[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 51 (Friday, April 19, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E588-E589]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    A SALUTE TO CHARLES ALFRED ANDERSON, TRAINER OF TUSKEGEE AIRMEN

                                 ______


                           HON. GLEN BROWDER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 18, 1996

  Mr. BROWDER. Mr. Speaker, Members of the House will be saddened to 
know that Charles Alfred Anderson, who trained the Army's first black 
fliers in Alabama and formed the famed Tuskegee Airmen during World War 
II, has died. He was 89.
  Mr Anderson was a self-taught pilot who served as the chief 
instructor of Tuskegee University's pilot training program from 1938 
through 1945. To thousands of fliers, he was known affectionately as 
``Chief.''
  Members may recall ``The Tuskegee Airmen,'' an HBO movie last year, 
which told the story of the 332d Fighter Group and its exploits over 
North Africa, Sicily, and Europe. Those African-American flyers 
destroyed 260 enemy planes, damaged an additional 148, and sank a Nazi 
destroyer. No U.S. bomber under the protection of the Tuskegee airmen 
was ever shot down.
  The roster of fliers who trained under ``Chief'' Anderson includes 
Gen. Daniel ``Chappie'' James, the Nation's first four-star black 
general; Coleman Young, who became mayor of Detroit; and William 
Coleman, Transportation Secretary under President Gerald Ford.
  Mr. Anderson was an aviation pioneer, a teacher, and a great 
American. I wish to extend my condolences and deep sympathy to his two 
sons, Alfred Forsythe Anderson of Seattle and Charles A. Anderson, Jr. 
of Tuskegee, and to his three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
  The Opelika-Auburn News published a wonderful account of Mr. 
Anderson's career and his exploits in the early days of flying. This 
salute to the father of black aviation was written by men who knew 
``Chief'' well. I am attaching the article for publication in the 
Congressional Record.
  An equally impressive article was published in the Tuskegee News and 
that is included for publication also.

             [From the Opelika-Auburn News, Apr. 17, 1996]

                       Famed Tuskegee Airman Dies

             (By Vascar Harris and Roosevelt J. Lewis, Jr.)

       Tuskegee.--Charles Alfred ``Chief'' Anderson, a self-taught 
     pilot who trained the military's first black flyers and 
     formed the famed Tuskegee Airmen, died Saturday at age 89 
     after a lengthy battle with cancer.
       Anderson was born to Janie and Iverson Anderson of Bryn 
     Mawr, Pa., and was a 56-year resident of Tuskegee Institute.
       ``Chief'' was an inductee of the Alabama Aviation Hall of 
     Fame (1991), The International Order of the Gathering of 
     Eagles (1990), winner of the famous Brewer Trophy (1985), and 
     held other aviation awards. An honorary doctorate of science 
     was conferred by Tuskegee University in 1988.
       His first love was teaching new students to fly, and he 
     amassed more than 52,000 flying hours in his lifetime.

[[Page E589]]

