Ensign Jesse Brown, First African American Naval Aviator, 1948
In October 1948, Jesse LeRoy Brown made history by becoming the first African American naval aviator. Born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, in 1926, Brown was inspired to become a pilot by an airshow that he attended at age six. After graduating from high school, Brown attended Ohio State University, the alma mater of his hero, Jesse Owens.
Brown completed his engineering degree in 1947, and then entered naval flight officer training. In October of 1948, Brown received his naval aviator badge. Ensign Brown served in the...