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William Aiken, Sr. was a pioneer in African-American aviation in California from the 1930s through the 1960s. He was born in Plainsdealing, Louisiana in 1907, left home at the age of 13 and worked his way to California performing odd jobs. In the mid-1920s he started his own car washing business and began taking flying lessons. In 1928 he soloed for the first time and in 1936, Aiken earned his private pilot's license. He joined the California Civil Air Patrol, and was appointed a Second Lieutenant and Commanding Officer of the Los Angeles Squadron #7, California Wing in 1948. Aiken became a flight instructor, instructing not only his own children, but any African-American youth with the desire to learn to fly. He continued to fly until he suffered a stroke in 1969.
NASM.1997.0024
Aiken, William Sr., 1907-
1907-1980
bulk 1935-1974
Kim Hamilton, gift, 1997, 1997-0024, Unknown
0.45 Cubic feet ((1 legal document box))
National Air and Space Museum Archives
This collection contains Pilot Log Books, photographs, newspaper clippings, California Civil Air Patrol documents, financial and personal records, an autobiographical manuscript and negatives, all pertaining to William Aiken, his family and friends.
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
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African American air pilots
Aeronautics
Aeronautics, Commercial -- United States
Periodicals
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Correspondence
Manuscripts
Photographs
Logs (records)
Financial records