O’Brien looks back to the time period between World War I and I, the golden age of flight. Women were becoming increasingly more interested in flying and racing planes against the men. This book explores the lives of five women who were legends of the skies, including: Florence Klingensmith, Ruth Elder, Amelia Earhart, Ruth Nichols, and Louise Thaden.
Florence Klingensmith, a high school drop out and sheep herder, studied to get her mechanics degree so she could work in planes and took flying lessons when she could. She discovered that the only way she would get up into the air, since planes were so expensive, was to be a stunt girl. Klingensmith had determination and stubbornness to go as far as she could in flying.
Ruth Elder was on her second marriage when she decided to be the first woman to cross the Atlantic and later enter into air racing competitions. Ruth Nichols, who came from a wealthy family, could afford the lessons, but was being pushed by her family to marry well. Louise Thaden got her start selling coal when she was introduced to Beech, a man who made planes and turned her life around.
For years women fliers tried to enter air races, but were turned down by the men. Cliff Henderson was put in charge of the National competition and was told to make it one no one would forget. He invited women to enter an all women’s race that would become known as the Powder Puff Derby.
The men sabotaged their planes. Someone emptied the oil out of Elder’s plane and replaced it with gasoline. Someone also cut the wires holding the wings up on another woman’s plane. The women were told they needed to look after their planes, but the damage was done and even though no one got killed because of the incidents, it took time to repair and caused the women to be late getting back to the race.
A woman dies in this race and due to that and another death, the men decided that the air was no place for a woman, even though men die all the time in the air. When a woman dies the cause is considered pilot error, but when a man dies, it’s considered to be something wrong with the plane.
I found this book fascinating. The women come from all stations of life and share the same passion for flying go through the same discrimination. Today, most of these women have been forgotten, except Amelia Earhart, who wasn’t the best pilot. I highly recommend this book and I enjoyed it immensely.
Quotes
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.
Amelia Earhart
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