[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 53 (Tuesday, April 23, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E601-E602]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HAIL TO THE ``CHIEF''

                                 ______


                         HON. RONALD V. DELLUMS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 23, 1996

  Mr. DELLUMS. Mr. Speaker, it brings me sadness and honor to pay final 
tribute to Charles Alfred ``Chief'' Anderson, the ``father of black 
aviation.'' He died on Saturday, April 12, 1996, at his home in 
Tuskegee, AL, at the age of 89. A premier aviator, the apex of his 
career came in 1941 when Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of President 
Franklin D. Roosevelt, asked him to take her for a flight over Tuskegee 
Institute, Alabama, against the tremendous opposition of her entourage. 
Mrs. Roosevelt risked her life with a Negro aviator because she saw no 
reason why Negro men could not fly. Shortly thereafter, Tuskegee was 
selected to participate in a program with the U.S. Army Air Corps to 
find out if Negro men could measure up as military pilots. Their 
records speak for themselves.
  Anderson's love for flying began at an early age when he lived in 
Virginia. When he heard there was an airplane in the vicinity, he would 
run to see it. People said about him, ``That boy's crazy. He'd have to 
be crazy to be thinking about flying.'' To that, Chief replied: ``I 
thought they were the crazy ones.''
  For Anderson, getting a pilot's license was not easy. Anderson 
continuously ran into clouds of racial prejudice. He was denied entry 
to Drexel Institute Aviation School in 1920 because of his race. He was 
also told ``no'' by the Army which did not allow black pilots before 
World War II. He finally found a friend in Mr. Ernest Buehl, a German 
World War I pilot, known as the Flying Dutchman, who started an airport 
in Philadelphia, PA. Under Buehl's guidance and instruction, Anderson 
finally received a transport license in

[[Page E602]]

1932, thus becoming the first black pilot to hold an air transport 
license.
  Chief's constant companion was his dog, Yo Yo, a mongrel who shared 
his love for flying. Before his dog died, Anderson said, ``He's smart. 
He can tell if a student is not flying right. If a student is doing all 
right, YoYo lies down. If the student makes a bad landing, Yo Yo won't 
fly with him again.''
  Chief Anderson was held in the highest regard by his peers. Two of 
Anderson's most famous students are Lt. Gen. Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., 
who became commander of the 99th Pursuit Squadron and later the first 
black Air Force general, and General Daniel ``Chappie'' James, the 
first black four-star general. During World War II, the 332nd Fighter 
Group, comprised of our all black squadrons, and under Colonel Davis' 
command flew more than 1,500 missions and destroyed 409 enemy aircraft. 
In more recent times, Air Force Colonel Guion L. Bluford led black 
aviators into space. Dr. Ronald McNair, a black American, died in 
flight aboard the orbiter Challenger. Today, there are countless 
thousands of military, commercial, and civilian black pilots--all of 
whom owe their presence in the cockpit and other aviation-related jobs 
to the undauntable character and perseverance of C. Alfred ``Chief'' 
Anderson.

  Mr. Anderson's wife of 62 years, Gertrude, died just over a year ago. 
I invite my colleagues to join me as I offer condolences to his loving 
fmaily, including his sons, Charles A. Anderson, Jr. of Chicago, and 
Alfred of Seattle; three grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter. He 
will be greatly missed, however his legacy will live on as a source of 
inspiration for generations to come. I wish Charles Alfred ``Chief'' 
Anderson ``high flight.''

                          ____________________