LadiesLoveTaildraggers

High Society really did exist in the golden age of aviation. Here are a few photos and tidbits from that bygone era.

JAYNE SHATTUCK TOPPING. From The Evening News, Sault St, Marie, MI, Dec. 15, 1937,  ”A Top Flight was made by Jayne Shattuck Topping, 32, society aviatrix, who flew from Detroit to New York in 2 hours, 20 minutes.”

Jayne Shattuck Topping

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Here’s an absolutely gorgeous photograph of Carol Lombard prettily posed on a wheel pant of a 1935 Waco CJC. Andy Heins reports Carol was a pilot so this picture fits perfectly in our group of “High Society” flying photos.

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Carol Lombard, 1935 Waco CJC

Sadly it was a plane crash that took the life of Carol Lombard in 1942. She boarded a DC3 in Indianapolis for a 17 hour flight to Burbank, California. It made a scheduled stop at Albuquerque where there were nine officers waiting with military orders enabling them to bump any civilian off the plane. Lombard argued that having just sold two million dollars’ worth of war bonds, she must have some “rank.” The Army officers gave in and Carol Lombard stayed on the flight.

Plane Crash Site

From Time Magazine, “The pilot, Wayne Williams, seemed unconcerned when he reported at 7:07 P.M. that he was slightly off course, about thirty-five miles west of Las Vegas. Eyewitnesses later reported that it was just about that time that the plane burst into flames. Some thought it happened just before the plane hit Olcott Mountain, also called Table Rock.”

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A 1933 RKO musical film staring Delores del Rio, Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. Billed as a “Musical extravaganza staged in the clouds!” And “Romance that soars to the skies on the wings of song!”

FLYING DOWN TO RIO MOVIE

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Lady Grace Drummand-Hay was the widow of a British journalist. “As a journalist for the Hearst press organization, Drummond-Hay made her first zeppelin flight in October, 1928, when she was chosen to accompany five other reporters — including her companion and Hearst colleague Karl von Wiegand — on the first transatlantic flight of the Graf Zeppelin from Germany to America.  As the only woman on the flight, Drummond-Hay received a great deal of attention in the world’s press.” (From Airships.net)

LADY GRACE DRUMMAND-HAY AND KARL WIGAND

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From the Palm Beach Daily News, March 2, 1935; “Among prominent members of the international colony at the (Breakers) Hotel are Miss Ninette Heaton and her mother, Mrs. J. E. Heaton of New York and London. Although very young, Miss Heaton is an accomplished aviatrice and can be seen daily flying her red and silver plane in the sunny Florida skies.”

Ninette Heaton, In front of her Waco 1934

Vintage aviatrix photo collector Andy Heins forwarded some more great photos of women aviatrix from the past (thank you Andy!) and I picked these to post first. It’s an interesting adventure searching the net trying to find out who all these women pilots from the past were. They all had a story that should be told.  Some names are well known, others not so much and some unnamed. If you have any information about these women, please feel free to add your comments. I would be interested to know more and I’ll bet everyone else would too.

The first photo is of Eleanor Dorman flying an Aeronca C-3, one of my bucket list “MUST fly someday” taildraggers. Check out the recent post of Lorraine Morris flying a friend’s C-3? What a dream come true!

Eleanor Dorman

Link to Dec 23, 1936 newspaper article; The Evening Independent:

Girl Pilot Makes Her First Flight

The article says “Miss Dorman piloted a little Aeronca plane” but that’s all I could find. I’m guessing this picture is from her first solo in the very Aeronca C-3 described.

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Marvel Crossen was born in 1904 in Warsaw, Indiana and died at age 28 competing in the 1929 Women’s Air Race in this Travel Air. Marvel was the first women to receive her pilot’s license in Alaska. As you may know, there were many reports of “tampering” with the ladies’ aircrafts during the first Air Race and the reports show that Marvel’s aircraft was included in that number.

