Helen Richey Centennial Birthday Celebration!

From November 21, 2008 through November 21, 2009, The McKeesport Heritage Center will be celebrating the life and achievements of Helen Richey, a local woman who set numerous early aviation records and became the first female commercial pilot!

Biography

Helen Richey was born November 21, 1909 in McKeesport, and she graduated from McKeesport High School in 1927. Her father served as Superintendent of Schools.

Her aviation highlights include:

· One of the first women flyers in the United States

· Flew solo, from Bettis Field, in the early 1930’s

· Member of the famed Ninety-Nines National Club of Women Flyers

· Blazed a trail to stardom in stunt flying

· First women to fly as a commercial aviator (co-pilot for Central Airlines)

· Set world endurance and altitude records for light planes, surpasses the marks held by male flyers at the time

· Served brilliantly in the British Air Transport Auxiliary and the Women Airforce Service Pilots during World War II

(Information from the Helen Richey Memorial Plaque and her biography Propeller Annie, By Glen Kerfoot.)

For more information visit the Women in Aviation Resource Center.