Bryn Mawr-born aviator Charles “Chief” Anderson knew at an early age he wanted to fly airplanes. In 1933, he and Alfred Forsythe, a Bahamas-born Atlantic City physician were the first Black men to complete a cross-country flight, writes Avi Wolfman-Arent for Billy Penn.

The pair continued to team up on other flights, becoming the first Black pilots to fly to Canada. Following their U.S. tour, Forsythe eventually left aviation to focus on his practice. But Anderson continued his legacy and founded at pilot training program at Alabama Tuskegee Institute.  

This was considered the first training ground for Black pilots. His trainees went on to become what is known as the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of Black military pilots who fought in World War II.  

In 1941, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt visited the training ground, and against secret service orders, accompanied Anderson on an hour-long flight.  

Read more about Bryn Mawr-born aviator in Billy Penn.   

More about aviator Charles “Chief” Anderson.