Columbia Air Center facts for kids

The Columbia Air Center was a special airfield located in Croom, Maryland. It operated from 1941 to 1958. This airport was unique because it was started by African American pilots. At that time, these pilots were often not allowed to use other airports.

Even though it was founded by African Americans, the Columbia Air Center was open to everyone, including white pilots. It had an all-black staff. Many of the flight instructors were Tuskegee Airmen. These were brave African American pilots who served during World War II.

Columbia Air Center: A Historic Airport

The Columbia Air Center was an important place for aviation history. It showed how people could overcome unfair rules and create their own opportunities. It helped train many pilots and supported the African American community.

Who Started and Ran the Airport?

The airport was founded by John R. Pinkett. He started it in Croom, Maryland, which is in Prince George's County. The airport was built on land that was leased near the Patuxent River.

The Columbia Air Center was quite busy. It had as many as five runways. There were also three hangars for planes and space for ten aircraft. The airport even had its own all-black chapter of the Civil Air Patrol. This group helps with emergency services and aerospace education.

From 1941 to 1954, the airport was operated by John William Greene Jr. Another important person who helped run the airport was Herbert Jones Jr.. He was also a Tuskegee Airman. Later, Herbert Jones Jr. went on to create the International Air Association. This was the first airline owned by African Americans.

What Happened to the Airport?

The Columbia Air Center closed in 1958. In 1959, the land where the airport stood was bought by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. This land then became the first part of the Patuxent River Watershed Park. Today, the area is a park, but the history of the Columbia Air Center lives on.