Mary Riddle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Riddle
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Mary Riddle posing with her plane.
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| Born | April 22, 1902 |
| Died | October 25, 1981 (aged 79) |
| Nationality | Quinault, American |
| Other names | Kus-de-cha |
| Known for | Second Native American woman airplane pilot |
Mary Riddle (born April 22, 1902 – died October 25, 1981) was an amazing Native American pilot and parachutist. Her Native American name was Kus-de-cha, which means "Kingfisher." She was the second Native American woman to get a pilot's license, right after Bessie Coleman. Mary also earned a commercial pilot's license, which meant she could fly for a job.
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Early Life and Dreams
Mary Riddle was part of the Clatsop Tribe in Oregon and the Quinault Indian Nation in Washington. Her grandmother gave her the name Kus-de-cha because her baby cries sounded like a kingfisher bird.
When Mary was eleven, she saw an airplane for the very first time. She was completely amazed by it! From that day on, she tried to go to every airshow she could find. At seventeen, Mary saw a plane crash. This sad event made her even more determined to show that women could fly airplanes safely and well.
Mary Riddle's Aviation Career
Mary Riddle had an exciting career in aviation, first as a pilot, then as a parachutist, and finally as an aircraft inspector.
Becoming a Pilot
Mary saved money for two years so she could go to the Rankin Flying School in Portland. This school was run by a famous pilot named Tex Rankin. Mary flew a plane by herself for the first time on May 10, 1930. She said she wasn't scared at all!
Mary was featured in an airshow at the 1930 Portland Rose Festival. She rode up to her plane on horseback, wearing a traditional tribal outfit. She was one of only three female pilots in that show. In 1933, Mary earned her limited commercial pilot's license. This allowed her to fly planes for certain jobs.
Daring Parachute Jumps
Later, Mary went to the Spartan School in Tulsa to learn how to parachute. Even though it was an all-male school, Mary convinced them to let her join. She graduated with top honors!
By 1937, Mary was performing as a parachutist. She toured the United States on a large plane called "The Voice of Washington." She also worked as the chief flight attendant on this plane. Mary completed forty parachute jumps in her career. In 1937, she had a scary moment when her parachute didn't open correctly. Luckily, she survived! The next year, a back injury made her stop parachuting.
Inspecting Aircraft
When World War II started, it became harder for civilians to fly planes. So, Mary had to stop flying for a while. She started working with aluminum metal for the U.S. Air Force. She said she just "had to be near airplanes."
The government asked her to inspect civilian aircraft and advise on plane maintenance. Mary was the only woman doing this job at the time. She recalled that she was "a sort of guinea pig," but she did very well.
Later Life
After the war, Mary Riddle worked as a receptionist in New York City. However, she still flew planes sometimes and often visited the Northwest. Mary Riddle passed away on October 25, 1981.
