African American Pioneers in Flight and Space

Tuesday, February 01, 2022 at 01:18 PM ET

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In 1941, the U.S. Army Air Forces formed the 99th Pursuit Squadron, a flying unit of Black pilots better known as the Tuskegee Airmen. [Courtesy: National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution]

Key Takeaways:

African American pioneers like Eugene Bullard and Bessie Coleman overcame significant racial barriers, often seeking opportunities in France to become groundbreaking combat aviators and licensed pilots, respectively.
The Tuskegee Airmen became a highly decorated Black fighter unit during WWII, while figures like Cornelius Coffey and Willa Brown established key flight schools and championed desegregation in U.S. aviation.
African Americans achieved historic milestones in space, including Robert Lawrence (first astronaut selection), Guion Bluford (first in space), Mae C. Jemison (first African American woman in space), and the indispensable mathematical contributions of the "Hidden Figures" to early NASA missions.

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Editor’s Note: This article is part of a month-long series celebrating Black History Month through aviation: Feb. 1: African American Pioneers in Flight and Space | Feb. 4: Legacy Flying Academy | Feb. 10: Why Aren’t There More Black Pilots in the Air Force? | Feb. 11: Jesse L. Brown | Feb. 15: Meet Four African Americans Making a Difference in Aviation | Feb. 18: From “Hidden Figures” to “Artemis” | Feb. 22: CMSAF Kaleth O. Wright | Feb. 25: Cal Poly Humboldt

This month, FLYING is marking Black History Month by celebrating the many accomplishments African Americans have contributed to aviation and space flight. Today we are exploring some of the top pioneers in U.S. aviation history whose experiences have created a legacy that continues to inspire a new generation of pilots, astronauts and engineers.