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The Man Called Brown Condor: The Forgotten History of an African American Fighter Pilot Kindle Edition

by Thomas E. Simmons (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 138 ratings
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“[Robinson’s] lifelong triumph over adversity belongs to the greatest of American success stories.” —Peter Hannaford, Washington Times

In this gripping, never-before-told tale, biographer Thomas E. Simmons brings to life the true story of John C. Robinson, who rose from fraught and humble beginnings as a black child in segregated Mississippi to outstanding success. He became a pilot and an expert in building and assembling his own working aircraft; he also helped to establish a school of aviation at the Tuskegee Institute (there would have been no Tuskegee Airmen without him), and his courageous wartime service in Ethiopia during the Italian invasion in 1935 won him international fame.

During Robinson’s service to Ethiopia, he took to the air to combat the first Fascist invasion of what would become World War II. This remarkable hero may have been the first American to oppose Fascism in combat. When Ethiopia was freed by British troops during World War II, Haile Selassie asked Robinson to return to Ethiopia to help reestablish the Ethiopian Air Force. For Robinson and the five men he picked to go with him, just getting to Ethiopia in wartime 1944 was an adventure in and of itself.

Featuring thirty-five black-and-white photographs and based on twenty-three years’ worth of original research when very little information on this remarkable American hero was available, The Man Called Brown Condor is more than just a biography of an unfairly forgotten African American pilot; this book provides insight on racial conditions in the first half of the twentieth century and illustrates the political intrigue within a League of Nations afraid to face the rise of Fascism.

Skyhorse Publishing, along with our Arcade, Good Books, Sports Publishing, and Yucca imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs. Our list includes biographies on well-known historical figures like Benjamin Franklin, Nelson Mandela, and Alexander Graham Bell, as well as villains from history, such as Heinrich Himmler, John Wayne Gacy, and O. J. Simpson. We have also published survivor stories of World War II, memoirs about overcoming adversity, first-hand tales of adventure, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
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  1. Print length
    305 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Skyhorse
  5. Publication date
    December 18, 2012
  6. File size
    2734 KB
  7. Page Flip
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  8. Word Wise
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  9. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“[Robinson’s] lifelong triumph over adversity belongs to the greatest of American success stories.” —Peter Hannaford, Washington Times

“The story of John C. Robinson, born in segregated Mississippi at the turn of the century, and his remarkable story of not just becoming a pilot but rising to become the commander of the Ethiopian Air Force during the Italo-Ethiopian War of 1935.” —Publishers Weekly

“Simmons spent over 20 years researching the remarkable life of John D. Robinson, who rose from segregationist Mississippi to become a distinguished pilot, founder of the Tuskegee Institute’s school of aviation, a bold defender of Ethiopia during the 1935 Italian invasion, and, finally, founder of the Ethiopian Air Force.” —Library Journal

“An inspiring affirmation that celebrates the old adage that where there’s a will, there’s a way, even against seemingly impossible odds.” —Kirkus Reviews

“[Robinson’s] lifelong triumph over adversity belongs to the greatest of American success stories.” —Peter Hannaford, Washington Times

“The story of John C. Robinson, born in segregated Mississippi at the turn of the century, and his remarkable story of not just becoming a pilot but rising to become the commander of the Ethiopian Air Force during the Italo-Ethiopian War of 1935.” —Publishers Weekly

“Simmons spent over 20 years researching the remarkable life of John D. Robinson, who rose from segregationist Mississippi to become a distinguished pilot, founder of the Tuskegee Institute’s school of aviation, a bold defender of Ethiopia during the 1935 Italian invasion, and, finally, founder of the Ethiopian Air Force.” —Library Journal

“An inspiring affirmation that celebrates the old adage that where there’s a will, there’s a way, even against seemingly impossible odds.” —Kirkus Reviews

From the Back Cover

“All New York Greets Pilot on Arrival”

“Newsmen Get Lowdown on African War from Colonel John C. Robinson”

“Pioneered Aviation in Chicago—Started Air School”

“Colonel Robinson, Brown Condor, Returns Home”

“Gangway for the Brown Condor”

“Crowds Wait on War Hero”

“There has never been such a demonstration as was accorded the thirty-one-year-old Chicago aviator who left the United States thirteen months ago and literally covered himself in glory trying to preserve the independence of the last African empire. There are reports that he will be joining the faculty of Tuskegee Institute to teach aviation.”

