The oldest continuously operating airport in the Los Angeles Basin, Compton-Woodley Airport celebrated its Centennial on Saturday, Oct. 26, with an Air Fair, presented by Los Angeles County Public Works.
Originally an open field that belonged to the local school board, it is fitting that the airport has for decades served as a hub of aviation education for the Black community, as home to Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum, which honors the Tuskegee Airmen and headquarters for numerous aviation and STEM programs for elementary, middle, and high school students.
Joycelin Tomlin is the membership chair and immediate past president of the Los Angeles chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (TAI). She joined the organization in 1993, following the passing of her uncle, Lt. Col. John Lemuel Whitehead, the first Black test pilot and the first Black instructor pilot in the history of the U.S. Air Force. A member of the 332nd Fighter Group, he was known as “Mr. Death” for his air victories over Nazi pilots in World War II.
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As the numbers of living Tuskegee Airmen have dwindled – Jerry T. Hodges, Jr. is the only one remaining in the Los Angeles area at 99 years of age – Tomlin said that TAI is committed to helping young aspiring pilots to the profession.
“What we’re doing is recruiting young people to teach them about aviation,” said Tomlin, who has served as western regions president and national election inspector for TAI, as well as on the organization’s national scholarship board of governors. She noted plans to start a program with Davis Middle School in Compton, named after Tuskegee Airman Lt. Gen. Benjamin O. Davis, who flew with the 99th Fighter Squadron.
Building Black representation in commercial aviation was also a goal of the Centennial. Capt. Ron Limes of Alaska Airlines shared the potential of careers both in the air and on the ground.
“In commercial aviation, we’re about four percent… and if you’re talking about African American females, it’s .1 percent,” said Limes, an Air Force veteran of Afghanistan and Bosnia.
“We’re making efforts to diversify our flight decks and open up opportunities for others who traditionally haven’t been involved in aviation.”
Founded in 2020 by a group of African American pilots and aircraft mechanics, Fly Compton Foundation provides opportunities for Compton youth to explore and pursue their passion for aviation with mentorships, educational programs, and access to resources, with the mission of increasing the numbers of Black and Brown aviation professionals.
“You have to …be in a space to understand there’s only two percent of us doing this, since the Tuskegee Airmen,” said Nicholas Hardy, a volunteer ground instructor with Fly Compton and pilot for Dynamic Aviation.
“Part of what we do is inspire the youth for the next generations. You want to be able to make it visible as a reality. You have to have the desire to do it. Once you have that, you surround yourself with the right people and you move forward.”
Donovan Johnson, a pilot who gives aerial tours from Torrance Airport, pays it forward as an instructor with Fly Compton.
“I got helped, so I want to help the younger generation as well,” he said. “Getting into aviation, you need to branch out. Don’t be afraid to talk to anybody – no question is a dumb question.”
Margaret Janus was a flight attendant for Continental Airlines and continued her career when the airline merged with United in 2010. A member of the Los Angeles chapter of the Black Flight Attendants of America, she continues to serve the community, volunteering with fellow members for the L.A. Marathon and educational events at Compton-Woodley.
“It used to be all about wearing the high heels, serving [passengers],” said Janus. “Now, safety is important, it’s emphasized more than in the beginning.
“It was a wonderful career, meeting all kinds of people all over the world,” she said. “Traveling is probably the best education you can get.”
