April 30

Bessie Coleman 

America's first African American pilot, Elizabeth "Bessie" Coleman died on April 30, 1926.  Coleman was the first woman of any race to have an international pilot license.  The civil aviator thrilled audiences around the country for several years in airshows.  Because of a mechanical problem, Coleman died in a plane crash at the age of 34 in Jacksonville, Florida.

 Bessie Coleman was billed as "The World's Greatest Woman Flier".