Father of the Tuskegee Airmen, John C. Robinson

Great book about one of the most significant, least appreciated African Americans of the 20th century. Per the title, as one of the very first African-American aviators, Colonel Robinson laid the foundation for what became the Tuskegee Airmen, and led the valiant fight of the Ethiopians under Haile Selassie to delay the invasion of the Italians in the mid-1930s. As a native of his hometown, I recently traveled to Ethiopia (on Ethiopian Airlines, which he founded) to participate in a commemoration of his life. It was truly heartwarming to see the high esteem in which Colonel Robinson is still held by the Ethiopian people 64 years after his death. Between this book and "The Man Called Brown Condor" by Thomas Simmons, John C. Robinson's story is a tribute to the power of vision and resilience to excel against insurmountable odds. Highly recommend both books for slightly different perspectives on an inspiring life.

I was looking for information about the mechanics that maintained the aircraft for the Tuskegee Airmen and this was a good start.

Outstanding enlightenment! I came upon this writing when I was researching the Tuskegee Airmen for my curriculum development(commemorationsedudiningcomplex.com.) I was exploring the role of the airmen in their bomber escorting raids in Europe during W.W. II. The journey led to the oldest Christian Church (which I knew about since my youth) and on to Djibouti. I could not find the literature I knew to be true of the importance of biblical Djibouti - but Spirit has a way of actualizing one's passions to resolve 'truth seeking'. This book is helping me to better understand and connect the role of Emperor H. Selassie and Ethiopia with regards to the slavery that existed in Ethiopia; the failure of the League of nations to listen to Ethiopia,the seemingly reluctance of African American support for Ethiopia during the 1936 Ethiopian War with Italy and the prophetic warning (Daniel) of the scriptures as to the fate of America and Europe in not protecting the true 'essence' of the cradle of the "Christian" experience. YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!!!! and TELL OUR CHILDREN THE TRUTH. Ms. Glenna Calvin. 5 STAR RATING.

"Father of the Tuskegee Airmen, John C. Robinson"This is an interesting historical book. Unfortunately it is replete with technical aviation errors which distract ones reading. I've never understood why academicians seldom, if ever subject their works to editing to editing by someone with at least a passing knowledge of aviation/aircraft?Examples; he lists the Beechcraft D-17 as 12-placer (which it is not) and a couple of pages later as a 5-place (which is correct). He calls the Stinson Reliant a "Sprint" Reliant which does not exist?? Then he lists Robinson's new Reliant NC16161 as an SR-7C, which it is not - it is an SR-8B. Those numbers/letters actually have a meaning.When Robinson crashed he says the airplane "suddenly tumbled from the sky" out of control because of a broken valve. Airplanes do not "suddenly tumbled from the sky" because of broken valves. Mere loss of an engine does not mean loss of flight control, especially for such a competent pilot! What likely happened is there was no suitable spot for a normal landing.Then he says Robinson lost his Commercial Pilot's License? Pilot Licenses do not expire. The only thing that expires is the medical certificate or the Flight Instructor's Certificate which would have easily been renewed considering his vast experience.Near the end he recalls Robinson's first landing a "biplane" at Tuskegee when the photo in the book clearly shows the little Buhl Pup is a monoplane.Unfortunately, these types of errors are not uncommon and are completely distracting to pilots like me.The best book on Robinson is "The Brown Condor" written by an author who knows how to tell a story. Academics are not usually good at story telling.

As an aspiring historian I found this book highly intriguing and informative. A forgotten or buried chapter of American/Abyssinian history has been resurrected by Philip T. Tucker. From early 20th century Jim Crow Gulfport, Miss. to Chicago, Ill. to the 2nd Italo-Ethiopian war Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (and beyond) John C. Robinson was the premier African American Aviator of his time. Known to some as "The Black Lindburg, " the man responsible for tearing down racial barriers in the U.S. aviation by becoming the first Black student at the all white Curtis-Wright School of Aeronautics as well as the first Black instructor. His accomplishments laid the foundation that changed the face of the U.S. Army Air Corps (precursor to the U.S. Air Force), The Royal Ethiopian Air Force, as well as a nascent Chinese Air Force. After reading Tucker's work I realized that Robinson was the primary influence and impetus for Tuskegee Institute's Civilian Pilot Program later known for its famed "Tuskegee Airmen". This fact and Robinson's name seems to have been omitted from the annals American history. An informative and exciting read for the avid historian, reader, and academic. A MUST HAVE for African American Studies curricula. Tucker has done thorough research buttressed by an extensive bibliography. Highly informative, intriguing, well balanced and fluid writing. This book was worth every cent!!

Anything which adds to bringing Colonel John Charles Robinson back from being almost forgotten, is fine by me, and Phillip Tucker has done a good job. Having had the first Timmons book, with some 'reconstructed' conversations that I found hard to swallow, this was a big improvement. I haven't yet read the new rewritten version of Timmons, but a preview looks interesting. I'm hoping that Frenchman Michel Barriere, will yet write the definitive, factual and unbiased account of this enigmatic role model hero of early American and Ethiopian aviation. Tucker has a nice positive paragraph (page 78) which includes: "...Robinson contradicted the stereotypical image of an angry black militant who was bitter towards the white world. He continued to enjoy friends and close associations with both races...Robinson knew that people had to be valued not for their color, but based on their positive personal qualities and character...Robinson possessed white friends and associates in the aviation community..., as well as in his everyday life..." (one of whom, was my father).