The resolve of a woman: Bessie Coleman 1892 - 1926

Good Morning,

In my continued and on going research into the life of Bessie Coleman, I just came to realize something else, that Bessie Coleman was everything By Edward DeV. Bunn Jr. said, in his book ‘Lifting as She Climbed: Bessie Coleman's Contributions to the

Elevation of Black Women’.

I am reading and researching on many levels to get a better understand of Bessie and what she endured to reach the status of ‘stunt pilot’. Last night I was reading Eugene Bullard: Black Expatriate in Jazz-Age Paris by Craig Lloyd, this is an amazing book giving the reader insight to the Black or afro-American pilot and what they endure to reach pilot status, and the female endures even more.

First, referencing an article from Aviation Quarterly, the Curtiss JN-4 was one of the most dangerous airplanes on the market where more flying cadets were killed in training than in actual war; because, the cadet flew up front and the instructor in the back seat; eventual this style of instruction was changed where the instructor flew up front and the student in the rear-the instructor new how to correct in problems.

The skills of Bessie Coleman were demonstrated when her engine cut off during a air show demonstration, she nosed the plane over into a dive, and the engine started up again, the crown went crazy with applause and Bessie’s notoriety increased.

Last night in reading about Eugene Bullard, the first Africa-American male pilot, and the fact that he was able to complete his training in seven months when it took other pilots longer,

McConnell stresses how difficult the training was for the initiate leaning to fly the avion de chasse, the fighter plane. To control these small, swift craft on the ground as well as in the air, students had to possess great dexterity of hand and foot. Moreover, fighter planes, unlike larger ones used for reconnaissance or bombing, were one-seaters, and the trainee had to have the courage to take off alone on his first flight. There was a great deal of weeding out among fighter pilots because “a man’s aptitude for the work shows up, and unless he is by nature especially well fitted he is transferred to the division which teaches one to fly the larger and safer (and co-pilot) machines.” Some fifty-six Americans and an untold number of French students pilots failed to meet the demanding requirements and never served at the front1.

Now given the above site, remember that Bessie Coleman was 5’4”, 130 pounds, that had to teach herself French and raised her own money for travel and boarding in France, not to mention walking eight-teen miles everyday for her lessons. This is the type of woman you are honoring today.

From my research I see Eugene Bullard in the light of a Malcolm X, and Bessie Coleman in the light of Dr. Martin Luther King. Bother were tough, but approached freedom from different paths.

Something else you may have or not realized,

Eugene Bullard               

                                                     

Born: 1895                                   

Enter military 1914 @ the age of 19

Became pilot May 5^th, 1917 @ 22 yrs of age-May 5^th, 1917             

                           

Bessie Coleman Born:                                    born:January,1892The resilience of a women - Bessie Coleman 1892-1926  

                    

       pilot rating –     

International Pilot   June 15th, 1921

She was 29 years of age

She was encouraged by newspaper owner, Robert S. Abbott, while working in a male barbershop as a manicurist. Bessie raised monies for her stunt pilot training by selling chilli in a business she owned.

Bessie Coleman was seven years Eugene Bullard's senior...
And, she purchased two Curtiss JN-4s.

The Resilience of a woman - Bessie Coleman 1892 - 1926