Women of the Air

(by E.M. Singer, author of "Mother Flies Hurricanes") An enlightening, engaging account of many of the early women pioneers in aviation, and of the contributions that women pilots made to the war effort in WWII. The women of Britain's Air Transport Auxiliary are featured, but the American WASPs get only a very brief mention in the chapter bio on Jacqueline Cochran. My favorite chapter is "Those Good Old Crazy Days in America," which features many pre-Earhart aviatrixes such as Harriet Quimby and her friend Matilde Moisant. One of them lost her life in a freak aerial accident; the other cheated death in spectacular fashion. Then there are the intrepid Stinson sisters, who with their mother founded Stinson Aviation Company. (A Stinson Reliant plays a key role in "Mother Flies Hurricanes.") The women barnstormers (the origin of that word is explained in this book) are a real kick! Two ex-waitresses entertained crowds with their aerial antics; another woman, Mabel Cody, was famous for her signature stunt, the "Iron Jaw Spin." Women of the Air also features other women barnstormers and wingwalkers, whose stunts would probably reduce the average male to a quivering mass of terror at the prospect (proving that you don't need to be a guy to have balls!) For sheer audaciousness, no one can touch The Hon. Mrs. Victor Bruce (Mary to her friends) who in 1930 embarked on a round-the-world journey from her native England just a few weeks after getting her flying license! Not totally aerial, though; she wisely went by ship across the Atlantic and Pacific. Still, she did have adventures galore: abduction by an amorous Armenian, a forced landing in the Middle East which resulted in a rather unpleasant episode with a cross-dressing desert tribesman, an embarrassing incident in San Diego in which she mistook a military review for a reception in her honor, and lots, lots more (proving that you don't need to be American to be wild and crazy!) Did she finally get back to dear old England? Read this book and find out! For more recommendations on books about women pilots and about the women of Britain's Air Transport Auxiliary, visit the motherflieshurricanes.com website.

The author is from England and more information is given about foreign pilots. While women from the United States are included in this book, others who had places in aviation history are covered. Included are: Amy Johnson(England), Nancy Bird (Australia), Jean Batten (New Zealand), Beryl Markham (Africa), Hanna Reitsch (Germany), Pauline Gower (England), Jacqueline Auriol (France), and Sheila Scott (England). From the U.S.: The Stinson Sisters, Amelia Earhart, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, and Jacqueline Cochran. Early aviation (1783 - 1930)is covered. I like reading about the achievements of women aviators outside the USA.