Marvel Crosson, L9

Warsaw Daily Times Tuesday August 20, 1929 front page:  Shortly before the 14 contestants remaining in the race began leaving the airport here for today’s jaunt to Douglas, Ariz., reports of finding the body of Miss Marvel Crosson, in a clump of bushes were received from Welton.

She had been killed on yesterday’s stage of the race when her plane went into a tail spin. Reports from Welton indicated that she had attempted to jump to safety as her body, the parachute unopened, lay 200 feet from the wreckage of her plane.

In addition to the gloom caused by the death of one of America’s best known feminine pilots the women were disturbed by Thea Rusche and Claire Fahy claiming that someone had tampered with their planes. Although these reports were not proved they were enough to send tremors of uneasiness and dissent through the highly strung group.

Miss Crosson’s accident merely added weight to suspicion that some of the planes had been weakened in an attempt to force them out of the race.

Bobbi Trout, former holder of the women’s endurance flight record, and Opal Kunz, New York, also said they believed their instruments had been misadjusted while still in California.

Investigation of the death of Marvel Crosson and of charges of sabotage made by participants in the air derby for women was launched today by Floyd J. Logan, chairman of the national air meet here.”

Marvel Crosson

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"Woman Pilot 1910" .....Katherine Stinson

The following are a few more photos and bits of information about women aviatrixes from history. Andy Heins continues to send me background information and I am finding the pictures and whatever historical documentation is available fascinating.  The pictures are wonderful but it’s truly the information about each woman that brings them to life.

Annette Gipson

Annette Gipson was born in 1912 in Commerce, Georgia.  At 19 she moved to New York City to seek her fame and fortune. She was taught to fly in 1931 and soon became involved in all things aviation related.

Annette Gipson

-In 1932 she entered the National Air Races in Cleveland, Ohio.

-In 1933, Annette created the Annette Gipson All Women Air Race at Floyd Bennett Field with help from I. J. Fox. Many famous women fliers participated in these races from 1933-36, with her friend Amelia Earhart acting as the official race starter.

-In 1934, Annette married prominent New York attorney Edward T. Magoffin, 40 years her senior, honeymooning on the luxurious liner Queen Mary. She joined the 99’s as well as the Women’s Aeronautical Association. Soon she established residences in New York and Miami, Florida, building a gorgeous home on 10 acres complete with a special clubhouse for her friends in aviation.

-In 1931 she purchased a Waco QCF-2 NC11465 and began touring the southern states giving flying exhibitions, racing and giving rides. In 1934 she was one of 19 women participating in the Women’s National Air Meet in Dayton, Ohio, where she placed second in the 20 mile Free-For-All Handicap Race and forth in the Precision Landing Contest.

She passed away in the late 1980s.

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FLORENCE KLINGENSMITH, First Flight

Florence Klingensmith 1904 – 1333. Florence Gunderson Klingensmith was born on a small farm in Oakport Township near Fargo, North Dakota. Somewhat of a “tomboy”,  she was an active participant in all sorts of sports and was fond of riding her motorcycle at great speeds. She left high school during her junior year and went to work as a motorcycle mechanic and truck delivery person in Fargo, ND. Florence became interested in aviation during 1927 when Charles Lindbergh visited Hector Field in Fargo after his trans-Atlantic flight.

Florence Klingensmith

-Florence was the first licensed pilot in North Dakota

-June 22, 1931, before 50,000 spectator sat Wold-Chamberland Field in Minneapolis, she set the official inside loop record for women at 1,078 loops, taking  four & half hours

- She taught a women’s aviation classes, gave radio addresses on flying and on weekends gave five-minute plane rides for a dollar

-1933 brought a new year of racing for Florence and a faster airplane. At the Chicago Air Races held in September, she flew a highly modified Gee Bee Sportster. She placed second in the women’s race at an average speed of 189.04 mph

The following day, September 4, one day after her 29th birthday, she entered the $10,000 Frank Phillips Trophy Race and was the only woman participating against a field of experienced male fliers. On the 8th lap of the race, after averaging over 200mph per lap and in 4th place, bits of fabric could be seen ripping away from the wing of the airplane. Florence flew off the course towards a field to the south of the airport when the airplane was seen to nosedive into the ground. Apparently, she had attempted to bail out but had become entangled in the airplane and was killed instantly. This ended the brilliant career of Florence Klingensmith and the officials barred women from participating in any closed-course racing from then on.

