Women's Air Derby facts for kids
The Women's Air Derby was the very first official air race just for women in the United States. It took place in 1929 as part of the National Air Races. The famous humorist Will Rogers gave it the nickname Powder Puff Derby, and that's the name most people remember today.
On August 18, 1929, nineteen brave women pilots took off from Clover Field in Santa Monica, California. Their goal was to fly all the way to Cleveland, Ohio. The race was a tough, nine-day journey filled with challenges. Sadly, a pilot named Marvel Crosson died in a crash. Despite this, fifteen of the pilots successfully finished the race, proving their incredible skill and determination.
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The Great Race Across America
The Women's Air Derby was a groundbreaking event. It was created by air-race promoter Cliff Henderson, who wanted a race for women similar to the popular men's air races. This gave female pilots a chance to show the world what they could do.
Who Could Fly in the Race?
To enter the race, pilots had to be very experienced. Forty women qualified by meeting the strict requirements. They needed at least 100 hours of flying by themselves. This was the same rule the men had to follow.
The twenty women who competed were:
- Florence "Pancho" Lowe Barnes
- Marvel Crosson
- Amelia Earhart
- Ruth Elder
- Claire Mae Fahy
- Edith Foltz
- Mary Haizlip
- Jessie Miller (from Australia)
- Opal Kunz
- Mary von Mach
- Ruth Nichols
- Blanche W. Noyes
- Gladys O'Donnell
- Phoebe Omlie
- Neva Paris
- Margaret Perry
- Thea Rasche (from Germany)
- Louise Thaden
- Evelyn "Bobbi" Trout
- Vera Dawn Walker
There were also rules about the planes. Officials said some planes were "too fast for a woman to fly." For example, Opal Kunz had to find a different plane because hers was considered too powerful.
The Long Journey to Cleveland
The race was a long-distance flight across the country. The pilots took off from Santa Monica, California, one minute apart to stay safe. They flew in two groups: one for heavier, more powerful planes and one for lighter planes.
Their route included many stops for fuel, repairs, and rest. They stopped in cities like Phoenix, Arizona, El Paso, Texas, and St. Louis, Missouri. At each stop, crowds and reporters greeted them, and they were often celebrated at special dinners.
Facing Danger in the Skies
The race was not easy. The pilots faced many dangers along the way. Early in the race, Amelia Earhart had to turn back for a quick repair before continuing.
Tragically, Marvel Crosson died in a crash in Arizona. Some people wanted to cancel the race after this happened. But the other pilots decided to continue, believing it was the best way to honor her memory.
Other pilots also faced trouble. Blanche Noyes had to put out a fire in her plane while flying over Texas. Pancho Barnes crashed when a car drove onto the runway as she was landing. Several other pilots, including Ruth Nichols, also had crashes or mechanical problems that forced them to drop out.
The Winners and Finishers
After nine long days, the pilots finally reached the finish line in Cleveland, Ohio. A huge crowd of about 18,000 people was there to cheer for them.
Louise Thaden was the first to finish, winning the heavy plane class. Her total flying time was 20 hours, 19 minutes, and 4 seconds. Phoebe Omlie won the light plane class with a time of 25 hours, 12 minutes, and 47.5 seconds.
Final Results: Heavy Plane Class
Ten pilots finished in this class:
- Louise Thaden
- Gladys O'Donnell
- Amelia Earhart
- Blanche Noyes
- Ruth Elder
- Neva Paris
- Mary Haizlip
- Opal Kunz
- Mary von Mach
- Vera Dawn Walker
Final Results: Light Plane Class
Four pilots finished in this class:
- Phoebe Omlie
- Edith Foltz
- Jessie Keith-Miller
- Thea Rasche
Bobbi Trout also completed the race, but her final time was not officially recorded.
The Race in Books and Movies
The exciting story of the 1929 Women's Air Derby has been told in many books and movies.
- A 1939 movie called Women in the Wind, starring Kay Francis, was based on the race.
- A book called The Powder Puff Derby of 1929 by Gene Nora Jessen was published in 2002.
- A 2010 documentary, Breaking through the Clouds, tells the story of the race and the pilots.
- Another documentary from 2015, Beyond The Powder, looks at the legacy of the race, which continues today as the Air Race Classic.
- The 2019 book Born to Fly by Steve Sheinkin was written especially for young readers.
