Twice a year, Chicagoans are able to witness the symmetry and beauty of manned aerial formations.  In August, hundreds of thousands of people gather along the city's lakefront beaches and parks to see an array of civilian and military aircraft perform dramatic solo and synchronized maneuvers as part of the Chicago Air Show.

The second event is held in May and is considerably less showy.  It is the annual aerial tribute to pioneering Black aviators.  Because the event is not funded or publicized like the Chicago Air Show, it draws a considerably smaller, but no less appreciative crowd.

This year, on the first Saturday in May, a group of pilots began pre-flight preparations for an annual tribute to three African American women who made important contributions to aviation during the first half of the 20th century.  The women are Bessie Coleman, Willa Brown and Janet Harmon-Bragg.  (Click on "Graveside Ceremonies" on the graphic located at the end of this article to learn more about these extraordinary women.)

Both Coleman and Brown are buried in Lincoln Cemetery on Chicago's Southside, and each year a group of pilots fly over their graves in recognition of their courage and determination.  The tradition began in 1931, when Cornelius Coffey, founder of the Coffey School, and John Robinson, another Black aviation pioneer, dropped a floral arrangement over the grave of Bessie Coleman.  Five years earlier, Coleman died in a tragic accident while preparing for an air show.

As the first generation of Black aviators retired and passed on, the tradition began to waned, but a local pilot and aviation historian named Rufus Hunt revived the modern observance, which now involves numerous single-engine aircraft piloted by a diverse group made up of African Americans and Caucasians.  

Rufus Hunt is a man of considerable energy.  In addition to scheduling the activities in the air, Hunt plans and coordinates the annual tributes on the ground, which are held near the gravesite of Bessie Coleman.  Each year, the ground ceremonies conclude with the flyover.

This year's flight originated at the Gary Airport in Gary, Indiana.  Approximately twenty people gathered in the conference room of the Gary Jet Center to make final preparations. The group was made up mostly of adults, ranging from senior citizens to individuals in their mid-twenties.  Although mostly men, the group included two women and two children.  Despite their surface differences, everyone present was united by an intense love of flying and deep respect for the women who helped open the doors of aviation to African Americans.

The day was perfect for a flyover.  It was one of the the warmest and sunniest spring days in Chicago.  The weather provided the great visibility not only for the pilots, but also for those on the ground who came to see the floral tributes descend from the planes.  

Good weather is always welcomed, and considerable preparation is needed to ensure the success and safety of the annual flyovers.

For several years, Ken Rapier (shown above with the green cap and sunglasses) has assumed responsibility for planning and coordinating flight-related activities.  Rapier is Chief Pilot of Chicago's Young Eagles Program - a program that was grounded in March when Mayor Daley destroyed the runway at Meigs Field.  As Chief Pilot, Rapier gained considerable experience coordinating the activities of the volunteers who piloted Young Eagles on flights. 

Over the years, Rufus Hunt and Ken Rapier have worked together to provide African Americans and others with greater exposure to aviation.  Their experience and familiarity with one another were quite visible during the pre-flight session.  Although the pilots were focused on understanding the specifics of the flight, there was a clear sense of camaraderie.  Rapier provided specific instructions regarding radio calls, altitudes, flight speed, formation commands and turns, but other experienced pilots, including Marvin Robinson and Juan Haygood, offered their own insights and suggestions.

A total of ten single engine aircraft participated in this year's aerial salute.  An eleventh plane was used to videotape the event.  Included among the planes were two Piper Cherokees painted in the distinctive colors (silver and red) of the P-51s flown by the original Tuskegee Airmen in World War II.  Each Piper Cherokee makes its own memorable impression with its bright tomato-red nose, tail and wing tips - but together, the effect is quite dramatic.  The planes individually belong to Ken Rapier and Marvin Robinson, and over the years, both men have used their aircraft to introduce children and others to aviation and to the heroic accomplishments of the Tuskegee Airmen.  (To see a detail of the two Piper Cherokees and some of the other airplanes that participated in this year's commemorative flight, click the graphic below.)

It's a short flight from Gary over to Lincoln Cemetery, and the pilots quickly established two formations, both of which were led by Ken Rapier.  "My responsibility is to lead the entire formation safely to the target, over the target and return to base safely," said Rapier, who also assumed responsibility for all radio communication.  "I must look out for the formation as my flock," he continued.  The second element of the formation was led by Steve Morzinski who flew a beautifully polished silver Globe Swift aircraft.

Within minutes, the planes were approaching their target, and as the appointed time arrived, those attending the ground ceremonies hastened over to Coleman's grave and looked up.  For many, it was their first observance, but the excitement was felt by everyone.  All eyes looked to the sky with amazement and wonder as Ken's flock flew overhead and deposited their floral tributes over their intended target.

Bessie, Willa and Janet would have been touched by the loving tribute.