Merrill, Mildred E. (Filz), 1898-1980

Person

Biographical Note: Mildred Filz Merrill

Mildred Edna (Filz) Merrill (1898-1908) was a Seattle native, an early female pilot and one of the founding members of the Associated Women Pilots of Boeing Field.

Merrill was born on July 7, 1898 in Seattle, Washington to Frank J. and Amelia E. (Hussey) Filz. She graduated from Franklin High School and the University of Washington.

She earned a private pilot's license, circa 1932, from Washington Aviation Co. Inc. co-founder and pilot A. Elliott Merrill, whom she later married on September 30, 1936 in Seattle, Washington. In 1933, she helped found the Associated Women Pilots of Boeing Field. At various times she served as the club's secretary, treasurer, and publicity chairman. Circa 1934-1936, Merrill worked as a stenographer for her husband at Boeing Field. On May 19, 1938, as part of National Air Mail Week events, she became an air mail pilot for the day, and flew the mail route between Olympia and Seattle. In 1952, the Merrills moved to Wichita, Kansas for A. Elliott Merrill's work as chief of flight testing for the Boeing B-47 bomber program. The couple relocated back to Seattle in 1956. Details about her later life are sparse.

Merrill was a member of the Seattle chapters of the Ninety-Nines and the National Aeronautical Association. She also enjoyed playing bridge. Mildred E. (Filz) Merrill died on December 1, 1980 in Seattle, Washington.

Occupations

Women air pilots

Found in 3 Collections and/or Records:

Biographical Information Files - M

Sub-Group

Scope and Contents Individuals whose names begin with M: MacCready, Paul [Aeronautical designer and engineer] "A Man for All Reasonings," California Magazine, November 1986"The Sky's the Limit," The Country Gentleman, Spring 1982"Masterful Tinkering of Genius," Insight, June 25, 1990"P.B. MacCready, 81, Inventor, Dies," New York Times, August 31, 2007 MacGilchrist, John...

Dates: circa 1900-2020s

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

Archives at The Museum of Flight