First Black Military Pilot of the World: Ottoman Lieutenant Ahmet Ali Bey 1883 – 1969

Halim Gençoğlu

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijes.20210501.11

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First Black Military Pilot of the World: Ottoman Lieutenant Ahmet Ali Bey 1883 – 1969

Halim Gençoğlu

Published in International Journal of European Studies (Volume 5, Issue 1)

Received: 8 February 2021 Accepted: 20 February 2021 Published: 26 March 2021

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Abstract

A forgotten prominent figure, Ahmet Ali Çelikten was the first black military pilot in world history. Of Nigerian origin, Ahmet Ali grew up in the Ottoman society and had the opportunity like any Ottoman Turkish citizen to study in the Ottoman naval force in 1903. He fought in the Italian-Turkish war with his South African coreligionists in Libya in 1911 and later against the allies in WW1 as the first black military pilot in the World. The Ottoman Empire was the last Islamic and multi-cultural empire in world history. Skin colour did not affect individuals' social standing or opportunities in the Ottoman society. The Ottoman Empire managed to rule several nations, even those with religious minorities and provide them equal rights. This article aims to highlight the events and experiences in the life of Pilot Ahmet Ali in the Ottoman territory. To achive this, Ottoman archival sources and otantique Turkish journals were used during the research. In addition, comparative method was used throughout the study by looking at the social life in the Ottoman Empire and in the Western world in the light of archival documents. In conclusion, this understanding and living conditions enabled Ahmet Ali to be the first black pilot in the world history. At a difficult time in the history of the Ottoman Empire, during the genesis of modern Turkey, Ahmet Ali Bey had sincerely contributed to establishment of a Turkish air force in the Republic of Turkey.

Published in	International Journal of European Studies (Volume 5, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijes.20210501.11
Page(s)	1-6
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Ahmet Ali Çelikten, First Black Pilot, Aviation History, Ottoman Empire, Turkey

