Viewing page 25 of 39

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

Jam Airports as Spring Revives Interest in Aviation

The flight of fancy of many Chicagoans turned to aviation last week as the weatherman announced a decided rise in temperature. Harlem airport, Eighty-seventh and Harlem avenue, was a bee-hive of activity. The Defender's alert but "earth-loving" cameraman caught these scenes. (1) Misses Marie St. Clair, left, and Willa Brown, members of the National Airman's association, inspect their Lincoln-Paige bi-plane before taking off. (2) The girls wave a cheerful 'goodbye" as they taxi off the field. (3) Ben Hall, left, and William Paris being greeted by Mrs. Regina Waters immediately after landing from a trip to Kankakee. (4) Dr. C.B. Thompson, in rear seat, about to enjoy a sightseeing flight. Cornelious Coffey, president of the National Airmen's association and holder of a commercial pilot's license, is at 

Local Pilot Gets Instructor Rating
Grover C, Nash, 6109 Calumet avenue, who was the first Negro to fly the U.S. mail, received his rerated primary instructor's rating this week from Rosco Turner's flying school in Indianapolis, Ind., where he was the only Negro enrolled. Nash became the 10th Negro instructor to be rerated.
Nash began flying in 1931 on Harlem airport under Col. John C. Robinson and was one of the first Negroes to graduate from Curtiss-Wright Aeronautical university, 1931-1933. In 1934 he flew from Chicago to Tuskegee Institute in a Buehl Pup on  a goodwill flight to promote aviation among Negroes.
Nash said he would like to be an army instructor, but until such time, is content with a civil position in aviation.