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Hidden Figures: Willa Beatrice Brown #BlackHERstoryMonth 15/28

1,995 views · Published 16 February 2017 · 8:31 · Indexed 24 October 2026

Channel: Sensei Aishitemasu · 2017 · Entertainment

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Willa B. Brown was a trailblazing African-American aviator, teacher, activist, and politician. She was the first Black American woman to receive a commercial pilot's license in the U.S. in 1938 (the historic pilot Bessie Coleman having received hers in France in 1921); in 1943, she earned her mechanic’s license, making her the first woman in the U.S. to have both a mechanic’s license and a commercial pilot’s license.  

Brown co-founded the first African-American owned and operated pilot instructor academy in the United States: the Coffey School of Aeronautics, at Harlem Airport in Chicago. There, she trained thousands of Black men and women to be pilots and aviation mechanics, and several hundred of her male students went on to become the famed Tuskegee Airmen of World War II. 

She helped form the National Airmen's Association of America,  became the coordinator of war-training service for the Civil Aeronautics Authority, was the first black female officer in the Civil Air Patrol (where she was eventually promoted to Lieutenant), and later served as a member of the Federal Aviation Administration's Women's Advisory Board. She also unsuccessfully ran for Congress three times, in 1946, 1948, and 1950. After retiring from flight, Brown taught in the Chicago Public School system and oversaw flight schools for children.

#HiddenFigures #BlackHERstoryMonth

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Links: 

Tuskegee Airmen - Willa Brown Bio:
http://tuskegeeairmen.org/wp-content/uploads/Willa-Brown-Bio.pdf

Willa Beatrice Brown Chappell:
http://avstop.com/history/blackwomenpilot/willabrown.htm

Willa Brown: An American Aviator (Documentary):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sv8FhjeBmjc

Willa Beatrice Brown (Educational Study Clip):
http://www.kywomenshistoryproject.com/willa-beatrice-brown-2/

'9 Famous Female Aviators:'
http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/photos/8-famous-female-aviators/willa-brown

'Willa B. Brown: Trailblazing Aviatrix who accomplished many historical firsts:'
http://kentakepage.com/willa-b-brown-trailblazing-aviatrix-who-accomplished-many-historical-firsts/

'Celebrating African Americans in Aviation: Woman At The Forefront:'
http://sandiegoairandspace.org/exhibits/online-exhibit-page/women-at-the-forefront

'Willa Beatrice Brown was the first African American woman to earn her pilot’s licence in the United States, aged 31‬:'
https://theyoungempire.com/2017/01/26/%E2%80%AAwilla-beatrice-brown-was-the-first-african-american-woman-to-earn-her-pilots-licence-in-the-united-states-aged-31%E2%80%AC/

Brown, Willa B. (1906-1992):
http://www.blackpast.org/aah/brown-willa-b-1906-1992

Pioneers of Flight - Willa Brown:
http://pioneersofflight.si.edu/content/willa-brown-0

'Willa Brown Was An Aviation Pioneer:'
http://www.aaregistry.org/historic_events/view/willa-brown-was-aviation-pioneer

'BLACK WOMEN IN AMERICA: WILLA BEATRICE BROWN:'
https://kathmanduk2.wordpress.com/2011/07/12/black-women-in-america-willa-beatrice-brown/

Willa Brown (Wikipedia):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willa_Brown

Tuskegee Airmen (Wikipedia):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuskegee_Airmen

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