Banning, James Herman
1899-1933 · Contribution: 1926-1932
Transportation
First African American to be licensed as a pilot by the U.S. government; co-completed the first transcontinental flight by Black pilots

Portraits are AI-generated interpretations, not photographs.
Quick facts
- Born
- 1899-1933
- Active since
- 1926-1932
- Category
- Transportation
Impact on the world
Banning shattered the assumption that transcontinental flight belonged only to well-financed white aviators, showing what Black pilots could achieve with almost nothing.
Sources
- Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (Pioneers of Flight)
1 more sources and references are available to members.
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