Glasgow in Barren County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
Willa Brown Chappell
(1906 - 1992)
Photographed By Duane Hall, August 9, 2015
1. Willa Brown Chappell Marker
This Glasgow native was the first African American woman to earn a pilot’s license in the U.S., 1937. That year, she also earned masters degree from Northwestern Univ. She was first African American officer in Civil Air Patrol (1941) & first American woman to hold both a mechanic’s license & commercial pilot’s license (1943).
Over.
Co-founder of National Airmen’s Association of America, which worked to get African Americans into U.S. Air Force. In 1940, she co-founded the Coffey School of Aeronautics which trained black pilots. Some of these pilots became part of the Tuskegee Airmen. She was influential in the integration of the U.S. military in 1948.
Erected 2013 by Kentucky Historical Society and Kentucky Department of Highways. (Marker Number 2398.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Air & Space • Civil Rights. In addition, it is included in the Kentucky Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1937.
Location. 36° 59.731′ N, 85° 54.788′ W. Marker is in Glasgow, Kentucky, in Barren County. Marker is at the intersection of Race Street and Washington
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Nettie B.C. Depp (here, next to this marker); Confederate Congressional Medal of Honour / Barren County CSA Medalists (within shouting distance of this marker); Luska Joseph Twyman (within shouting distance of this marker); Christmas Mishap (within shouting distance of this marker); Barren County World War I Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Billy Vaughn (within shouting distance of this marker); Barren County Purple Heart Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Headquarters Troop, 123rd Cavalry (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Glasgow.
Also see . . . Willa Brown - Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on September 3, 2015.)
Photographed By Duane Hall, August 9, 2015
2. Willa Brown Chappell Marker
Photographed By Duane Hall, August 9, 2015
3. Willa Brown Chappell Marker
Photographed By Duane Hall, August 9, 2015
4. Nettie B.C. Depp and Willa Brown Chappell Markers
Photographed By Duane Hall, August 9, 2015
5. Nettie B.C. Depp and Willa Brown Chappell Markers
Photographed By Duane Hall, August 9, 2015
6. Back Sides of Nettie B.C. Depp and Willa Brown Chappell Markers
Photographed By Duane Hall, August 9, 2015
7. Markers on Northwest Side of Courthouse Grounds
Credits. This page was last revised on June 3, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 3, 2015, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 896 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on September 3, 2015, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. 7. submitted on September 1, 2015, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.
