Louis Freeman (pilot) facts for kids

Louis Freeman was born on June 12, 1952, in Austin, Texas. He is a famous airline pilot. In 1980, Louis Freeman made history. He became the very first Black pilot for Southwest Airlines. Later, in 1992, he became the first Black chief pilot for a big United States airline. His last flight as a pilot was on June 8, 2017.

Louis Freeman's School Days

Louis Freeman went to Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas, Texas. In 1967, he and his brother were among the first African American students to attend the school. This was a big step in making schools open to everyone.

Freeman was also the first African American cadet corps commander for the school's ROTC program. He graduated from high school in 1970.

College and ROTC

After high school, Freeman went to East Texas State University. There, he again became the first African American ROTC cadet corps commander.

He wanted to become a pilot. He took a special test called the Air Force Officers' Qualifying Test (AFOQT). He didn't pass the pilot part the first time. But he tried again the next year and passed! In 1974, he earned his college degree in sociology and psychology.

Flying for the Air Force

Louis Freeman was the first African American trainee to join the United States Air Force pilot training program. This training happened at Reese Air Force Base in Texas.

After his training, Freeman was sent to Mather Air Force Base in California. He flew T-43 planes there. He quickly became a flight instructor and a supervisor. He stayed at Mather Air Force Base until 1980. Then, he decided to become a pilot for commercial airlines.