--The Chicago Defender newspaper on John C. Robinson’s heroic return to America, where he was greeted by a crowd of twenty-thousand supporters in the streets of Chicago

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00AQZJ1QS
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Skyhorse; Reprint edition (December 18, 2012)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 18, 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2734 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 305 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 138 ratings

About the author

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Thomas E. Simmons

Thomas E. Simmons

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Thomas E. Simmons is the author of four books to date, The Brown Condor, Escape from Archangel, Forgotten Heroes of World War II and his latest, The Man Called Brown Condor. He grew up in Mississippi, attended Marion Military Institute, the U. S. Naval Academy, the University of Southern Mississippi and the University of Alabama. He even has a degree from one or another of them, including a BA in English Literature. He has been an entrepreneur in the hospitality industry as well as a sales engineer with an international heavy industry and is an active port consultant for container handling systems. He served as commercial captain of a seventy foot sailing vessel, has been a pilot since the age of sixteen, has flown professionally and participated in air shows flying aerobatics in open-cockpit bi-planes. In 1960 he served as an artillery officer in Korea. He has traveled the world for business and pleasure. He was awarded the FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. He lives in Gulfport where his wife, saint that she is,patiently abides him and two no-account dogs.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
138 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

James N. Berry
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2013
Verified Purchase
This is an important book about an extraordinary individual. It's been said that victors write history, but even being on the winning side isn't always enough. As Senior Editor of World Book, I revised the encyclopedia's Civil War article to include what had been an important omission: that there were more freed slaves in the Union Army by war's end than soldiers in the entire Confederate militia. That factor played a decisive role in the war's outcome.
Similarly, John C. Robinson was a great American aviator - internationally acclaimed in his lifetime - but as a black Mississippian, he's been largely forgotten. If not for author Thomas Simmons' excellent research - much of it derived through personal interviews - Robinson's achievements might continue to go unnoticed.
Yet much of what this man did looms all the brighter when we consider the racial barriers he surmounted. When an aviation school denied him admission, Robinson took a janitorial job there and audited classes broom-in-hand. He built his own plane, started his own flying school - even helped create a black airport when white ones refused to refuel his plane.
Robinson's pushed for an aviation program at Tuskegee Institute to train other black pilots, giving rise to the famous Tuskegee airmen who performed so bravely as the Red Tail squadron in World War Two. Not waiting for the US to enter that war, Robinson began fighting fascism in 1935 when Mussolini attacked Ethiopia. The Brown Condor led the Ethiopian air force, being twice wounded and also gassed. And after the war, he helped establish an Ethiopian airline.
-- Newton Berry
11 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars .ecanWWII Story
Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2019
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This is a good book .It tells the story of a black man who took responsibility for the Air Force of Ethopia when it was about to be in card by Italy. The sad story of the battles these people fought, without weapons or mechamisms is hard to read. The author did a lot of research h to learn about This man who was a hero of WWII.
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Nobleman
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book about an unknown hero
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2013
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We live on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, right where the hero of this book began his adventures. Our small book club claims members from Gulfport, Biloxi, and Long Beach, so we decided to take a long shot and invite the author to our meeting where we had read and were to discuss THE BROWN CONDOR. I called him up two days before our meeting, right after a book signing and TV piece, but he came anyway and was most gracious with his time and explanations. I'm also happy to say that his book, boosted by the efforts of some of our members, will hopefully lead to a memorial placed on this hero's family home in Gulfport. The book is a fascinating biography of a man with high ability and supreme perseverance which Tom Simmons has singlehandedly resurrected from obscurity to in-the-spotlight.
2 people found this helpful
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Robert Mark Hutton
5.0 out of 5 stars Colonel John Robinson
Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2020
