Elizabeth 'Bessie' Coleman (January 26, 1892 � April 30, 1926), popularly known as "Queen Bess," was the first African American woman to become an airplane pilot, and the first American woman to hold an international pilot license.
Gene Autry
When World War II broke out, Gene Autry was determined to join the armed forces and do his part. On July 26, 1942, during a live broadcast of his radio show Melody Ranch and at the Pentagon's request, he was inducted into the Army Air Forces as a Technical Sergeant.
On June 21, 1944 Gene earned his service pilot wings and was promoted to Flight Officer.
Flight Officer Autry made one trip to the CBI theatre via the Azores, North Africa and the Middle East. Enroute to the Azores the plane he was co-piloting had to reverse course to avoid a typhoon, flying five hours back to Newfoundland, where it landed at Gander Bay with one engine out and low on fuel. Fog rolled in and the crew was grounded for two weeks. But they completed their mission.
Wiley Post
Wiley Hardeman Post was the first pilot to fly solo around the world.