08/10/2023
https://www.facebook.com/100040749852776/posts/1034126111289041/?mibextid=CDWPTG
Katherine Stinson was an American aviation pioneer well known for her skills in flying and making history with her records for aerobatic maneuvers.
Katherine was born on February 14, 1891, in Fort Payne, Alabama. In 1911, she took her first flight in a hot air balloon. Smitten with the idea of soaring the skies, Katherine began taking flying lessons.
By 1912, Katherine soloed after only four hours of instruction and became the fourth U.S. woman to earn a pilot's license. She soon toured the United States, thrilling thousands of viewers at fairs with her daring stunts. In 1915, she became history's first-night skywriter; In 1917, she set a long-distance world record by flying 610 miles from San Diego to San Francisco nonstop in nine hours and ten minutes.
Katherine’s pioneering efforts would expand beyond airshows and international touring. During World War I, she tried to enlist in the military twice but was rejected because she was a woman. However, Katherine, still passionate about aiding in the war effort, raised $2 million for the American Red Cross through exhibition flights. Katherine has paved the way for many modern female pilots and her drive and dedication in fueling war efforts will never be forgotten.
The WASP Legacy Campaign is our most ambitious fundraising campaign to date. With a goal of $25k by the end of August 2023, we will be able to work with our writer, advisors, and editor to finish a rough cut of the film. Be a part of preserving this important and often forgotten history of our early female aviators. bit.ly/WASPLegacyCampaign
Smithsonian Channel Aviation Nation
