The Columbia Air Center - One of the Many "Firsts" in Prince George's County, Maryland

picture from: pgparks.com 

    Did you know that Prince George's County, Maryland is the home of the first African-Aerican owned airport in the country? The Columbia Air Center, originally known as "Riverside Field" is located along the Patuxent River in eastern central Prince George's County. According to the Prince George's County Park & Planning Department, "The Cloud Club, Inc. was formed in May of 1940 in Washington, D.C. as a place for African American aviators to spread the enjoyment of flying to others. The club first met and flew at Beacon Field in Alexandria, Virginia. Friction between the club and the airport began after club members were accused of violating the airfield's rules and regulations. Racial tension and subsequent ill-treatment of the aviators motivated them to search for a field on which to build and operate their own airport."


      "In 1941, aviation history was made when the first African American owned and operated airfield in the state of Maryland was licensed on the site at the end of Croom Airport Road. John W. Greene Jr., a pioneer in black aviation, was instrumental in developing the airfield, which was originally called Riverside Field. It was occupied by the U.S. Navy during World War II and used for training missions. After the war, Greene reopened the airfield as Columbia Air Center. It offered a flying school, charter services, and facilities for major and minor repairs. The first black Civil Air Patrol squadron in the Washington, D.C. area, called the Columbia Squadron, was formed here..." in what is now the Patuxent River Park.