Rose Lok (pilot) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rose Lok
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| Born | 1912 |
| Died | 1978 California, U.S.
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| Known for | Aviation, First Chinese-American female pilot |
Rose Lok (1912–1978) was an amazing pilot. She was the very first Chinese-American female pilot in New England. Rose Lok became famous for her courage and skill in the sky.
Contents
Early Life of Rose Lok
Rose Lok was born in China in 1912. When she was a child, her family moved to the United States. She grew up in Boston, Massachusetts, on Tyler Street. Her home was close to a place called Denison House.
A famous pilot named Amelia Earhart worked there in the 1920s. Amelia Earhart was a social worker at Denison House. It's possible that Amelia Earhart inspired Rose to dream about flying. When Rose was 18 years old, she decided to learn how to fly an airplane.
Rose Lok's Flying Career
In the early 1930s, a group called the Chinese Patriotic Flying Corps was formed. This group wanted to help China protect itself from Japan. All the pilots in this group learned to fly at East Boston Airport. Today, this airport is known as Logan Airport.
Francis P. Kendall taught them how to fly. Local Chinese-American business owners helped the group. They bought an airplane for the pilots. This plane was a "Curtiss Fledgling". It had the Chinese flag painted on it. The name of the group was also written on the plane in English and Chinese.
Rose Lok joined the flying corps in 1932. In the same year, she earned her pilot's license. The U.S. Department of Commerce gave her the license.
A Famous Female Pilot
Rose Lok was the only female pilot in the group. This made her very special. She became famous in her local area and even made national news. In May 1932, a reporter from The Boston Globe wrote about her first solo flight. He called her a "winsome Chinese maid."
On June 12, 1932, there was a big celebration in Chinatown. It was to honor the pilots. Rose Lok gave a powerful speech there. She talked about how important airplanes and Chinese pilots were for China.
In 1933, Rose Lok was mentioned in a journal called The Ninety-Niner. This journal is for the Ninety-Nines, which is an international group of women pilots. Other famous Chinese-American female pilots like Hazel Ying Lee and Katherine Sui Fun Cheung were also mentioned.
Rose Lok was one of only a few Chinese-American women who became pilots in the 1930s. Other brave women included Hazel Ying Lee, Leah Hing, Hilda Yen, and Lee Ya-Ching. Rose was the first Chinese-American female pilot in New England. She was also the first woman to fly solo at Logan Airport.
Rose Lok's achievements are still remembered today. The Ninety-Nines planted a tree for her at the International Forest of Friendship. She is also honored on the Boston Women's Heritage Trail.
Rose Lok's Family Life
Rose Lok married Edward N. Jung in Boston in 1935. She passed away on May 22, 1978. She had one daughter named Loraine. Rose Lok is buried at Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona del Mar, Newport Beach, California.
