Oklahoma Journeys

Week of October 6, 2007

Oklahoma Aviators First African-Americans to Cross North America by Air October 9, 1932

Yet another Oklahoma first this week on Oklahoma Journeys. In the field of aviation Oklahoma is a world leader. Space flight pioneers, aviators and astronauts all come from Oklahoma in great numbers. Given all of Oklahoma's aeronautical greatness it only makes sense that the first African-Americans to cross the U.S. by airplane were from Oklahoma as well. Their story is the topic of this week's Oklahoma Journeys from the Oklahoma Historical Society.

From the Oklahoma Historical Society, this is Oklahoma Journeys: Celebrating our Centennial. I'm Michael Dean.

Oklahoma enjoys a rich heritage in the field of aviation and space exploration. Our state is home to five astronauts who have orbited the Earth, more than any other state in the US. The highest ranking astronaut is Major General Thomas Stafford from Weatherford and the US astronaut who has spent the longest time in space is William Pogue from Okemah. Oklahoman Wiley Post one of the early innovators in aviation Oklahoma, designed and tested his own pressurized flight suits and was the first to explore the outer edges of our atmosphere. This week however we examine a piece of our aviation history that while no less remarkable has received less attention than other Oklahoma adventures in flight. In 1932 two basically self-taught Oklahoma aviators set out to become the first African-Americans to cross the United States by airplane. Twenty-Seven year old J. Herman Banning from El Reno was working as a pilot in California for a Black airline company when he met Thomas C. Allen an airplane mechanic and fellow Oklahoman. Banning owned a four-year old plane with a fourteen-year old motor and Allen was a self-taught mechanic known for his ability to work on almost any type of aircraft. The two men with the plane and one hundred dollars for fuel set off on their quest on Sept. 19th. Unlike other aviator dare-devils of the time Banning and Allen had no sponsors and relied only upon the generosity of others for help. Skipping their way across the country the pair set down at almost every small town and airfield along the way to publicize their journey and to raise gas money to the next town. Contributors to the flight were allowed to sign the left wingtip of the plane, the so called Gold Book. At each stop the pair would make their way into town wearing their flying gear, helmets and goggles and answer the inevitable questions. Sometimes the duo would be invited to speak somewhere and at other times they slept in their plane on the airfield. Collecting everything from pennies to dollars along the way the two made slow but steady progress towards New York City, their east coast destination. Banning an expert stunt flyer handled the flying, while Allen managed to keep the plane in some semblance of flying order. The last leg of the journey from Pittsburgh to New York City was funded entirely by the Democratic Party who agreed to repair the plane and pay all expenses if the two would toss political leaflets from the plane as they flew. It was in this week of 1932 on October 9th that the two Oklahoman's Banning and Allen landed safely in New York City scoring yet another first for Oklahoma aviation. The Oklahoma History Center features an exhibit on the adventures of Allen and Banning and their wild ride across the country. The history center is located on NE 23rd just east of the state capitol in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma Journeys: Celebrating our Centennial is a production of the Oklahoma Historical Society dedicated to the collection, preservation, and sharing of our state’s past. I'm Michael Dean.