Eugene Bullard: America’s Rejected Hero Who Fought for France

 



Eugene Bullard – The Black Swallow of Death

History often remembers the “firsts” in aviation—the first to break the sound barrier, the first to walk on the moon. Yet one of the most remarkable firsts took place over the skies of World War I France, and it belonged to a man America refused to recognize in his lifetime.

Eugene Bullard, born in 1895 in Columbus, Georgia, grew up in the deep South, where racial prejudice was part of everyday life. From a young age, Bullard dreamed of escaping to a place where skin color did not dictate a man’s worth. At just 11 years old, he ran away from home, eventually stowing away on a ship bound for Europe.

When World War I erupted, Bullard joined the French Foreign Legion, fighting courageously in the trenches. He was wounded in the Battle of Verdun—one of the bloodiest battles in history—but recovered and volunteered for the French Air Service.

In 1917, Bullard earned his wings, becoming the first African-American military pilot in history, flying the nimble Nieuport 24 fighter. His fellow pilots called him the Black Swallow of Death for his fearlessness in aerial combat.

When the United States entered the war, Bullard applied to transfer to the U.S. Army Air Service. He passed all the tests, but the Army rejected him—solely because of his race. Heartbroken but undeterred, he continued flying for France.

After the war, Bullard remained in Paris, running a jazz club frequented by legends like Louis Armstrong and Josephine Baker. But when World War II broke out, he again served France—this time as a spy for the French Resistance against Nazi Germany.

Returning to the U.S. after the war, Bullard lived quietly, working as an elevator operator in New York City. For decades, his heroism went unrecognized. Only in 1994—33 years after his death—was he posthumously commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.

Today, Eugene Bullard stands as a symbol of perseverance, courage, and the fight against prejudice. He broke the color barrier in the skies long before America was ready to accept him. His story is not just aviation history—it’s a reminder that bravery knows no color.

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