Today I want to feature a group of amazing women from the early 20th Century.
When the Wright Brothers first flew at Kitty Hawk in 1903, it seemed unimaginable that a woman would ever attempt such a dangerous feat. Yet, in the book Fly Girls: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History, Keith O’Brien chronicles the story of the women who would not allow their gender to stop them from reaching for the sky.
Amelia Earhart is a familiar name to most, having been the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean and then sadly disappearing without a trace on her flight around the world. She was a vocal advocate for women’s equality, especially when it came to participating in the air races of the 1920s and 30s. In speaking of a woman’s “place,” Earhart once said, “Her place is wherever her individual aptitude places her. … And the work of married men and women should be split. She should taste the grind of earning a living– and he should learn the stupidity of housework.” While commonplace today, these thoughts were far from widespread during her lifetime.
Louise Thaden, whose story takes up much of this interesting book, first began flying in 1926 after she started a job which included lessons as part of her salary. She held many records for her skillful piloting, notably speed, altitude, and solo endurance. Despite all odds, Thaden achieved victory in 1936 at the Bendix Transcontinental Speed Race, a race that the male pilots said a woman could never win.
Ruth Nichols chased Earhart to be the first across the Atlantic but fell short in that contest. However, she did not let that keep her from achieving more than 35 women’s records in aviation, flying every type of aircraft available, and even setting a speed record at the age of 57.
Ruth Elder failed in her attempt to be the first woman to fly across the Atlantic just months after Charles Lindbergh achieved it in 1927; she and her instructor were rescued after ditching the plane due to a loss in oil pressure. She continued flying and was dubbed the Miss America of Aviation, likely due to her looks and her acting in movies.
Florence Klingensmith witness Lindebergh’s arrival near her home as part of his national tour after his record-making flight in 1927. At that moment, she decided she had to fly. She became the first licensed female pilot in North Dakota, setting records and winning the Amelia Earhart Trophy in 1932.
Fly Girls mentions many other women pilots. I recommend reading it if you are interested in learning more about these remarkable trailblazers. You can buy a copy here, where I will list all of my recommended reading for Women’s History Month. This is an affiliate link; thank you for supporting my writing.