Founder Dr. Claude Robert Platte
Founder's Bio
Dr. Claude Robert Platte was born in Denison, Texas on March 18, 1919.
He was the first of three children and was educated in the Fort Worth Independent School District. He graduated from I.M.Terrell High School.
Upon graduation he and his brother, Attral were sent to Tuskegee Institute to study. He received a B.S. Major in Mechanical Engineering and Minor in Aeronautics. While at Tuskegee he was also able to participate in the Tuskegee Experience, where he received the Flight Instructor Rating. He was privileged to train cadets and fly dignitaries around the country.
He served as primary flight instructor, training over 400 blacks to solo and fly PT13’s, PT17’s and PT19’s. Some famous pilots who soared under his tutelage were William Broadwater, Col George Boyd PhD, and Norman Scales Sr., a Texan who flew 70 missions over enemy territories capturing the Distinguished Flying Cross and certificate of valor.
Claude Platte was assigned to the 301st Fighter Squadron. He broke racial and educational barriers in the military as the first black officer to be trained and commissioned in the newly reopened Air Force Pilot Training Program.
He was trained at Randolph Field AFB Texas, the West Point of the Air. He left the Air Force with the rank of Captain in 1965 after 18 yrs. of service.
He was employed at Bell Helicopter in the city of Fort Worth until his retirement. He was the founder of the Claude R. Platte Dallas/Fort Worth Tuskegee Airmen Chapter, which was established in May 2005.
The Tuskegee Airmen received the Congressional Gold Medal on March 28, 2007.
Dr. Platte joined the Lonely Eagles Chapter on September 27, 2013.
He was the first of three children and was educated in the Fort Worth Independent School District. He graduated from I.M.Terrell High School.
Upon graduation he and his brother, Attral were sent to Tuskegee Institute to study. He received a B.S. Major in Mechanical Engineering and Minor in Aeronautics. While at Tuskegee he was also able to participate in the Tuskegee Experience, where he received the Flight Instructor Rating. He was privileged to train cadets and fly dignitaries around the country.
He served as primary flight instructor, training over 400 blacks to solo and fly PT13’s, PT17’s and PT19’s. Some famous pilots who soared under his tutelage were William Broadwater, Col George Boyd PhD, and Norman Scales Sr., a Texan who flew 70 missions over enemy territories capturing the Distinguished Flying Cross and certificate of valor.
Claude Platte was assigned to the 301st Fighter Squadron. He broke racial and educational barriers in the military as the first black officer to be trained and commissioned in the newly reopened Air Force Pilot Training Program.
He was trained at Randolph Field AFB Texas, the West Point of the Air. He left the Air Force with the rank of Captain in 1965 after 18 yrs. of service.
He was employed at Bell Helicopter in the city of Fort Worth until his retirement. He was the founder of the Claude R. Platte Dallas/Fort Worth Tuskegee Airmen Chapter, which was established in May 2005.
The Tuskegee Airmen received the Congressional Gold Medal on March 28, 2007.
Dr. Platte joined the Lonely Eagles Chapter on September 27, 2013.