African Americans in Oklahoma Before 1954
Aviators
James Herman Banning and Thomas Allen
Born in 1899 in Canton, Oklahoma, James Herman Banning moved to Iowa and studied electrical engineering. He opened an auto repair shop and decided to learn to fly. The flying schools near Banning refused to enroll him because he was Black. Eventually, he found a former army pilot who agreed to train him. Banning was the first African American to receive a flying license in the US. In 1929, he went to Los Angeles to become the chief pilot for the Bessie Coleman Aero Club. He partnered with mechanic Thomas Allen in 1932 to become the first Black pilot to fly across the country. They touted themselves as the “Flying Hoboes,” and raised funds along the way for fuel and supplies. In 21 days, Banning and All landed in Long Island, achieving their goal. Four months later, he died while performing.
Thomas Allen was born in 1907 and moved to Oklahoma City when he was 12. He loved the new technology of airplanes and he traded his saxophone for flying lessons. After working with Banning on their cross-country flight, Allen found work as a mechanic at Douglas Aircraft Company. Later, he would serve as a lecturer and guide at the Oklahoma Air Space Museum.
Thomas Allen (image courtesy AA Registry).
James Herman Banning (image courtesy National Air and Space Museum).
