Eugene Jacques Bullard became the first Black American fighter pilot licensed in France (1917).
1920s
Bessie Coleman became the first Black and Native American female pilot, licensed in France (1921).
James Herman Banning became the first Black American to obtain a pilot’s license from the United States Department of Commerce (1926).
William J. Powell establishes The Bessie Coleman Aero Club (1929).
1930s
The first all-Black air show in U.S. history takes place (1931).
The Curtiss-Wright Aeronautical School provided instruction in aircraft mechanics to its first all-Black class (1931).
Cornelius Coffey became the first Black American to earn both a pilot's and mechanic's license (1931).
The Challenger Air Pilots' Association became Chicago's first Black flying club (1931).
Frank Hammond set the world record for the most parachute jumps (13) in one day (1931).
William J. Powell earned his pilot's license at the Los Angeles School of Flight (1932).
James Herman Banning and Thomas C. Allen- a.k.a. "Flying Hobos"- became the first Black aviators to complete a transcontinental flight; it took a total of 41 hours 27 minutes (1932).
Dorothy Darby became first Black and first female professional parachute jumper (1932).
C. Alfred "Chief" Anderson, often called the "Father of Black Aviation,” became the first Black American to earn a transport and a commercial pilot's license (1933).
C. Alfred “Chief” Anderson and Dr. Albert E. Forsythe became the first Black pilots to complete a round-trip transcontinental flight from Atlantic City to Los Angeles (1933).
Janet Harmon Bragg, a licensed pilot, bought the first aircraft for the Challengers Air Pilots' Association (1934).
"Black Wings" by William J. Powell was published (1934).
Earl W. Renfroe became the first Black American in Illinois, and only the third in the nation, to obtain a commercial pilot's license (1934).
Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., became the first Black cadet to graduate from the United States Military Academy, West Point in the 20th century (1936).
Willa Brown earned her pilot's license, making her the first Black American woman to earn a private pilot's license in the United States (1937).
Cornelius Coffey opened the Coffey School of Aeronautics (1937).
Grover C. Nash, the first Black pilot to deliver airmail for the U.S. Postal Service, became a licensed pilot (1938).
The National Airmen's Association, a nationwide organization for Black aviators, was established in Chicago, Illinois (1939).
Willie "Suicide" Jones became the world record-holder for the delayed parachute jump (1939).
Dale L. White and Chauncey E. Spencer completed a 3,000 mile round-trip flight from Chicago to Washington D.C. for the National Airmen's Association and the Chicago Defender to publicize the goal of wider Black involvement in aviation (1939).
Black Americans gained admission into the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) (1939).
1940s
Executive Order 8802, which provided for full participation in defense programs regardless of race, was signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1941).
The all-Black 99th Fighter Squadron of the Army Air Corps was activated (1941).
The first five Black cadets to be commissioned as pilots of the Army Air Forces graduated from the Tuskegee Army Airfield program (1942).
The 332nd Fighter Group at Tuskegee Army Airfield was activated (1942).
The 99th Fighter Squadron flew its first combat sortie over Pantelleria, an island near Sicily (1943).
Charles B. Hall became the first Black fighter pilot to down an enemy aircraft (1943).
Major George D. "Spanky" Roberts assumed command of the 99th Fighter Squadron, succeeding Colonel Davis (1943).
Colonel Hubert F. Julian "Black Eagle of Harlem" established Black Eagle Airlines (1946).
Three years after the end of World War II, President Truman signed Executive Order 9981, which called for equal opportunity in the armed forces (1948).
The U.S. Air Force became the first armed service to integrate (1949).
1950s
Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. became the first Black general in the U.S. Air Force (1954).
Captain August Martin became the first Black American cargo pilot and Captain of a regularly-scheduled airline (1955).
Perry Young became the first Black American pilot hired by a commercial airline (1956).
Ruth Carol Taylor was hired by Mohawk Airlines as the first Black American flight attendant (1958).
1960s
The New York State Commission Against Discrimination faulted Capital Airlines for failing to hire Patricia Banks, a Black American woman who had been denied employment as a flight attendant despite meeting all job requirements (1960).
Vance A. Marchbanks Jr., a flight surgeon, served on the flight team in Kano, Nigeria and played a key role in John Glenn's historic space flight in the Friendship 7 (1962).
Edward J. Dwight was nominated for the astronaut program, but was passed over when the final selection was made (1963).
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Marlon D. Green in the case "Green v Continental Airlines" regarding the refusal of his employment due to race, winning the right for Black Americans to be hired at airlines in the U.S. (1963).
Marlon D. Green became the first Black American pilot hired by a major U.S. passenger airline (1964).
Captain David E. Harris became one of the first Black pilots to be employed by a major airline when he joined American Airlines (1964).
Joan Dorsey became the first Black American flight attendant hired to work for American Airlines (1964).
Negro Airmen International, Inc. (NAI) was launched by a group headed by Edward A. Gibbs, Leslie Norris, Horace Noble, William Broadwater, Ulysses "Rip" Gooch, and C. Alfred “Chief” Anderson (1967).
Major Robert H. Lawrence, Jr. became first Black American astronaut, though never made it to space (1967).
1970s
Robert Ashby was the only Tuskegee Airman to become a pilot for a regularly scheduled commercial airline (1973).
Captain Lloyd Newton became the first Black American pilot to join the elite U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds (1974).
Black Flight Attendants of America, a service organization whose goal is to promote careers in aviation as well as celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of Black Americans in aviation, was created (1974).
General Daniel "Chappie" James, a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force and combat veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars became the first Black four-star general (1975).
The Organization of Black Airline Pilots was established to help motivate youth to participate in aviation through exposure, training, mentoring, and scholarships (1976).
Jill E. Brown Hiltz became the first Black American female pilot for a major airline (1978).
Second Lieutenant Marcella A. Hayes became the first Black female pilot in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Frank E. Petersen became the first Black U.S. Marine Corps general (1979).
1980s
Guion S. Bluford Jr. became first Black American astronaut to enter space (1983).
Barrington Irving became the first Black American, first Jamaican-Born, and then-youngest person to fly solo around the world (1986).
Dr. Mae C. Jemison became the first Black American female astronaut (1988).
1990s
Captain Patrice Clark-Washington became the first Black American female captain for a major airline and was one of the first black women to graduate from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida (1994).
The Bessie Coleman Foundation was established by a group of Black American female pilots, and other Black aviation professionals and enthusiasts (1995).
2000s
Daniel James III, son of General "Chappie" James, became the first Black director of the U.S. Air National Guard (2002).
Kenny Roy became the youngest Black American pilot licensed to fly a plane solo, at age 14 (2004).
Lieutenant Jeanine McIntosh Menze became the first Black American female pilot in the U.S. Coast Guard (2005).
Atlantic Southeast Airlines had the first all-Black American female crew (2009).
Charles F. Bolden was appointed the head of NASA by President Obama (2009).
Kimberly Anyadike became the youngest Black American female to fly cross-country at age 15 (2009).
