AVIATION CELEBRATION

Welcome back to Amazing Colorizing.com’s photo blog, "And Then There Was Color".

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Today, we're taking a brief look at early aviation heroes of the 20th century. At this point, it's important to share with you that Amazing Colorizing didn't launch in 2001 to replace historic Black & White photos - but, to present a "companion" view of history, that draws the one viewing it into the scene as if it was today. With that in mind, here's our latest enstallment, called "Aviation Celebration".

THE WRIGHT BROTHERS

December 17, 1903: Aviation history was made today, as Dayton, Ohio bicycle shop owners, Orville & Wilbur Wright successfully made four flights in their heavier-than-air, motor-operated flying machine at Kill Devil Hills, near Kittyhawk, North Carolina. The brothers invented, built, and flew their flying machine, called The Wright Flyer. In the photo below of the famous first flight, Orville is piloting the Wright Flyer, while Wilbur observes alongside the wing.

BELOW: Two boys relax behind the Wright Bicycle Company shop in Dayton, Ohio (1900)

BESSIE COLEMAN aka "QUEEN BESS"

Bessie Coleman was born in 1892 in Atlanta Texas, where her parents were sharecropppers. Yet, she would grow up to become the first person of African American - and of Native American descent - to hold a pilot license in the United States. Bessie became interested in flying upon moving to Chicago - however, due to the prejudices of the time, 28 year-old Bessie had to travel to France to be trained as a pilot. Upon her return to the States in 1922, she began barnstorming around the country as "Queen Bess" - a stunt flier at air shows.

CHARLES A. LINDBERGH

"Lucky Lindy", a U.S. Air Mail pilot, was the first person to succssfully fly solo in an airplane non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean. His plane, dubbed the "Spirit of St. Louis, took off from Roosevelt Field on Long Island, NY on the morning of May 20, 1927 - landing to a hero's welcome.at Le Bourget Aerodrome outside Paris on the evening of May 21st, approximately 33 1/2 hours later. The crowd of 150,000 rushed onto the field and surrounded Lindbergh's plane. They helped him out of the cockpit - and hoisted him over their heads as they paraded him around the field. In December 1927, by a Special Act of the U.S. Congress, Charles A. Lindbergh was awarded the Medal of Honor.

AMELIA EARHART

Among her many aviation exploits, Amelia Earhart was the first woman to pilot an airplane solo, non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean. She set out from Newfoundland on the morning of May 20, 1932 - destination Paris, France. Just under 15 hours later, due to icy conditions and mechanical issues, Amelia landed in a cow pasture near Derry, Northern Ireland. Upon her return to America, Congress awarded Amelia Earhart the Distinguished Flying Cross. On July 2, 1937, Amelia and her navigator, Fred Noonan disappeared in the general vicinity of Howland Island in the central Pacific Ocean, while on a 'round the world flight attempt. Expeditions in search of her plane continue to this day.