References

[1]	Gencoglu, Halim, 2019, The First Black Pilot of the World: Ahmet Ali Bey of Nigerian Origin (Dünyanın ilk siyahi savaş pilotu: Nijeryalı Ahmet Ali Bey (Çelikten) 1883 – 1969, Independent Turkish, Retrieved from https://www.indyturk.com/node/27686/t%C3%BCrkiyeden-sesler/d%C3%BCnyan%C4%B1n-ilk-siyahi-sava%C5%9F-pilotu-nijeryal%C4%B1-ahmet-ali-bey-%C3%A7elikten-1883 accessed 03. January. 2021.
[2]	Turkish Movie star Yasemin Esmergül and Singer Esmeray are the most well-known characters in Turkey.https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/esmeray-the-untold-story-of-an-afro-turk-music-star-1.166767, accessed. 02. 04. 2021.
[3]	Posta, “First Black Pilot of the World” “Dünya’nın ilk siyahi pilotu: Arap Ahmet -4 Pilotlarla Dolu Bir Aile"20 March 2011, p. 2. Retrieved from, https://www.posta.com.tr/dunyanin-ilk-siyahi-pilotu-arap-ahmet-65707, February 19, 2021.
[4]	Gencoglu, Halim 2020, Africa-Turkey: In the Turkish Archival Sources, Ankara, SR Press.
[5]	Donanma MecmuasI, no; 80 – 8, February 1911.
[6]	Kurter, Ajun. 2009. Türk Hava Kuvvetleri Tarihi: cilt III (1917 yılı). İstanbul: Türk Hava Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı.
[7]	Ottoman State Archive, ZB Zaptiye, 314-64-R-19-01-1325; (Providing information about Altarlioglu Ismail ibn Hasan and Arabistonlioglu Arab Ali oglu Ahmed who are studying in Naval school, 1907) İhtiyat efradından Tersane-i Amire Tamirat Fabrikası'nda mülazım-ı evvel oldukları haber alınan Altaroğlu İsmail Efendi bin Hasan ile Arabistanlıoğlu Arap Alioğlu Ahmed'in durumunun araştırılarak bilgi verilmesi.
[8]	Vecihi Hürkuş 2000 Bir Tayyarecinin Anıları p. 142 Istanbul.
[9]	Ottoman State Archive, BOA, 314-64-R-19-01-1325, (Regarding the two students from the Naval School) Zabtiye İhtiyat efradından Tersane-i Amire Tamirat Fabrikası'nda mülazım-ı evvel oldukları haber alınan Altaroğlu İsmail Efendi bin Hasan ile Arabistanlıoğlu Arap Alioğlu Ahmed'in durumunun araştırılarak bilgi verilmesi.
[10]	Armaoğlu, Fahir (2004). 20. Yüzyıl Siyasi Tarihi (Cilt 1-2: 1914-1995), 1. Cilt, p. 334 Alkım Yayınevi, Ankara.
[11]	Akgün, Seçil ve Uluğtekin, Murat, (1993), "Hilal-i Ahmer ve Trablusgarp Savaşı", OTAM, Ankara Üniversitesi Osmanlı Tarihi Araştırma ve Uygulama Merkezi, Dergisi Sayı: 3.
[12]	Abdurrahim Rahmi Aydın 2001 Tayyareden Uçağa: Milli Hava Sanayinin Kuruluşunda Türk Halkının Yaptığı Bağışlar pp. 53, 54.
[13]	Osman Yalçın. 2010. Donated Aircrafts and Its Influences on Aerospace Industries in History of Turkish Aviation. Gazi University.
[14]	Ottoman State Archive, HR. SYS. 2413/63 (Three airplanes were taken from Germany) Almanya'dan gelmekte olan üç tayyare. 1915.
[15]	Ahmet Ali's younger brother died in the Great War at Gallipoli in 1915. See.
[16]	Ajun Kurter, 2009 Türk Hava Kuvvetleri Tarihi, Cilt 5, Hava Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı, p. 299.
[17]	The Nigerian Pioneer Friday, May 21st, 1915, Lagos.
[18]	Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu (2004). Osmanlı Askerlik Literatürü Tarihi. İslâm Tarih, Sanat ve Kültür Araştırma Merkezi. p. 741. İstanbul.
[19]	Turkey. 1975. Kuruluş yıllarında Türk Askerı̂ Havacılığı belgeleri, 1909-1913. Etimesgut: Hv. Bas. ve Neş. Md. lüğü. National government publication, p. 23. İstanbul.
[20]	Ottoman State Archive, HR. SYS. 2251/38 British pilots captured by the Ottoman soldiers in Tribulus) Trablusgarp'da kıtaat ve mücahidini Osmaniye tarafından esir edilen İngiliz pilotlarının Londra ve Malta'ya... 1917.
[21]	Süreyya Ilmen 1947 Türk Tayyarecilik ve Balonculuk Tarihi, p 21, İstanbul.
[22]	Ottoman State Archive, 2.130-11-1-0 B. T. D, (Retirement of particular Turkish commanders including Ahmet Ali Celikten 1948) Askeri memurlardan Ata Erbayav, Ahmet Çelikten, Zihni Göktan, Şükrü Sönmez ve Tüfekçi İ. Hakkı Değim'in yaş kaydından emekliye sevki. 199-20-116.07.1948.
[23]	Deniz, Tuncay, and Werner Münzenmaier. 2008. Bildband, pictorial "Turkish Phantoms" the F-4 Phantom II of the Turk Hava Kuvvetleri.
[24]	Dikduran, Salim. 2019. Türk hava kuvvetleri tarihinde astsubaylar. Istanbul: Türkiye İş Bankası Kültür Yayınları.
[25]	Harris, Henry Scott (2012). All Blood Runs Red: Life and Legends of Eugene Jacques Bullard: First Black American Military Aviator, USA.
[26]	William I. Chivalette 2013 June 27 Corporal Eugene Jacques Bullard First Black American Fighter pilot Air & Space Power Journal - Español Tercer Trimestre p. 6.
[27]	American Aviation Publications. 1955. Who's who in world aviation. Washington, D.C.: American Aviation Publications.

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Halim Gençoğlu. (2021). First Black Military Pilot of the World: Ottoman Lieutenant Ahmet Ali Bey 1883 – 1969. International Journal of European Studies, 5(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijes.20210501.11

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ACS Style

Halim Gençoğlu. First Black Military Pilot of the World: Ottoman Lieutenant Ahmet Ali Bey 1883 – 1969. Int. J. Eur. Stud. 2021, 5(1), 1-6. doi: 10.11648/j.ijes.20210501.11

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AMA Style

Halim Gençoğlu. First Black Military Pilot of the World: Ottoman Lieutenant Ahmet Ali Bey 1883 – 1969. Int J Eur Stud. 2021;5(1):1-6. doi: 10.11648/j.ijes.20210501.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijes.20210501.11,
  author = {Halim Gençoğlu},
  title = {First Black Military Pilot of the World: Ottoman Lieutenant Ahmet Ali Bey 1883 – 1969},
  journal = {International Journal of European Studies},
  volume = {5},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-6},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijes.20210501.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijes.20210501.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijes.20210501.11},
  abstract = {A forgotten prominent figure, Ahmet Ali Çelikten was the first black military pilot in world history. Of Nigerian origin, Ahmet Ali grew up in the Ottoman society and had the opportunity like any Ottoman Turkish citizen to study in the Ottoman naval force in 1903. He fought in the Italian-Turkish war with his South African coreligionists in Libya in 1911 and later against the allies in WW1 as the first black military pilot in the World. The Ottoman Empire was the last Islamic and multi-cultural empire in world history. Skin colour did not affect individuals' social standing or opportunities in the Ottoman society. The Ottoman Empire managed to rule several nations, even those with religious minorities and provide them equal rights. This article aims to highlight the events and experiences in the life of Pilot Ahmet Ali in the Ottoman territory. To achive this, Ottoman archival sources and otantique Turkish journals were used during the research. In addition, comparative method was used throughout the study by looking at the social life in the Ottoman Empire and in the Western world in the light of archival documents. In conclusion, this understanding and living conditions enabled Ahmet Ali to be the first black pilot in the world history. At a difficult time in the history of the Ottoman Empire, during the genesis of modern Turkey, Ahmet Ali Bey had sincerely contributed to establishment of a Turkish air force in the Republic of Turkey.},
 year = {2021}
}

