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In 1941 a group of pilots organized the “Cloud Club” and rented a field near the Patuxent River from Rebecca Brawner for $50 a month establishing the Columbia Air Center at Croom Field. Key pilots included John Greene, John Pinkett Jr, and Roland Brawner who established the Columbia Air Center as the hub of African American aviation in Maryland. They hosted air shows, a training school for Howard University students, and paved the way for future African American aviators!
While the airfield may be unrecognizable today, a gas pump was salvaged from the area and is currently on display at the College Park Aviation Museum. Conservation on the pump and some detective work by the Curator will ensure this story continues to be told for future generations to come! #BlackHistoryMonth #HistoryMatters #HistoryIsRelevant