Willa Brown Chappell

Willa Brown Chappell achieved numerous firsts. Most notably, she was the first African American woman to earn her pilot license in the United States. Willa also earned a mechanic license, making her the first woman to hold both. Additionally, she was the first African American woman Congressional candidate, and the first African American officer in the U.S. Civil Air Patrol. She dedicated her life to fighting for gender and racial equality in the military lobbying for integration of the U.S. Army Air Corps and the Civilian Pilot Training Program. She is also a co-founder of the Coffey School of Aeronautics, and is responsible for the training of hundreds of pilots, including many who became part of the elite Tuskegee Airmen.