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Archives at The Museum of Flight


Riddle, Mary, 1902-1981

 Person

Dates

  • Usage: 1902 - 1981

Biographical Note

Mary Riddle was the first Native American woman to earn pilot's license, and later her commercial license.

Mary Riddle, also known as Kus-da-cha or Kingfisher, was born on April 22, 1902 to Albert "Doc" Riddle. She was part of the Clatsop and Quinault tribes. She attended the Rankin Flying School and earned her pilot's license in 1930, flying her first solo flight on May 10, 1930. She also attended school to learn parachuting and by 1937, she was touring the United States and performing jumps from planes. Health problems caused her to cease parachuting. During World War II, she was not able to fly as a woman, but was hired as civilian aircraft inspector and aircraft maintenance advisor. Post-war, she flew for pleasure and worked as a receptionist.

She was a member of the Ninety-Nines and the Associated Women Pilots of Boeing Field. Mary Riddle died on October 25, 1981.

Found in 4 Collections and/or Records:

Biographical Information Files - R

 Sub-Group
Scope and Contents Individuals whose names begin with R: Rae, William, Jr. [Wind tunnel engineer] "William Rae Jr., Who Turned His Love for Planes into Long Career," Seattle Times, May 29, 1993 Rahder, Karl F. [Analyst and journalist] "The RAF Bombing Campaign in Germany: Ethical and Strategic Dimensions," by Karl F. Rahder. Paper presented to the University of Chicago's Workshop on...
Dates: 20th Century
Found in: The Museum of Flight Archives / The Museum of Flight Biographical Information Files

Associated Women Pilots of Boeing Field Photographs and Clipping

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 2011-00-00-15
Content Description The Associated Women Pilots of Boeing Field Photographs and Clipping is a small collection of visual and textual materials documenting the the Associated Women Pilots of Boeing Field (AWPBF), circa late 1930s-1940s.The collection includes thirteen black-and-white photographic prints of six discrete images. One image is an informal portrait of a woman pilot in her coveralls, helmet and goggles. The name on her coveralls reads "Penney." One image depicts a department store display...
Dates: 1937-circa 1940s
Found in: The Museum of Flight Archives

Floyd R. Daniel Boeing Collection

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 2010-01-20
Contents of the Collection The Floyd R. Daniel Boeing Collection is comprised of materials relating to Daniel’s 26-year career as photographer and videographer at the Boeing Company. The collection primarily consists of photographic materials and assorted documents relating to Daniel’s career, as well as seven films, all ranging from the late 1920s to early 1960s.The photographs, which are comprised of 95 black-and-white prints, nine color prints, 22 negatives, and three transparencies, consist of official...
Dates: 1920s-1960s
Found in: The Museum of Flight Archives

Dorothy (Hester) Stenzel Collection

 Collection
Identifier: 1992-09-26
Abstract

Dorothy (Hester) Stenzel (1910-1991) was born in Ardenwald, Oregon and learned to fly in the late 1920s. Stenzel then gained fame for stunt flying and broke several records through the mid-1930s. The collection contains seven (7) scrapbooks and assorted textual materials and photographs that document Stenzel's career as one of the first female stunt pilots.

Dates: circa 1928-1991
Found in: The Museum of Flight Archives

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