Skip to main content Skip to search Skip to search results

Archives at The Museum of Flight


Riddle, Mary, 1902-1981

 Person

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 1 Collection or Record:

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...

The Museum of Flight | 9404 E. Marginal Way South | Seattle WA 98108-4097 | 206-764-5874
Contact us with a research request
curator@museumofflight.org