Women in Aviation

Parents were sharecroppers Father left home when she was young. Mother urged her children to get an education. In a time when few blacks finished grade school, Bessie made it to college but ran out of money. Enrolled in Burnham School of Beauty and Culture. While working as manicurist, she got interested in aviation. Denied access to flight schools in U.S. Learned to speak French then traveled there to learn to fly. First black – man or woman – to earn pilot’s license. Couldn’t get a flying job so took lessons in Germany as a stunt pilot. She wanted to open a flying school for Blacks, Raised money through her stunt flying. Wouldn't fly unless blacks were allowed to watch. During a test flight of a new engine, plane tipped and she was thrown and plunged to her death.

journalist with a deep love of the theatre writer at Leslie's Illustrated Weekly. first licensed female pilot in the U. S. toured with the Moisant International Aviators and performing at flying exhibitions. chronicled her adventures in articles for Leslie's Weekly first woman to cross the English Channel. But would not receive the same worldwide acclaim as her male counterpart, Louis Blériot. The Titanic had sunk just days earlier, casting a large shadow over Quimby's achievement. she flew at the Third Annual Boston Aviation Meet near Quincy, Massachusetts for the hefty sum of $100,000. Flew out over Dorchester Bay with the event's organizer, a very overweight man,William A. P. Willard. As they were returning, the plane violently pitched forward when he lurched in his seat, Harriet lost control, and Willard was ejected from his seat. Seconds later, Harriet was also thrown out. Both fell to their deaths in front of the entire crowd.

First woman to fly bomber, and a jet across Atlantic First woman to break the sound barrier When she died in 1980, she held more speed, altitude and distance records than any pilot, male or female. Called the “Greatest woman pilot in aviation history.” Grew up as a foster child in a poor family. Age 10 worked 12 hour shift and supervised 15 other children in Georgia cotton mill. Age 13 worked in beauty shop, knew how to cut hair and give perm Enrolled in nursing school, had difficulty academically. Found nursing depressing and quit. Went back to beauty shop work. Admired Amelia Earhart so took flying lessons. Started her own cosmetics line which supported her love of flying. Helped recruit female pilots for British Air Transport Auxiliary in WWII. Helped form Women Airforce Service Pilots in U.S. to transport planes so the men were free to fly combat.

the first black woman to earn a commercial pilot license,. promoted equal opportunities in aviation, by lobbying for the participation of blacks in military and civilian aerospace careers. earned a BA from Indiana State Teachers College in 1927. taught school in Gary, Indiana, where she read about the aviation accomplishments of Bessie Coleman. An avid automobile racer until she crashed. Considering flying safer than automobile racing, she took lessons & bought a plane. promoted and made Chicago the nucleus of black aviation. created a national organization for black aviators that disseminated information and promoted black aviation, hoping to obtain racial equality in aviation, it was called The National Airmen's Association of America (NAAA). campaigned for additional integration of aviation so that blacks could participate in the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) and Army Air Corps, lobbying in Washington, DC persuaded national leaders to consider fully integrating the U.S. Air Force. with the rank of lieutenant, became the first black member and officer of the Civil Air Patrol.

Her disappearance has become the most puzzling aviation mystery of all times. During WWI she worked as a nurse’s aide in hospital. Thought of becoming a doctor but found medical school not for her. Found a love of flying after her first trip in a plane. Earned her pilot’s license in 1923 but saw flying as a means of fun Her flying career was on again off again. She tried medical school, social worker in Boston, taught English to immigrants. One year after Lindbergh was first to cross the Atlantic, she was asked by a book publisher to try it. After a trip on a plane with other, she did it solo. The first woman to do both. Her fame and efforts to increase opportunities for women in aviation resulted in her a[appointment as a consultant of careers for women at Purdue U. She attempted a round the world trip. She lightened the load to save fuel, this included parachutes and survival equipment and some radio equipment. The plane disappeared on the last leg of the flight.