Mildred Hemmons Carter

Mildred Louise Hemmons Carter (1921–2011) was one of the first women to earn a pilot's license through the Civilian Pilot Training Program, making her the first black female pilot in Alabama. Though she was denied admission into the Tuskegee Airmen and the Women Airforce Service Pilots, she was declared an official member of both later in life.

Childhood Carter was born Mildred Louise Hemmons on September 14, 1921 to Mamie and Luther Hemmons. Her mother was the town's postmaster, while her father was the foreman of a sawmill. Born in Benson, Alabama, she lived in Tuskegee for a time before her family moved to Enfield, North Carolina. There, her father worked as business manager of the all-black Bricks Junior College. Carter applied to the program herself, but was initially rejected because she had not yet turned eighteen. The next year, she applied again and was accepted. On February 1, 1941, she received her private pilot's certificate, making her the first black female pilot in Alabama. Carter recalled that "Mrs. Roosevelt was very gracious; I was tongue tied." was not allowed to leave the air base or to date other Tuskegee students during his training. She was Chief Clerk of the Quartermaster Corps. In addition to administrative work, she rigged parachutes and operated a bulldozer to clear airstrips.

Post-WWII After the war, Herbert's career took the Carters across the United States and Europe. Eventually, they returned to Tuskegee. They had three children.

Mildred Carter mentored and encouraged younger black women to become pilots. Her protégés included several women who went on to become flight nurses and aerospace engineers. Roosevelt Lewis Jr., an airfield manager who, like Carter, was trained by Charles Anderson, said that "Mildred is really recognized here in Tuskegee as one of the Tuskegee Airmen."

Carter and Anderson continued flying together into the 1980s. In 1985, when Carter was 64, she had to give up flying due to a broken hip.

In February 2011, Carter was declared an official member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots. She was also a Designated Original Tuskegee Airman.

Carter died after a long illness on October 21, 2011.