Defeating racism in the air
Dale White and Chauncey Spencer fell in love with flying at a young age. As young men, both Dale and Chauncey were inspired by African American pilot Bessie Coleman who overcame racial discrimination to become an accomplished pilot. They wished for the same chance to fly.? Racial discrimination was intense in the 1920s and 1930s, particularly toward African Americans interested in new careers in aviation.? After earning pilot licenses, both men helped create the National Airmen Association of America?in 1934 so that African American pilots could get the same flying career opportunities as other racial groups.?
In 1939 the men flew from Chicago to convince politicians that pilot training should be federally funded at African American Universities.? Overcoming mechanical problems, the pilots finally landed in Morgantown West Virginia airport only to be turned away due to their skin color. Forced to fly at night, they managed to land in darkness at the airport in Pittsburgh PA.? Aviation officials tried to ground the pilots for their unauthorized night landing. Then the local African American community came to their defense, and White and Spencer were allowed to continue their flight eastward the next day. ?The pilots were welcomed at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn New York.
On arriving in Washington DC, Senator Harry Truman believed in their cause and convinced Congress to fund the program.? Chauncey Spencer went on to help implement the racial integration of the Air Force, battling intense resistance.? Dale L White stopped flying in 1941 at the request of his wife and spent many years as an airplane mechanic at Wright Patterson Airfield.
For more information the book by Chauncey E. Spencer: "Who is Chauncey Spencer?" 1975.