John Robinson (aviator) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John C. Robinson
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Robinson in Ethiopian Air Force Uniform
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| Nickname(s) | The Brown Condor |
| Born | November 26, 1903 Carrabelle, Florida, U.S. |
| Died | March 27, 1954 (aged 50) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
| Buried |
Gulele Cemetery
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
| Allegiance |  United States of America Ethiopia |
| Service/ |
Imperial Ethiopian Air Force |
| Years of service | 1935–1944 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | Brown Condor Squadron |
| Battles/wars | Second Italo-Ethiopian War World War II (East African Campaign) |
| Other work | Ethiopian Air Lines |
John Charles Robinson (November 26, 1903 – March 27, 1954) was a brave American aviator and activist. He was known as the "Brown Condor" because he flew for the Imperial Ethiopian Air Force. He helped Ethiopia fight against Italy.
Robinson worked hard for equal chances for African-Americans. He opened his own flying school. He also started a program for black pilots at his college, the Tuskegee Institute. His success as a pilot helped change unfair rules in the United States. He is sometimes called the "Father of the Tuskegee Airmen." This was an all-black group of pilots who served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.
Contents
Early Life and Dreams of Flight
John Robinson was born in 1903 in Carrabelle, Florida. He grew up in Gulfport, Mississippi. His father died when he was very young. He lived with his mother, Celeste, and his sister, Bertha.
From a young age, John loved the idea of flying. When he was seven, he saw a special plane called a biplane. It landed on water in Gulfport. This moment made him dream of becoming a pilot.
Education and Learning to Fly
Robinson finished high school in Gulfport in 1919. He was very interested in how machines worked. But in Gulfport, African-Americans could not study past tenth grade. So, Robinson decided to go to the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama.
He started at Tuskegee in 1921. He studied how cars worked for three years. He also learned math, writing, and history. After college, he tried to get into the Curtiss-Wright School of Aviation in Chicago many times. They kept saying no.
He found a job there as a janitor. This way, he could secretly listen to the classes. Finally, an instructor helped him get a spot. He became the first black student at the school.
Working and Facing Challenges
After college, Robinson struggled to find a good job in his hometown. He felt it was because of unfair treatment. He said that garages would only let him sweep or wash cars. He wanted to work with engines, but they didn't take him seriously.
So, he moved to Detroit, hoping for more jobs in the car industry. It was still hard to find work that matched his skills. He refused jobs like sweeping. He finally became a mechanic's helper. Even with unfair treatment from some co-workers, his skills were noticed. He became a full mechanic and got a pay raise.
Becoming an Aviator
Robinson still wanted to fly. He met pilots Robert Williamson and Percy. He fixed an engine for Percy. In return, he got his first flight in Robert's Waco 9 plane.
He moved to Chicago and opened a garage to earn money. He kept trying to get into the Curtiss-Wright School of Aviation. He was rejected many times. So, he became a janitor there on Saturday nights. This let him listen to the evening classes.
He met other people who loved aviation. They started the Aero Study Group. They even built their own airplane! Their teacher, Bill Henderson, was impressed. He helped Robinson get into the school. Robinson became a licensed pilot. He then convinced the school to let his friends from the Aero Study Group join too. Later, Robinson and his friend Cornelius Coffey started the Challenger Air Pilots Association for African Americans who wanted to fly.
Helping More Black Pilots Fly
Robinson believed that aviation schools should be open to everyone. He and Cornelius Coffey opened their own airfield in Robbins, Illinois. They called it the John Robinson School of Aviation.
To help even more black pilots, Robinson convinced his old college, the Tuskegee Institute, to open a flying school. This happened as soon as they had enough money.
Service in Ethiopia
In January 1935, Robinson decided to help Ethiopia. Ethiopia was fighting against Italy. He announced this at a meeting in Chicago. Dr. Melaku Bayen, a cousin of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie, heard about Robinson. He met him and told the Emperor about Robinson's skills.
In April 1935, Emperor Selassie invited Robinson to join the Ethiopian military as an officer. Robinson accepted for several reasons:
- He and his friends wanted to help Ethiopia. Italy, led by Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, was trying to take over. Ethiopia was one of the few free African nations.
- In the United States, black pilots had very few chances. The U.S. Army Air Corps did not allow African-Americans to serve.
- Unfair violence against black people was still common in the U.S.
- Robinson had already led an all-black military aviation unit in Illinois. He wanted to build a similar unit in Ethiopia.
Robinson arrived in Ethiopia in 1935. He started training pilots near Addis Ababa. He became the commander of the Ethiopian Air Force. This force had about two dozen planes, but they had no weapons. Robinson flew a mission to deliver supplies and soldiers.
The Italian invasion began on October 3, 1935. The Ethiopian air force had 19 planes and 50 pilots. But the Italian air force was much stronger. On May 9, 1936, Italy took over Ethiopia.
Robinson saw an Italian bombing of the city of Adwa. He said the city was not ready for the attack. People were confused and ran away. He saw soldiers standing in the street, shocked.
Robinson's service in Ethiopia got a lot of attention. News outlets like NBC Radio and Chicago Defender reported on him. He returned to the United States in 1936.
Historians believe Robinson's actions in Ethiopia were very important. They helped push for equal rights for African-Americans in the U.S. Army Air Corps. This led to the creation of the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. That is why Robinson is often called the "Father of the Tuskegee Airmen."
Later Life and Legacy
In 1944, Ethiopia became free again. Robinson went back to the country. He started a pilot training school there. He also helped create Ethiopian Airlines.
John Robinson died in Addis Ababa on March 27, 1954. He passed away from injuries after a plane crash.
Robinson's Aero Club is featured in a novel called The Challengers Aero Club by Severo Perez.
On February 19, 2015, a special garden was dedicated to Robinson. It is at the U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia. This honors his important work in Ethiopian aviation. His story was also shared on a TV show called Full Frontal with Samantha Bee in 2018.
Images for kids
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Robinson in Ethiopian Air Force Uniform
See also
In Spanish: John Charles Robinson (aviador) para niños
