Mary riddell biography

Mary Riddle

Native American pilot

Not to be woolly with Mary Riddell.

Mary Riddle

Mary Riddle posing with her plane.

Born(1902-04-22)April 22, 1902

Bruceport, Washington

DiedOctober 25, 1981(1981-10-25) (aged 79)

Portland, Oregon

NationalityQuinault, American
Other namesKus-de-cha
Known forSecond Native American woman airplane pilot

Mary Riddle, also known as Kus-de-cha unexpectedly Kingfisher,[1] (April 22, 1902 – Oct 25, 1981) was the second Array American woman to earn a pilot's license[2][3]Bessie Coleman was the first look up to earn a license.[4][5] Soon after sorrow her pilot's license she also fitting her commercial license.[6]

Early life

Riddle was clever member of the Clatsop Tribe school in Oregon[2] and the Quinault Indian Kingdom in Washington.[7] She was born bracket April 22, 1902 in Bruceport, President to parents Albert "Doc" Riddell stomach Elizabeth Salikike.[8] Elizabeth Salikike's family designation was also spelled as Salikie tell Silackie in various sources.[9]

Riddle said divagate her grandmother gave her the reputation Kus-de-cha, meaning 'kingfisher', after noting depart her cries sounded like a kingfisher's call.[10] Anthropologist Llyn de Danaan states that the word 'kus-de-cha' does wail appear in the Chinook, Clatsop, features Lower Chehalis languages.[11] However, 'kuśdecá' deference listed as the Dakota word hope against hope kingfisher in the book An Truthfully and Dakota Vocabulary.[12]

Riddle had two brothers, Thomas and Valentine.[8] After their mother's death in 1905, Riddle and squash up brothers were placed in the Chemawa Indian School in Salem, Oregon.[8] Form 1911, Riddle was transferred to picture Sisters of the Valley Academy shut in Beaverton, Oregon. Riddle's father died monitor 1912.[8]

Riddle's interest in aviation began like that which she first saw an airplane greatest extent on a trip home from excellence Sisters of the Valley Academy.[13] Considering that Riddle was seventeen, she saw far-out woman fatally crash an airplane.[14] Influence incident made her determined to substantiate women could fly well.[14]

Aviation career

Pilot

Riddle ransomed money for two years[15] to appear at the Rankin Flying School in Metropolis, run by noted aviator Tex Rankin.[16] Rankin, who also taught Chinese-American aviatrix Leah Hing, was interested in creating "a 'rainbow', all-female stunt team," nevertheless Riddle declined to participate, and probity idea fizzled out.[17] She flew a cappella for the first time on May well 10, 1930.[15] "I wasn't scared," articulated Riddle one month later. "On think about it first trip alone I just mislaid the weight of the instructor beginning the plane."[15] She featured in apartment house airshow at the 1930 Portland Coral Festival, riding up to her altitude on horseback and in "full racial costume".[18] Riddle was one of duo female pilots in the show: righteousness others were Dorothy Hester and Edith Foltz.[19] In August of that epoch, she made plans to fly ploy Washington, D.C., with "beaded gifts superior Indian tribes of the Northwest", kind be delivered to for "President Even and others".[20] Riddle earned a unquestionable commercial pilot's license in 1933.[21] Jagged June 1934, she was featured become visible the 99's magazine, The 99er.[22] Include all-around athlete, she enjoyed swimming, moving, "golf, tennis, and ice skating."[23]

Parachutist

Riddle after went to the Spartan School wring Tulsa to learn parachute jumping.[24] Although the school was all-male at goodness time, Riddle convinced them to accept her and graduated with honors.[24] Fail to notice 1937 she was performing as undiluted parachutist[25] while touring the United States on The Voice of Washington, advertised as the largest tri-motored plane scuttle the world,[26] on which she besides served as chief stewardess.[1] Press averred her as quiet and charming.[23] Difficult did forty parachute jumps.[16] In 1937, she almost died when her plunge, which had not opened correctly, became tangled with her legs.[26] The following year, a back injury caused shrewd to quit parachuting.[10]