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Gladys O'Donnell

Gladys received her license at age 25 in 1929, becoming the only licensed woman pilot in Long Beach. With only 40 total hours of flying, she entered the 1929 Women’s Transcontinental Air Derby, flying a Waco CTO Taperwing.  The race was from Santa Monica, CA to Cleveland, Ohio. Being the lowest time pilot in the event, she did exceptionally well, placing second behind Louise Thaden flying a Travel Air.

Gladys O'Donnell

In 1931 the Transcontinental Air Derby race was changed and now women could compete with men. Gladys flew hard and fast against overwhelming competition and placed 6th flying her Waco Taperwing.

Gladys was becoming very well known amongst pilots. She flew in the 1932 Cord Cup Pacific Wing Race and placed forth. She then won the 1932 Aerol Trophy Race. In 1933, Gladys again flew in the Aerol Trophy Race, placing third. In 1934, she was invited to participate in the first Women’s National Air Race in Dayton, Ohio.

She was active in the Republican Party until her death from cancer in1973.

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Edna Gardner Whyte

Edna Gardner Whyte 1902 – 1992. Edna soloed on December 8, 1930 flying an OX-5-powered Swallow TP biplane and in early 931, she received her Private Pilot’s License.

- She continued to fly and soon bought an OXX-6-powered Travelair. Figuring that she could serve a purpose with her airplane, she joined the Betsy Ross Corps, an organization using airplanes to help deliver aid to people for humanitarian reasons. In 1931 she attended the National Air Races hauling parachute jumpers.

- She received her Transport Pilot License and entered the1933 Annette Gipson All Women’s Air Race and placed 5th. In 1934 she again entered and this time she placed first among some of the best women flyers in the country, flying a Waco 10.

- In 1934, Edna participated in the first Women’s National Air Meet. In the featured event, the 50-mile Free-For-All Handicap Race, Edna was leading the pack flying a Wright-powered Waco Taperwing. Rounding the pylon on the last lap, she dove to the inside to avoid a collision. The wake of her airplane caused Frances Marsalis, also flying a Waco, to lose control and crash, killing her instantly. Even though Edna finished first, she was disqualified after protests from the other competitors.

- In 1935 she applies to Central Airlines but is rejected because she is a woman.

- In 1938 Edna is featured by “LOOK” magazine as the highest time woman pilot with 2,888 hours.

-In 1940 Edna applies to yet another airline, this time Braniff. During the interview she is told that “passengers would not be comfortable with a woman pilot” and therefore they could not hire her.

-In 1969 Edna purchases a tract of land in Roanoke, Texas and builds an airfield called Aero Valley. She continues to instruct students and race up into her late 80’s. In February 1992, Edna passed away at age 89, having won over 130 air races and with over 30,000 flight hours to her credit.

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Katherine Cheung

Katherine Cheung 1904 – 2003. Born in Canton, China, her family immigrated to the United States in 1921 and took up residence in California.

-The first Chinese-American woman to receive a pilot’s license. She accomplished most of her training in a Waco INF.

-Katherine soon joined the Women’s International Association of Aeronautics and began flying in Air Shows and exhibitions up and down the California coast.

-Although Katherine did not attempt any records for women, she did participate in a number of smaller air races. Her main interest was flying to cities with large Chinese populations to encourage flying, especially among women. The Chinese community was so enthralled by Katherine that they pooled their money together and purchased a Fleet Model II powered by a 125 hp Kinner engine so that she could represent them in the Ruth Chatterton Air Sportsman Pilot Trophy Race from Los Angeles to Cleveland, Ohio, where the National Air Races were taking place.

