C. Alfred Anderson and Albert Forsythe

A Philadelphia native, C. Alfred Anderson was one of most talented black aviators of the 1930s. He teamed up with Albert E. Forsythe, a physician from Atlantic City, New Jersey. With Anderson’s skills as a pilot and Forsythe’s financial backing, they made a name for themselves flying long-distance flights.

Anderson and Forsythe gained fame in 1933 when they completed the first roundtrip transcontinental flight. Their “Goodwill Flight” of 1934 was even more ambitious—an aerial trek from the United States to the Caribbean and South America.

C. Alfred Anderson, one of the most talented black aviators of the 1930s, teamed with Albert E. Forsythe to set new aviation records.

The Goal of the “Goodwill Flight”
The goal of the "goodwill flight" was to show the skill of black aviators and to enhance racial understanding. The trip was full of adventure. The Bahamas did not have an airport for land planes—the pilots made a daring landing at night on a dirt road lit by automobile headlights, creating a local sensation.