"John-"Charles-Robinson"{November 26,1903-March 26,1954}

Was an American aviator and activist who was hailed as the "Brown Condor" for his service in serving in the imperial Ethiopian Air Force against Fascist Italy.John pushed for equal opportunities for African-Americans during his early career,and was able to open his own eponymous aviation school in

addition to initiating a program for  African-American pilots  at his college,Tuskegee University.His achievements as an aviator were in stark constract to the limited opportunities for most African-Americans in aviation careers,and were and important factor in reducing racially based prohibitions in the United States.John is sometimes referred to as the "Father of the Tuskegee Airmen" for inspiring this all-African-American set of pilots who served during the United States' entry into World War II.

John was born in Carrabelle,Florida,and spent his early years in Gulfport,Mississippi.His birth daddy died when he was a baby,leaving himself and his four-year-old sister,Bertha,with their mama Celeste Robinson,who married Charles Cobb.John was inspired by flight at an early age.According to one account,in 1910 Charles was seven when he witnessed a float-equipped biplane flown by John Moisant  in Gulfport,Mississippi.

He completed his education at Gulf port High School for the Colored in 1919,where he developed a strong interest mechanics and machinery.John could not continue his education in Gulf port;African-Americans were barred from continuing their education beyond the tenth grade.Charles subsequently made preparations to attend Tuskegee University in Alabama.He first attended college at Tuskegee on September 21 to study automotive mechanical science,graduating three years later.In addition to studying automobiles,he learned math,

literature,composition and history.He repeatedly applied to the Curtiss-Wright School of Aviation in Chicago,John was denied each time.He ended up getting a job there as a janitor and unofficially sat in on classes until an instructor managed to secure a place for him,and was the first African-American student at the school.

Prior to entering college,John held short-term job as a shoeshine man before getting a job as a warehouse personnel.After finishing his college degree,John was unable to find a suitable career in his hometown of Gulf port.John attributed this to racial discrimination as many of the local garages were under white ownership;speaking to his daddy,he said,"[The garage owners will ] give me a job sweeping me a job sweeping,filling gas tanks,changing tires,or washing,I'm an engine... when I talk to [them] about automotive science they smile,look at each other,and then look at me like belonged behind a mule and a plow.

John consequently moved to Detroit where jobs in the automotive  industry might be more plentiful.There,he had difficulty finding a line of work that his college degree would have ensured him,mainly due to his extensive  knowledge on the trade being unwelcomed by those who could not keep up with his intellect.John continued to refuse jobs sweeping or as a messenger boy,and managed to become a mechanic's assistant instead.Despite continued discrimination and failure to acknowledge his experience from some of white coworkers,John's  skill was noticed and he was promoted to a full mechanic and was given a pay raise.Sometime later,he was approached by taxi cab owner named Fitzgerald who offered to double his pay to work for his garage.John took the job,he was never comfortable working for a business that secretly bootlegged whiskey to Canada during Prohibition Age.

Despite his successes as a mechanic,John began searching for means to take to the air.He was eventually directed to a small field,where he

met pilots  Robert Williamson and Percy earned his first flight in Robert's WACO-9 after fixing engine on Percy's Curtiss JN-4D (Jenny). John was determined as ever to get back into the air,and sought his next best chance to do so in Chicago.After opening a garage for income,he repeatedly applied for Curtiss-Wright School of  Aviation.

John was rejected  every time,circumnavigated this roadblock altogether by becoming a janitor on Saturday nights,thereby being able to listen in on the lessons being taught in the evening class at the time. Becoming exposed to like-minded individuals in the subject,John

started the Aero Study Group,one  that successfully manage to build its own airplane,tested out by the same teacher whose class Charles cleaned,Bill Henderson.Impressed;by the plane;Bill got John a slot at the school and under the instructions of  Mr.Snyder,became a licensed pilot.Before long,John convinced the school to allow his peers from the Aero Study Group to enroll and become pilots as well.Later,John along with his friend Cornelius Coffey formed the Challenger Air Pilots Association for African Americans wanting to fly.

Deciding that aviation school should not be closed to African Americans,John  and his friend Cornelius Coffey opened their own airfield  in Robbins,Illinois,the John Robinson School of Avivation. To further promote African-American pilots  John convinced  his old college Tuskegee University,to open up a school of aviation,as soon as funds were available to do so.

In January 1935,John announced his intentions to volunteer to defend Ethiopia in its ongoing conflict with Italy,the announcement took place at a meeting of African-American business owners and community leaders sponsored by the Associated Negro Press (ANP) in

Chicago.Dr. Halaku Bayen, a cousin of  Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie,became aware of John's announcement and  qualifications, and met with  John directly.Dr.Halaku subsequently made a favorable

recommendation for John to Haile.In April 1935,Haile wired an official invitation to John offering an officer's commission in Ethiopian.

John's decision to accept the commission was based on several factors.First,John and his colleagues were political and military activists motivated to aid Ethiopian as it was threatened by an imperialistic Italy under Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini; and as Ethiopia was non-colonized,it  represented the large idea of a free and

independent Africa that John supported.Second,opportunities for African Americans aviators in the United States were limited,particularly in the  U.S. Army  Air  Corps,where  all African Americans were explicitly prohibited from service.Lynching by white mobs also continued to be common both  in  John's hometown in  Florida  as well as in Mississippi.Finally, having already  earned recognition for his all-African American military  aviation unit  in Illinois as part of the National  Guard,John  was  interested  in building and maintaining a  similar unit  in Ethiopia  to promote  black

political consciousness.

After arriving in 1935, John initially conducted pilot training at a recently opened officer training school to  Addis Abba.On August 8 1935,John was assaulted by fellow aviator Hubert Julian at the Hotel de  France in Addis Abba.Hubert,a recognized aviator from Trinidad who volunteered  to help develop the Ethiopia Air  Corps,was then ordered by the Emperor to leave the country.Soon after the incident,

John  was then named the commander of the Ethiopia Air Force.The air force consisted of  about two dozen aircraft,which included four Potez 25 biplanes,all of the aircraft were weaponless.Early in his command,John participated in a reconnaissance mission to provide supplies and soldiers from addis ababa to Adwa.The Italian invasion began on October 3,1935.The eventual  force totaled  to 19 aircraft and 50 pilots.Ethiopian forces,were ultimately outmatched by the Italian air force,who had advantages in experience and in sheer numbers.On May 9,1936,Italy annexed Ethiopia. 

John  was also a witness to an Italian bombing of the city of  Adwa in

October 1935.He  observed that the city was unprepared  for the attack,and resulted in much confusion and residents fleeing  to the city outskirts."I saw  a squad  of soldiers standing in the streets dumbfounded,looking at the airplanes .They had their swords raised in their hands,"he described.

For service,John received considerable press attention for his service though NBC Radio,the Transradio Press Service,and the Chicago Defender.John returned to the United States in 1936.Conteporary historians also recognize his achievements in Ethiopia.

John's documented achievements in Ethiopia are considered to be the catalyst that inspired demands for social equalityto allow  African-Americanto serve in the U.S.Army Air Corps,and allowed for the organization of the African-American military pilot group,the Tuskegee Airmen,during World War II.

John completed his education at Gulfport High School for the Colored i