East Bay Aviators, Inc dba Motivation and Learning Through Aviation ( MALTA ) is an IRS 501©(3)  Non—profit corporation located at the Hayward Executive Airport, Hayward, California, 94541.

As a non-profit organization ‘MALTA is in critical need of public support’ in order to remain viable and continue the youth community service it is dedicated to providing our youth in need.   Learn More »

There is an old African Proverb… “Walk softly and carry a big stick.” This proverb was standard for the United States Air Force Strategic Air command during the early to late 1950’s. It was personified in the Convair B-36 Bomber, which was given the name of “Peacemaker” and often referred to as “America’s Big Stick.”

In the Southern States of the United States of America in 1877, Martial Law  was lifted after the Civil War and very quickly white organizations were formed to reverse the results of a war that lasted four years and took the lives of  700,000 soldiers. During this process, organizations such as the white citizens counsel, KKK and other groups that advocated violence as a way to return  economic control and lives of African Americans back into southern hands,  began to regain legal and economic control.

Unlike the United States of America and to its credit, the RAF of England did not segregate its Armed Forces personnel during World War II. During World War II, African American personnel who served under the USA were assigned to segregated units. As an example, the 332nd Fighter Group commonly known as the “Red Tails” were segregated as a unit.

Charles Edward Taylor was born May 28, 1868, and died January 30, 1956. He built the first aircraft engine used by the Wright Brothers to power their first controlled flight. As a bicycle mechanic for the Wright Brothers, he worked in their Dayton, Ohio bicycle shop. During the early 1900's, both Wright Brothers became Increasingly interested in controlled powered flight and sought out the skill of Charles Taylor as a machinist and mechanic to produce an engine that would power their airplane in flight.

The KC—97 was a military version of the Boeing Stratocruiser aircraft that was used extensively by the United States military for in-flight refueling during the 1950's and 1960's. I was first introduced to the KC—97 Tanker when I reenlisted in the US Air Force in 1957 and was assigned to the 321St Air Refueling Squadron at Lockbourne Air Force Base, Columbus, Ohio.

In spite of limited opportunities, African Americans have played a significant role in United States Military's history for nearly 300 years. In the military, they were denied an opportunity to actively participate as equals. Prior to the Tuskegee Experiment, they were not allowed to fly as military pilots and were restricted as civilian pilots in being able to learn to fly and purchase airplanes.

Saturday morning, January 14th, Anthony Hayes was scheduled to make his first solo flight in a Cessna 150 airplane from the Hayward Executive Airport. I arrived at my hanger located on the airport at 8:00am where the airplane that he would be flying that morning was located. When I arrived, his flight instructor, John Favors, was giving him final instructions. The flight was designed to accomplish about twenty minutes of flying time in the airport traffic pattern.

The city of Hayward has finally awarded a contract to develop property on the Hayward Executive Airport property, which was formally known as the “California Air National Guard Base”. The contract to develop approximately 12 acres of land in four phases was given to SP Aviation, a local Fixed Base operator located on the Hayward Executive Airport.

I have read several sources on the life of Willie “Suicide” Jones and there does not appear to be a definitive place or date of birth for him. I am quoting one source who indicated that he was born in 1915 on a farm near Leland, Mississippi. According to this source, he ran away from the farm at age 13 and came upon a field where he saw his first airplane and developed his love for flying.

By early 1940, the aggressive behavior of Nazi Germany had sent a clear message to the White House in the United States of America that war in Europe was inevitable. Its message was clear to the President that the United States would be drawn into the conflict in Europe.

Prior to World War II, the United States Army Air Corps did not have African Americans employed as pilots in their units. The policy and its justification can be found in a 1925 War Department report, which essentially states that African Americans did not have the intelligence to perform any military duties beyond those of a service capacity. This report ignored the evidence that was available from Civil War records, World War I records and, in particular, the actions of the 369 Infantry Regiment of the 93 Division during World War I where African American troops fought with French units.

William Powell was a World War I veteran who had the opportunity to see Aviation in action during his tour of duty in France during World War I. His experience with the sight and sound of airplanes in combat sparked a desire in him to become an aviator. When he returned to the United States from his tour of service in France, he became involved in aviation.

Woodie Spears is one of the original Tuskegee Airmen who trained in Alabama during World War II and became a United States Air force fighter pilot in a segregated Air Force. He was born on January 15, 1924 in Trinidad, Colorado and raised in Pueblo, Colorado. As a young boy, Woodie always wanted to fly. His father discouraged him from spending his spare time at the airport and dreaming about becoming a pilot.

Herbert Fauntleroy Julian was a very colorful individual born in 1897 in Port of Spain, Trinidad. His life was filled with exciting adventures. Julian was born into a middle class family and educated in England. After his education in England, he moved to Canada. Julian always demonstrated extraordinary resourcefulness and personality. He attempted feats that an ordinary person would not attempt. He flew airplanes when very few African Americans were flying and usually was the star of any show where he appeared. He made parachute jumps in dangerous situations and attempted airplane feats that had not been attempted before. In the Black community, he was known as the, "Black Eagle," and he used the term Col.

Aircraft combat pilots are a separate and distinct group of pilots belonging to a club of their own. Rarely does a conversation of combat pilots ever center on female pilots with this distinction attached to their description as a pilot.

Recently, I came across an article that was written on February 4, 2011, by a relative of an African American Aviator that I had never heard of.

During World War II, a large number of Airmen of African and non-European descent from the British Commonwealth countries served in the British Royal Air Force (RAF) and flew missions over European cities.

This article is the beginning of a series of articles written on people of color and female Aviators in the early development of aviation.

During the early-to-late twenties and early thirties, many African Americans were beginning to experiment with aviation and took to the sky.

MALTA is a CA non-profit 501(c)(3) business in Hayward CA, which offers a free training progam to provide the opportunity for low income, minority, at-risk and disadvantaged youths to acheive a private pilot's license.

Leonard V. Waters was born on June 20, 1924 at Euraba Mission near Boomi in Northern New South Wales. He grew up at Nindigilly, Near St. George, and Queensland. At a very early age, he developed an interest in aviation.

The beginning of African Americans in aviation can be traced to a World War I fighter pilot by the name of Eugene Bullard.

I recently took a trip to the West African country of Nigeria along with two traveling companions to explore economic opportunities in support of Motivation and Learning through Aviation (MALTA).

The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American military aviators in the United States armed forces, During World War II.

Youngest African American female to pilot plane cross-country.

website:  www.lowellberryfoundation.org

website:  www.hayward-ca.gov
email:  Mayor or City Council

website:  www.california-airways.com

website:  www.california-airways.com