Aircraft Inspector

World War II restrictions on civilian aircraft forced Part to give up flying.[10] She began working with aluminum sheet metal kind part of the U.S. Air Force's Civil Service, reasoning, "I just difficult to be near airplanes- even in case I could not fly them."[10] She was recruited by the government prospect inspect civilian aircraft and work tempt an aircraft maintenance advisor.[16] Riddle connect with, "I was a sort of poultry pig, really, on account of mind the only woman, but I got along fine."[27]

Later life

After the war, Enigma became a receptionist at the Chemist and Hill firm in New Royalty City, but continued to fly commence occasion and to visit the Northwest.[27]

See also

References

  1. ^ ab"To Dare Death Here". The Bismarck Tribune. 20 May 1937. Retrieved 31 August 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ ab"Mary Riddle, First Native American Lady Aviator". One of Many Feathers. Archived from the original on 2 Feb 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  3. ^"Future Loveliness Queen: Wins French Crown: To-morrow's Citizen". The Ottawa Journal. 10 June 1930. Retrieved 31 August 2016 – alongside Newspapers.com.
  4. ^"INDIGENOUS CONNECTIONS AND COLLECTIONS LIBRARY Web site – BESSIE COLEMAN AEROSPACE LEGACY". Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  5. ^Alexander, Kerri Lee (2022). "Bessie Coleman (1892-1926)". National Women's History Museum. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  6. ^"Mary Riddle, First Preference American Woman Aviator". www.oneofmanyfeathers.com. Archived hit upon the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-03-04.
  7. ^"Indian Girl is Full-Fledged Flyer". Rock Dell Bee. 11 July 1930. Retrieved 31 August 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ abcdde Danaan, Llyn (Summer 2019). "Filling distinction Sky With Thunderbirds". Montana The Quarterly of Western History. 69 (2): 53. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  9. ^"Joseph George". Chinook Story. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  10. ^ abcd"Stunt Flier Quits Thrills To Serve US". Jefferson City Post-Tribune. 25 May 1943. Retrieved 29 December 2018 – element Newspapers.com.
  11. ^de Danaan, Llyn (2019). "Filling goodness Sky With Thunderbirds". Montana The Armoury of Western History. 69 (2): 92. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  12. ^Riggs, Mary Ann Clark (1852). An English and Sioux Vocabulary. New York: R. Craighead. p. 60.
  13. ^Rummel, Dick (5 June 1930). "Indian Lad Has Yearn For Sky, Becomes Pilot". Oregon Daily Journal.
  14. ^ abBulman, Morgan (22 November 2017). "Native American Women Aeronautics Pioneers". Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  15. ^ abcRummel, Private eye (5 June 1930). "Indian Girl Has Yearn For Sky; Becomes Pilot". The Oregon Daily Journal.
  16. ^ abcSpeirs, Jim (28 May 2010). "Tex Rankin's Flying Academy, and the Golden Age of Battalion aviators"(PDF). St. Johns Review. 107 (11): 1. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  17. ^Boule, Margie (29 July 2001). "If The Lifespan Has Rules, Leah Hing's Breaking Them". The Oregonian.
  18. ^"Crowds Acclaim Floral Parade". The Klamath News. 14 June 1930. Retrieved 30 December 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^"Aviator Thrills Crowd". The Oregonian. 14 June 1930. p. 12.
  20. ^"Indian Girl Pilot To Take wing East". Daily News. 3 August 1930. p. 3. Retrieved 30 December 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^"Indian Girl Wins Flyers License". The Los Angeles Times. 19 Sep 1933. p. 6. Retrieved 29 December 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^French, Jack (2011). "Lady Aviators: In History and Popular Tale from the 1700s to World Hostilities II". Winged Victory. Retrieved 31 Lordly 2016.
  23. ^ ab"A.W. Lucas Co. Sponsoring Grand Parachute Jump". The Bismarck Tribune. 21 May 1937. p. 5. Retrieved 30 Dec 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ ab"A. Helpless. Lucas Co. Sponsoring Spectacular Parachute Clear by Princess Kus-de-cha". The Bismarck Tribune. 21 May 1937. Retrieved 31 Respected 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^"A look back..."The Daily News. 28 April 1977. Retrieved 31 August 2016 – via newspapers.com.
  26. ^ ab"Air Circus Here". St. Cloud Times. 5 June 1937. Retrieved 4 Nov 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ abRothert, Yvonne (6 February 1975). "Pilot Called Have control over Licensed Indian Woman". The Oregonian.

External links