Phoebe Omlie
Phoebe Omlie | |
---|---|
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. | |
Resting place | Forest Hill Cemetery Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
Nationality | American |
Known for | Numerous firsts as a female pilot |
Spouse | Vernon Omlie |
Phoebe Jane Fairgrave Omlie (November 21, 1902 – July 17, 1975) was an American aviation pioneer, particularly noted for her accomplishments as an early female aviator.
During the late 1920s and early 1930s, Omlie set several world records in aviation, including the highest altitude parachute jump by a woman. She was also the first woman to cross the Rocky Mountains in a light aircraft,[1] and was considered by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to be one of "eleven women whose achievements make it safe to say the world is progressing".[3]
Early life
Phoebe Jane Fairgrave was born in
Aviation career
Shortly after graduating high school, Fairgrave spent a few months at the
Still in her teens, Fairgrave started performing stunts on the wing of her aircraft as another pilot remained at the controls.
In 1925, the Omlies moved to
Omlie's success as a pilot was recognized by the Democratic National Committee, and she was enlisted to fly a female speaker around the country for Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1932 presidential campaign.[4] After the successful campaign, Omlie was appointed by President Roosevelt as the "Special Adviser for Air Intelligence to the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics".[4] This made her the first woman to be appointed to a federal aviation position.[2] In this role, Omlie acted as a "liaison between the National Advisory Committee of Aeronautics and the Bureau of Air Commerce" alongside Amelia Earhart to create what would become the National Airspace System.[5]
On August 5, 1936, Vernon Omlie and seven passengers were killed when a commercial flight they were aboard crashed in
Unhappy about the increasing regulation of the aviation industry by the United States Federal Government under President Harry S. Truman, Omlie resigned in 1952 and left aviation.[5]
Later life
After resigning from the Civil Aeronautics Authority, Omlie returned to Memphis and purchased a cattle farm in Como, Mississippi.[4] Omlie's inexperience with farming caused hardship for the business, so she traded the farm around 1957 for a small cafe and hotel in Lambert, Mississippi.[5] The hotel business proved to be just as unsuccessful for Omlie, who returned to Memphis in 1961.[5]
Omlie periodically spoke to aviation groups about her concerns over increasing federal regulation of the industry, but the speaking engagements dwindled over time and ceased by 1970.
In June 1982, a new
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Longden, Tom (February 7, 2009). "Aviator Omlie soared to success". Des Moines Register. Archived from the original on April 23, 2009. Retrieved February 14, 2009. Alt URL
- ^ OCLC 173502734.
- OCLC 46918327.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Sherman, Janann (March 29, 2008). "Aviation pioneer Phoebe Fairgrave Omlie". Woman Pilot Magazine. Retrieved February 14, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Wilson, George T (June 2002). "Phoebe and Vernon Omlie: From Barnstormers to Aviation Innovators". Aviation History Magazine. Retrieved February 14, 2009.
- ^ John H. Lienhard. "Phoebe Omlie and Her Monocoupe". The Engines of Our Ingenuity. Houston. KUHF-FM.
- ISBN 1-928760-00-7.
- ^ Tallman, Jill (October 27, 2011). "A legacy is secured and it only took 30 years". AOPA Reporting Points. AOPA. Archived from the original on November 4, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
- ^ 97th Congress (1981) (April 7, 1981). "H.R. 3072 (97th)". Legislation. GovTrack.us. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
A bill to designate the control tower at Memphis International Airport the Omlie Tower
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