I have been doing research on Mary riddle on and off for nearly a year. I will speak with anyone who would like to discuss this wonderful and fascinating lady. I will be doing a story about her in our next newsletter. contact me at the Aberdeen Museum of History (360) 533-1976

although i am only young, this site has given me valid information and i don't know anybody however i am truly inspired by all of this

I'm proud to say Mary Riddle came from Tribe. Would like to get in contact with David Kaufman and anyone else that knew Mary. My e-mail is jeremy2feathers@yahoo.com. Thanks

I knew Mary Riddle and be happy to talk to anybody. I worked in the same company as Mary, Gibbs & Hill.

mary riddle was the first native amrican women to be an aviator

I think it was fasinating you flew the famouse 99er.

I knew June Reynolds Edwards in the 1960s. At the time she was a television personality on Channel 17 in Bakersfield, California where her husband, Wayne, was working as a crop duster.
June told me how at one time she had as many hours in the air as Amelia Earhart, had been a president of the Ninety-Nines and one of the first women crop dusters. One of her jobs was flying a crop duster to Cuba in the pre-Castro days and teaching men there to crop dust.
She suddenly left Bakersfield around 1968 and I have not located her since. Why is she not listed on any website or in any aviation books on women pilots if this info is true?
Anyone out there know anything?
Thanks for info.

Why is there no photograff of Beryl Markham?? She was an incredible aviator and writer as well.

Harriet Quimby has a book written about her. It's called Wings. I have always wondered if that book was based off true events, now I know. I encourage anyone who loves aviation to read it. It is a romance/adventure book, and is very informative in an interesting way. It's not like reading a biography.

The photo labled Betty Skelton is definately not Betty. That photo would have been taken pre-WWI according to the pilot dress. Betty was not even alive during that time. She did not come into fame until AFTER WWII.

Does anyone know if Mary Riddle, the first Native American woman pilot, is still alive? Any information about her would be much appreciated.

While Jackie Cochrane was indeed the first woman to exceed the speed of sound, she did not accomplish that feat in just any "F-86 Sabrejet". The aircraft she used to set her jet records was the sole Canadair Sabre 3 #19200. The Sabre 3 was the first of the Canadair-built Sabres to be powered with the Canadian designed and built Orenda engine in place of the GE J47. Jackie used the Canadian aircraft because the USAF refused to loan her an aircraft. Jackie was able to use her husband's business connections and her own political connections to secure the loan of the aircraft and limited USAF cooperation for her record attempts. Evidently the base commander at Edwards Air Force Base was not too happy at being ordered to cooperate by his bosses in Washington.

Patricia Trenner confused Matilde Moisant, the second licensed U.S. woman flyer, with Betty Skelton.
Best, Barbara Ganson

The photograph allegedly of Betty Skelton appears to have been taken in the early 30's (I'm going out on a limb and guess that's a Swastika medal and post 1933 Nazi Germany?)... given her birthdate of 1926 the chronology and geography doesn't match. Alsoarticle fails to mention Chuck Yeager in one of the photos.