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Black lad growing up in Mississippi becomes interested in flying after many problems he becomes a qualified pilot helps found a school of aviation. He comes to the attention of Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia who asks him to become head of his airforce. A gripping story of his time with the Ethiopian Airforce and the brutal invasion of that country by Italy. The part he played in and before and after the second world war is told in detail all in all a remarkable man a very good read
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William Bates
4.0 out of 5 stars Very intresting bit of history about a man dedicated to flight
Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2020
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One of those historical figures who to often slip through the cracks of history. A very good book that tells a great story.
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Lovee
5.0 out of 5 stars An Inspiring Story
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2013
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This is an inspiring story of a man who worked hard to realize his dream of flying. John Robinson did not take no for an answer from those who said it couldn't be done. He overcame many obstacles and he didn't wait for anyone to make things easier for him. He was a real go-getter.
I gave it five stars, because it is highly readable which makes it accessible to most young readers. This book would motivate most readers to do something they've dreamed of doing.
One person found this helpful
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Shannon Reed
5.0 out of 5 stars Such an extraordinary story about a truly extraordinary man that is beautifully told through the writing of Thomas Simmons
Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2017
Verified Purchase
This book arrived in the morning and I didn't put it down until I was done in the evening. Such an extraordinary story about a truly extraordinary man that is beautifully told through the writing of Thomas Simmons. It is one of those books that will stay with me for a very long time. And I will encourage others to learn about the life and legacy of John Charles Robinson.
2 people found this helpful
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Alan B. Hennis
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book. Opened my eyes to Mussolini's ruthless invasion ...
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2017
Verified Purchase
Great book. Opened my eyes to Mussolini's ruthless invasion of Ethiopia, and the difficulties of breaking into aviation for African American pilots. This is the story of a brave, dedicated and devoted man who lived for Ethiopians, and for the future of African American Aviation, in spite of terrible odds and opposition. John C. Robinson was and is a real American hero and inspiration.
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Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Work
Reviewed in Canada on March 1, 2020
Verified Purchase
Mr. Simmons has produced an outstanding work of research to unearth the history of a hero whose fame did not carry over into the internet age - largely because of race and geography. Well written, with easy prose and providing sociopolitical context throughout, this book is highly recommended.
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whangaehu_judy
5.0 out of 5 stars What a remarkable man
Reviewed in Australia on May 28, 2021
Verified Purchase
An extremely interesting but poignant story of the determination and courage which took a black boy from segregated Mississippi to the heights of aviation in the '20s and '30s. Johnny Robinson was a quiet, well mannered, highly intelligent young man who overcame circumstances which most of us couldnt imagine. It really made me understand why black Americans remain a repressed group. The obstacles he overcame and the lateral thinking with which he approached them were unbelievable. An ordinary person just couldnt have done it. Do read this book. The story of Johnny's sheer grit needs to be told.
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Silverliz
5.0 out of 5 stars History from a different point of view
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 25, 2015
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A completely different picture of the USA to the one which is normally available. The story of a very strong, determined , intelligent Afro-American pilot.
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ross o'connell
5.0 out of 5 stars Very exciting history lesson. He took the challenge and won
Reviewed in Canada on June 5, 2020
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I highly recommend this book. It reads as if you are up there in the sky with Col. Robinson. Bravo to the author!
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Resilience in the face of many challenges
Reviewed in Australia on October 6, 2021
Verified Purchase
A great factual book of personal resilience, endurance and self belief in the nascent airline industry in very challenging social and economic times. Should be a school read for the younger generation who lack these qualities. Robinson is a hero and has my very rare full admiration.
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