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TY - JOUR
T1 - First Black Military Pilot of the World: Ottoman Lieutenant Ahmet Ali Bey 1883 – 1969
AU - Halim Gençoğlu
Y1 - 2021/03/26
PY - 2021
N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijes.20210501.11
DO - 10.11648/j.ijes.20210501.11
T2 - International Journal of European Studies
JF - International Journal of European Studies
JO - International Journal of European Studies
SP - 1
EP - 6
PB - Science Publishing Group
SN - 2578-9562
UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijes.20210501.11
AB - A forgotten prominent figure, Ahmet Ali Çelikten was the first black military pilot in world history. Of Nigerian origin, Ahmet Ali grew up in the Ottoman society and had the opportunity like any Ottoman Turkish citizen to study in the Ottoman naval force in 1903. He fought in the Italian-Turkish war with his South African coreligionists in Libya in 1911 and later against the allies in WW1 as the first black military pilot in the World. The Ottoman Empire was the last Islamic and multi-cultural empire in world history. Skin colour did not affect individuals' social standing or opportunities in the Ottoman society. The Ottoman Empire managed to rule several nations, even those with religious minorities and provide them equal rights. This article aims to highlight the events and experiences in the life of Pilot Ahmet Ali in the Ottoman territory. To achive this, Ottoman archival sources and otantique Turkish journals were used during the research. In addition, comparative method was used throughout the study by looking at the social life in the Ottoman Empire and in the Western world in the light of archival documents. In conclusion, this understanding and living conditions enabled Ahmet Ali to be the first black pilot in the world history. At a difficult time in the history of the Ottoman Empire, during the genesis of modern Turkey, Ahmet Ali Bey had sincerely contributed to establishment of a Turkish air force in the Republic of Turkey.
VL - 5
IS - 1
ER -

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Halim Gençoğlu. (2021). First Black Military Pilot of the World: Ottoman Lieutenant Ahmet Ali Bey 1883 – 1969. International Journal of European Studies, 5(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijes.20210501.11

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Halim Gençoğlu. First Black Military Pilot of the World: Ottoman Lieutenant Ahmet Ali Bey 1883 – 1969. Int. J. Eur. Stud. 2021, 5(1), 1-6. doi: 10.11648/j.ijes.20210501.11

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AMA Style

Halim Gençoğlu. First Black Military Pilot of the World: Ottoman Lieutenant Ahmet Ali Bey 1883 – 1969. Int J Eur Stud. 2021;5(1):1-6. doi: 10.11648/j.ijes.20210501.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijes.20210501.11,
  author = {Halim Gençoğlu},
  title = {First Black Military Pilot of the World: Ottoman Lieutenant Ahmet Ali Bey 1883 – 1969},
  journal = {International Journal of European Studies},
  volume = {5},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-6},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijes.20210501.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijes.20210501.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijes.20210501.11},
  abstract = {A forgotten prominent figure, Ahmet Ali Çelikten was the first black military pilot in world history. Of Nigerian origin, Ahmet Ali grew up in the Ottoman society and had the opportunity like any Ottoman Turkish citizen to study in the Ottoman naval force in 1903. He fought in the Italian-Turkish war with his South African coreligionists in Libya in 1911 and later against the allies in WW1 as the first black military pilot in the World. The Ottoman Empire was the last Islamic and multi-cultural empire in world history. Skin colour did not affect individuals' social standing or opportunities in the Ottoman society. The Ottoman Empire managed to rule several nations, even those with religious minorities and provide them equal rights. This article aims to highlight the events and experiences in the life of Pilot Ahmet Ali in the Ottoman territory. To achive this, Ottoman archival sources and otantique Turkish journals were used during the research. In addition, comparative method was used throughout the study by looking at the social life in the Ottoman Empire and in the Western world in the light of archival documents. In conclusion, this understanding and living conditions enabled Ahmet Ali to be the first black pilot in the world history. At a difficult time in the history of the Ottoman Empire, during the genesis of modern Turkey, Ahmet Ali Bey had sincerely contributed to establishment of a Turkish air force in the Republic of Turkey.},
 year = {2021}
}

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