-In 1937, Katherine had a vision to return to China and establish a flying school.  Once again, the Chinese community in California backed her and purchased a Ryan STA for $7000 so she could train future pilots in China. However, fate stepped in and changed everything. Shortly after receiving the brand new Ryan, her cousin, the one who introduced her to flying, took the aircraft for a joy ride and crashed, destroying the aircraft and killing himself. During this same time, her father, in ill health and dying, asked her to give up flying. Out of respect for her father, she gave up flying making her last flight in 1942 at the age of 38. Although she remained interested in aviation, she never again flew and passed away on September 2, 2003, at the age of 98.

This is an amazing assortment of images that include advertisements, drawings and even a 1931 magazine cover, all featuring women aviatrix. Please double click to get a close up view.

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Anyone that knows the history behind any of these images is welcome to leave a comment.

All images provided by Andy Heins.

Thanks, Andy Heins, for these beautiful photos.

BOBBI TROUT, participant in 1929 Women's Air Race a.k.a. Powder Puff Derby

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JACKIE COCHRAN

Jackie Cochran set more speed and altitude records than any of her contemporaries, male or female. She not only became one of the world’s great aviatrixes but also one of the best pilots of either gender.

PATTY WILLIS, Powder Puff Race 1929 crash, Winslow, Arizona

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Margery Doig, undated photo, charter member of the Ninety-Nines

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Jean LaRene, who won 3rd place in the 1930 Women's Air Race in an American Eagle

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BERYL MARKUM, the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean from London to North America.

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Amelia, no description necessary but what a beautifully colored photograph!

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Cecil Allen and Aline Miller, Engagement portrait, CA 1930, both pilots in their own right.

In the 1935 Bendix, Cecil Allen flew the Granville Brothers’ Gee Bee R-1/2 hybrid, NR2101 called the “Spirit of Right” from Burbank airport. Its name was related to a religious group that sponsored him for the race.

Allen took off, departing in an early morning fog. The “Spirit of Right” crashed in a potato field about a mile east of the airport. While it might appear that the fog was a factor in his death, it is believed to be the weight and balance of the airplane that was the cause.

Against the counsel of the Granville family, Allen installed a larger fuel tank well aft of the center of gravity. Upon takeoff, witnesses reported seeing the elevators in full deflection and the airplane behaving in an unstable manner. He was 31 years old at the time of his death.

I was presented with an opportunity recently that’s just too great to pass up and I hope you agree. As you probably know, our fun little group of women taildragger pilots is ALL about having fun flying them… right now… yesterday, today and tomorrow! This is a group that gets out there and does it and doesn’t just sit around talking about it. Granted, things happen for all kinds of reasons – you need to renew your medical, sold your plane, can’t afford a plane, can’t afford fuel, are out of annual, (you see where I’m going with this) but the bottom line is, we’re either out there doing it or we’re trying to get out there!

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So now that we’ve established we’re about the here and now, there’s a whole group of pilots we have to thank for pioneering this wonderful life we have and who have largely gone unrecognized. Andy Heins, Waco owner, aviation historian and avid collector of aviatrix photographs has collected thousands of photos from the ’20s, ’30s & ’40. Some are of famous women pilots from the past but most are images of women with no known history and whose names are often unknown. Andy has volunteered to periodically send us pictures from his stash along with any available documentation.

To get you acquainted, let me introduce you virtually to Andy Heins, his Cabin Waco and his lovely wife Susan Theodorelos who has a gorgeous Waco RNF.

Here are just a sampling of the fabulous photos Andy will be sending our way! Sometimes you’ll see them on the Home page but you can always find them under the new heading “Aviatrices History” under the header picture. Hope you enjoy them as much as I’m going to!

MARJORIE CRAWFORD, Aviatrix, 1929 Actress Press Photo

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DOROTHY JORDAN

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ARVETA LOGNER, 1929 Aviatrix Stunt Pilot

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