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How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History
by Keith O'BrienThe untold story of five women who fought to compete against men in the high-stakes national air races of the 1920s and 1930s — and won.
Between the world wars, no sport was more popular, or more dangerous, than airplane racing. Thousands of fans flocked to multi-day events, and cities vied with one another to host them. The pilots themselves were hailed as dashing heroes who cheerfully stared death in the face. Well, the men were hailed. Female pilots were more often ridiculed than praised for what the press portrayed as silly efforts to horn in on a manly, and deadly, pursuit. Fly Girls recounts how a cadre of women banded together to break the original glass ceiling: the entrenched prejudice that conspired to keep them out of the sky.
O'Brien weaves together the stories of five remarkable women: Florence Klingensmith, a high-school dropout who worked for a dry cleaner in Fargo, North Dakota; Ruth Elder, an Alabama divorcee; Amelia Earhart, the most famous, but not necessarily the most skilled; Ruth Nichols, who chafed at the constraints of her blue-blood family's expectations; and Louise Thaden, the mother of two young kids who got her start selling coal in Wichita. Together, they fought for the chance to race against the men — and in 1936 one of them would triumph in the toughest race of all.
Like Hidden Figures and Girls of Atomic City, Fly Girls celebrates a little-known slice of history wherein tenacious, trail-blazing women braved all obstacles to achieve greatness.
The Miracle of Witchita
The coal peddlers west of town, on the banks of the Arkansas River, took note of the new saleswoman from the moment she appeared outside the plate-glass window. It was hard not to notice Louise McPhetridge.
She was young, tall, and slender, with distinct features that made her memorable if not beautiful. She had a tangle of brown hair, high cheekbones, deep blue eyes, thin lips programmed to smirk, and surprising height for a woman. At five foot eight and a quarter inches?- she took pride in that quarter inch?- McPhetridge was usually the tallest woman in the room and sometimes taller than the cowboys, drifters, cattlemen, and businessmen she passed on the sidewalks of Wichita, Kansas.
But it wasn't just how she looked that made her remarkable to the men selling coal near the river; it was the way she talked. McPhetridge was educated. She'd had a couple years of college and spoke with perfect grammar. Perhaps more notable, she had a warm Southern accent...
Here are some of the comments posted about Fly Girls in our legacy forum.
You can see the full discussion here.
A reporter asked Elder if it was worth risking her life, and she replied that it was. Do you agree?
Again, I can't agree more with all the comments here. I tried to imagine myself taking the same risks. I know I wouldn't because I'm crazy afraid of heights. But, again, if people weren't willing to take risks, how would we learn and build. I ... - JulieAB
Are there contempoorary examples of Earhart's 'Grudge Flight' to prevent fading stardom?
An aviation editor believed that Earhart was a fading star in late 1931. Whether or not Earhart's transatlantic trip slated for 1932 was a 'grudge flight' or not, are there contemporary examples for famous females? - rebeccar
Do you think Raymond Orteig was liable for the injuries incurred by those who participated? Do you think this issue would have a different outcome today?
No. The people that participated know what risks they were taking. It would be different today for countless people (not everyone) who love to sue someone and not take any responsibilities for their own actions. - alwaysdaddygirl
Do you think there are still fields where women struggle for acceptance?
Absolutely! Women have to prove themselves way above what men have to do in almost every profession. - djcminor
Do you think there's any truth, either then or now, to Erle Halliburton's comment that women have been dependent on men for so long that "they are handicapped"?
It depends on the situation. As it has been mentioned in this post, every situation is different. Halliburton was probably like that dye to that time period, which has been mentioned as well. - alwaysdaddygirl
David Maraniss, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Once in a Great City
America’s past is full of remarkable women who have been unjustly forgotten. Fly Girls gives its heroines their due at last. It is a thrilling and important story, superbly told. Jonathan Eig, author of Ali
If you liked The Boys in the Boat or Unbroken, you’ll love Fly Girls. This story—carefully researched and expertly written—offers an irresistible cast of characters and high-octane drama. Buckle up; you’re in for a hell of a ride. Karen Abbott, author of Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy
This is more than history; it is a powerful story for our times. This book has it all: adventure, tragedy, and heroes who overcame cruel prejudice to rule the air. Fly Girls reads like a heart-stopping novel, but this story is all true—and thoroughly inspiring. Liza Mundy, author of Code Girls
Newspapers loved them, of course: lady fliers! But men didn’t want them in their races. Other forces conspired against them too. Storms loomed. Planes crashed and burned. But no challenge could stop the remarkable community of female pilots at the core of Fly Girls. During the golden age of flight, they fought for the chance to race – and won. This is a thrilling story of courage, competition, skill, and triumph. Mitchell Zuckoff, author of 13 Hours
At the dawn of aviation, when every flight was a test of courage, a remarkable band of female pilots proved that a woman’s place is in the sky – or anywhere else she wants to be. This book is a soaring tribute to forgotten American heroes, filled with white-knuckle thrills and gut-wrenching emotion. It’ll take your breath away.
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