       He is best remembered as the chief flight instructor and 
     mentor of the famed ``Tuskegee Airmen'' of World War II. His 
     40-minute flight with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt during her 
     Tuskegee visit in 1941, was the catalyst that led to the 
     training of the first African-American military pilots, the 
     ``Tuskegee Experiment.''
       He also flew Vice President Henry Wallace from Tuskegee to 
     Atlanta during that period.
       As a boy of 6, ``Chief'' was fascinated with the idea of 
     airplanes and knew he had to fly. At 8, he ran away from home 
     looking for airplanes rumored to be barnstorming in the area, 
     he had to have a ride. As a teen-ager, no one would give him 
     a ride because of racism.
       At 22, he borrowed $2,500 from friends and relatives, 
     bought a used airplane and taught himself to fly. By 1920, he 
     had learned so well he received a private license and in 
     1932, an Airline Transport Rating (#7638), the equivalent of 
     the Ph.D. in the act of science of flying an airplane.
       In 1932, he would wed his childhood sweetheart, Gertrude 
     Elizabeth Nelson, who died in 1995.
       That same year, with a friend and flying partner, Dr. 
     Albert Forsythe, an Atlantic City, NJ surgeon, he became 
     known for long distance flying. East coast-West coast and 
     back to the East coast. They also flew the first overseas 
     flight by Negroes to Montreal, Canada, where Foresythe had 
     studied medicine.
       In preparation for a Pan American Goodwill Tour in 1934, 
     they brought a Lambert Moncoupe airplane in St. Louis, Mo., 
     where they met Charles Lindbergh, Lindbergh also bought an 
     aircraft. Separated by one serial number, it hangs in the 
     Lambert St. Louis airport today. Linbergh discouraged their 
     plan to fly.
       ``Chief'' and Foresythe continued to Tuskegee, where the 
     aircraft was christened the ``Spirit of Booker T. 
     Washington.'' He and Foresythe made the first land plane 
     flight from Miami to Nassau in 1934.
       They island hopped throughout the Caribbean, to the 
     Northeastern tip of South America. They overflew the 
     Venezuelan straits and landed in Trinidad as national heroes. 
     ``Chief,'' at the age of 86, recreated the trip 59 years 
     later, as his birthday present to himself. He was accompanied 
     in his aircraft by Roscoe Draper, lifelong friend and 
     Tuskegee Airmen instructor, and Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence 
     Koons.
       With his credentials as a Certified Flight Instructor and 
     Airline Transport rated pilot, ``Chief'' touched thousands of 
     the nation's military and civilian pilots, such as Gen. B.O. 
     Davis Jr.; Gen. Daniel ``Chappie'' James; Col. Herbert 
     Carter, and other Tuskegee Airmen during the Tuskegee 
     Experiement.
       ``Chief'' gave countless free airplane rides to the youth 
     of the world, and was a founding member of the NAI, Black 
     Wings in Aviation; the Tuskegee Chapter bears his name. For 
     22 years, youth from 16-19 have received intensive ground and 
     flight training during the last two weeks in July at the NAI 
     Summer Flight Academy, in order to prepare them for pilot 
     ratings.
       Many of his students, such as Capt. Raymond Dothard, U.S. 
     Air, and president Mandella's U.S. pilot; Southeast Asian 
     standouts much as Lt. Col. Robert V. Western, (Bob Mig 
     Sweep); Judge John D. Allen, F-4 Flight Commander, Columbus, 
     Ga; Col. James Otis Johnson, USAF, and many others, have 
     continued in the footsteps of ``Chief.''
       He also soloed the late Capt. ``Pete'' Peterson of the USAF 
     Thunderbirds Flight Demonstration Team.
       At 84, Chief turned over the reins of his beloved Moton 
     Field training site airport to Col. Roosevelt J. Lewis Jr., 
     USAF, another aviation protege, who flew his aircraft to 
     Trinidad with ``Chief'' in 1993. They proceeded to facilitute 
     18 young people into military training needs since 1991.
       Two of his last students, Capt. Kevin T. Smith and Lt. Greg 
     West, were the first two blacks in the history of the Alabama 
     Air National Guard. With 385 hours in the F-16, Capt. Smith 
     scored ``Top Gun'' honors for the USAF in March 1996 Red Flag 
     competition. ``Chief'' was thrilled.
       He is survived by sons, Alfred and Charles; Charles' wife, 
     Peggye; his grandchildren, Vincent, Christina and Marina; his 
     great-granddaughter Krystal; his nieces and nephews, in-laws, 
     and his dog, ``Stinky.''
                                                                    ____


                  [From the Tuskegee News, Apr. 1996]

           Pioneer Aviator ``Chief'' Anderson Dies at Age 89

       C. Alfred ``Chief'' Anderson, one of America's last 
     aviation pioneers, died Saturday morning, April 13, 1996, at 
     his Tuskegee home after a lengthy bout with cancer. He was 
     89.
       Born to Janie and Iverson Anderson of Bryn Mawr PA, and a 
     56-year resident of Tuskegee, ``Chief'' Anderson was a 
     inductee of the Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame (1991), the 
     International Order of the Gathering of Eagles (1990), and 
     winner of the famous Brewer Trophy (1985).
       He held many other aviation awards. An Honorary Doctorate 
     of Science was conferred by Tuskegee University in 1988. His 
     first love always was teaching students to fly. He amassed 
     over 52,000 flying hours.
       Universally known as ``Chief,'' he is best remembered as 
     the Chief Flight Instructor and mentor of the famed 
     ``Tuskegee Airmen'' of WWII.
       His 40-minute flight with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt 
     during her Tuskegee visit in 1941 was the catalyst that led 
     to the training of the first African American military 
     pilots, known as the ``Tuskegee Experiment.''
       He also flew Vice President Henry Wallace from Tuskegee to 
     Atlanta during that period. Chief Anderson's life has been a 
     shining example of integrity, self reliance, adventure and 
     contributions to others.
       As a young boy of six, Chief Anderson was fascinated with 
     the idea of airplanes and knew that he had to fly. At eight 
     he ran away from home looking for airplanes rumored to be 
     barnstorming in the areas he had to have a ride.
       As a teenager, no one would give him a ride because of 
     racism. At the age of 22, he borrowed $2,500 from friends and 
     relatives, bought a used airplane and taught himself to fly. 
     By 1929, he had learned so well until he received a private 
     license and in 1932 an Airline Transport Rating, an 
     equivalent of the Ph.D. in the art and science of flying an 
     airplane.
       More importantly that year (1932), he married his childhood 
     sweetheart, Gertrude Elizabeth Nelson, who preceded him in 
     death in 1995.
       Later in 1932, with a friend and flying partner, Dr. Albert 
     Foresythe, an Atlantic City, N.J. surgeon, he became known 
     for long distance flying; East coast-West coast and back to 
     the East coast.
       They also flew the first overseas flight by Negroes to 
     Montreal, Canada, where Dr. Foresythe had studied medicine. 
     In preparation for a Pan American Goodwill tour in 1934 they 
     bought a Lambert Monocoupe airplane in St. Louis, Mo., where 
     they met Charles Lindbergh.

                          ____________________