*On this date in 1995, the first African American walked in space.
During that week in February (2nd thru the 11th) Astronaut Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr., was the Payload Commander on STS-63 the first flight of the joint Russian-American Space Program.
His mission endeavors for NASA fulfilled his boyhood dream and history was established.
learn more*On this date in 2007, the first Black woman trekked to the North Pole. 75 year old Barbara Hillary, of Averne, N.Y., made the journey.
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