Ahmet Ali Çelikten
Ahmet Ali Çelikten (born İzmirli Alioğlu Ahmed; 1883 – 1969), also known as Izmirli Ali Ahmet (English: Ahmet Ali from Izmir), was a Turkish aviator of Afro-Turkish descent regarded as the first black pilot in history. He was one of the first black men to become a fighter pilot, receiving his “wings” in 1914. He was one of the few black pilots in World War I, similar to African American Eugene Jacques Bullard (flying for France), William Robinson Clarke from Jamaica (flying for Britain), Pierre Réjon from Martinique (flying for France) and Domenico Mondelli from Eritrea (flying for Italy). Ahmet's maternal grandmother was born in Bornu (now in Nigeria) and was brought to what is now Turkey as part of the Ottoman slave trade.
Ahmet Ali Çelikten | |
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Çelikten with his flight cap, Yeşilköy Airfield - today Istanbul Atatürk Airport, Istanbul. | |
| Birth name | İzmir´li Alioğlu, Ahmed Ali Çelikten |
| Nickname(s) | Arap Ahmet Ali İzmirli Ahmet Ali Black Steel Eagle of Izmir Black Eagle |
| Born | 1883, İzmir, Aydin Vilayet, Ottoman Empire |
| Died | June 24th 1969 Izmir, Turkey |
| Allegiance | Ottoman Empire (1904–1920) Turkey (1920–1949) |
| Service/ | Ottoman Navy Ottoman Aviation Squadrons Turkish Navy Turkish Air Force |
| Years of service | 1904–1949 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | Istanbul Bahri Teyyare Bölüğü |
| Battles/wars |
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| Awards | Yellow Navy Medal of the Turkish Navy, "Turkish Independence Medal Nr. 480" awarded in 1924 by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and İsmet İnönü for his actions of valor during the Turkish War of Independence |
| Children | Muammer Celikten Yilmaz Celikten |
| Relations | Mehmet Ali Şeker (nephew) |
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