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Historic Trailblazers
(click their names to learn more)
Kathrine Stinson became the fourth woman in the U.S. to achieve a pilot's license at an age of only 21. She would go on to be the first women in history to perform an aerial loop.
Inspired by her older sister Kathrine, Marjorie went on to break her own records. Marjorie was the first women to be inducted into the U.S. Aviation Reserve Corps.
Bessie Coleman both African American and native American became the first to receive a pilot's license and the first African American to receive an international pilot's license.
Jacqueline Cochran had a proclivity for flight leaning towards the need for speed. During her career, Jacqueline held more records for speed, distance, and altitude than any other pilot of her time. Jacqueline became the first women to enter the Bendix Transcontinental Air Race, taking 3rd place in 1937 and winning first in 1938.
Trailblazer Spotlight
Trailblazer Spotlight
Ola Mildred Rexroat (August 28, 1917 – June 28, 2017) was the only Native American woman to serve in the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP).
Ola Mildred Rexroat (August 28, 1917 – June 28, 2017) was the only Native American woman to serve in the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP).
She joined after high school and had the dangerous job of towing targets for aerial gunnery students. After that she joined the Air Force, where she served for ten years as an air traffic controller. In 2007 she was inducted into the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame.
She joined after high school and had the dangerous job of towing targets for aerial gunnery students. After that she joined the Air Force, where she served for ten years as an air traffic controller. In 2007 she was inducted into the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame.
She was an Oglala Sioux from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. She earned a bachelor's degree in art from the University of New Mexico in 1939. Rexroat died in June 2017 at the age of 99.
She was an Oglala Sioux from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. She earned a bachelor's degree in art from the University of New Mexico in 1939. Rexroat died in June 2017 at the age of 99.
Ola Mildred Rexroat was looking for a way to do her part in the war effort in the 1940s. Being a riveter seemed too dangerous, she said, so she opted for a different path: being a military pilot.
Ola Mildred Rexroat was looking for a way to do her part in the war effort in the 1940s. Being a riveter seemed too dangerous, she said, so she opted for a different path: being a military pilot.
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