They told him “blacks couldn’t fly,” so he built a mighty air force in Alabama instead

Chief Anderson’s Self-Taught Flight to Tuskegee Glory

In 1929, Charles Alfred Anderson faced a wall. No flight school would teach a Black man to fly, so he did something bold – he taught himself.

Born in Pennsylvania, Anderson saved cash, bought a plane with borrowed money, and took to the skies through pure trial and error.

He earned his pilot license that same year and later made history as the first African American with an air transport rating.

By 1940, “Chief” Anderson was training Tuskegee Airmen at Moton Field, where over 1,000 Black pilots learned to fly during World War II.

The Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site in Alabama now tells this remarkable story of determination against impossible odds.

Every Flight School Turned Him Away Because He Was Black

By age 20, C. Alfred Anderson saved money for flying lessons but got rejected by every instructor he approached.

White flight schools in the 1920s refused to teach a Black man to fly, regardless of payment. Anderson kept going.

He attended aviation ground school to learn airplane mechanics. He spent hours at airports, collecting tips from any white pilot willing to share advice.

By 1929, Anderson realized he needed his own plane to ever fly.

He Taught Himself to Fly Through Trial and Error

Anderson borrowed $2,500 from friends, family, and supporters to buy a Velie Monocoupe in 1929.

Local donor Mrs.Wright gave $2,000 toward his dream. With no teacher, Anderson taught himself to fly.

He started by driving around the field to get used to the controls. He slowly went faster until one day he took off.

He figured out takeoffs and landings through practice. A flying club let him join but still wouldn’t teach him.

A Clever Weekend Rental Deal Gave Him Cross-Country Experience

Anderson made a deal with pilot Russell Thaw who needed a plane to visit his mother in Atlantic City on weekends.

Thaw could rent Anderson’s Monocoupe if Anderson came along.

This gave Anderson valuable flight experience he couldn’t get otherwise. He watched Thaw’s methods and asked questions during their trips.

The hands-on training helped Anderson earn his private pilot license in August 1929, becoming one of the first Black Americans to do so.

No One Would Test Him for His Commercial License

In 1932, Anderson wanted an air transport license but again faced discrimination. Officials kept making excuses not to test him.

German immigrant Ernest Buehl, known as “The Flying Dutchman,” stepped in to help. Buehl made sure the check pilot tested Anderson fairly.

Anderson flew perfectly during his test in February 1932.

He became the first African American to get an air transport rating from the Civil Aeronautics Administration, opening doors for future Black pilots.

Two Black Pilots Flew Coast to Coast With Just a Road Map

In July 1933, Anderson met Dr. Albert Forsythe, a doctor who shared his goal of bringing more Black Americans into flying.

Together they completed the first coast-to-coast roundtrip flight by Black pilots, flying from Atlantic City to Los Angeles.

They flew 65 hours in a Fairchild 24 called “The Pride of Atlantic City” without parachutes, radio, or landing lights.

They used only a road map to find their way across the country.

Caribbean Adventures in “The Spirit of Booker T. Washington”

Anderson and Forsythe bought a Lambert Monocoupe in 1934 for their next big trip.

They called it “The Spirit of Booker T.Washington” and flew through the Caribbean and South America on their Pan American Goodwill Tour.

The pair became the first pilots to land a land plane in the Bahamas, touching down on a dirt road lit only by car headlights at night.

Their flights got worldwide attention and newspapers called Anderson “The Charles Lindbergh of Black Aviation.

Tuskegee Institute Called Him to Build Their Flight Program

By 1938, Anderson taught at Howard University’s Civilian Pilot Training Program in Washington, D.C.

Tuskegee Institute hired him in 1940 to become Chief Civilian Flight Instructor for their new Army program. Anderson created a tough pilot training program from scratch at Moton Field in Alabama.

His students called him “Chief” because of his leadership role. The nickname stayed with him for the rest of his life.

Eleanor Roosevelt’s Flight Changed Military History

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt visited Tuskegee Institute on April 11, 1941, to tour the children’s hospital. She saw planes flying overhead and asked to meet the head instructor.

When she met Anderson, Roosevelt said she’d heard “colored people couldn’t fly” and wanted to take a flight with him despite her security team’s objections.

After their 40-minute flight, she said, “Well I see you can fly, all right! ” Photos of their flight appeared in newspapers across America, boosting support for the program.

The Army Chose Him to Train America’s First Black Fighter Pilots

In June 1941, the Army picked Anderson as Tuskegee’s Ground Commander and Chief Instructor for the 99th Pursuit Squadron, America’s first all-Black fighter squadron.

The first class of cadets started training on July 19, 1941, including Captain Benjamin O. Davis Jr., who later became the first Black general in the Air Force.

Anderson created tough low-altitude aerobatics training in the PT-13 Kaydet to prepare his pilots for combat conditions in Europe.

Over 1,000 Tuskegee Airmen Learned to Fly Under His Watch

Anderson supervised all primary flight training for Tuskegee Airmen at Moton Field throughout World War II. More than 1,000 Black pilots trained under his command between 1941 and 1945.

His students went on to fly with the 332nd Fighter Group, known as the Red Tails for the distinctive paint on their aircraft tails.

The Tuskegee Airmen flew 1,378 combat missions, destroyed 260 enemy planes, and earned over 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses for their service to America.

His Teaching Career Lasted Five Decades After the War

After World War II ended, Anderson kept training both Black and white pilots at Moton Field under the G.I.Bill.

In 1967, he co-founded Negro Airmen International, which remains the oldest African American pilot organization in the nation.

Anderson continued teaching students until 1989 when he was 82 years old. He ran a summer flight academy for youth, passing on his knowledge to new generations.

His lifelong commitment to aviation education earned him the title Father of Black Aviation for breaking barriers and training thousands of pilots across five decades.

Visiting Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, Alabama

The Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site at 1616 Chappie James Ave offers free admission Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Hangar No.1 displays Chief Anderson’s training artifacts and aircraft including a PT-17 Stearman and Piper Cub.

Hangar No.2 shows a 27-minute documentary hourly from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM plus a full-scale P-51 Mustang Red Tail replica. You can climb the original control tower above Hangar No.2.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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