Helen Richey
- Birth
-
McKeesport, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA
- Death
- 7 Jan 1947 (aged 37)
New York, New York County, New York, USA
- Burial
-
McKeesport, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA Add to Map
- Plot
- Section H, Lot 103
- Memorial ID
- 33317571 · View Source
- Created by: Dr. James M. Owston
- Added: Jan 27, 2009
- Find a Grave Memorial ID:
- Sponsored by Barna Robi
-
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/33317571/helen-richey: accessed ), memorial page for Helen Richey (21 Nov 1909–7 Jan 1947), Find a Grave Memorial ID 33317571, citing McKeesport and Versailles Cemetery, McKeesport, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA; Maintained by Dr. James M. Owston (contributor 47059231).
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Added by: GenerationsRemembered on 09 Oct 2022
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Helen Richey
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1927 Yough-a-Mon (McKeesport PA HS)
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Helen Richey, 1929
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Helen Richey (1909 – 1947) was a pioneering female aviator and the first woman to be hired as a pilot by a commercial airline in the United States.
Richey was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. Her father, Joseph B. Richey, was superintendent of schools in McKeesport from 1902 to 1935. During her teens, Richey was one of the few girls in McKeesport who wore pants. She learned how to fly a plane at age 20. Her father bought her a plane when she obtained her pilot's license.
In 1932 Richey partnered with another female pilot, Frances Marsalis, to set an endurance record by staying airborne for nearly 10 days, with midair refueling. In 1934 Richey won the premier air race at the first National Air Meet for women in Dayton, Pennsylvania. Also in 1934, Central Airlines, a Greensburg, Pennsylvania–based carrier that eventually became part of United Airlines, hired Richey as a pilot; she eventually was forced to step down from the cockpit by the all-male pilots union.
After leaving Central Airlines, Richey continued to perform at air shows. In 1936 she teamed with Amelia Earhart in a transcontinental air race, the Bendix Trophy Race. Richey and Earhart came in fifth, beating some all-male teams. Later, Richey flew with the British Air Transportation Authority during World War II.
In addition to being the first female commercial airline pilot, Richey also was the first woman sworn in to pilot air mail and one of the first female flight instructors.
Richey was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. Her father, Joseph B. Richey, was superintendent of schools in McKeesport from 1902 to 1935. During her teens, Richey was one of the few girls in McKeesport who wore pants. She learned how to fly a plane at age 20. Her father bought her a plane when she obtained her pilot's license.
In 1932 Richey partnered with another female pilot, Frances Marsalis, to set an endurance record by staying airborne for nearly 10 days, with midair refueling. In 1934 Richey won the premier air race at the first National Air Meet for women in Dayton, Pennsylvania. Also in 1934, Central Airlines, a Greensburg, Pennsylvania–based carrier that eventually became part of United Airlines, hired Richey as a pilot; she eventually was forced to step down from the cockpit by the all-male pilots union.
After leaving Central Airlines, Richey continued to perform at air shows. In 1936 she teamed with Amelia Earhart in a transcontinental air race, the Bendix Trophy Race. Richey and Earhart came in fifth, beating some all-male teams. Later, Richey flew with the British Air Transportation Authority during World War II.
In addition to being the first female commercial airline pilot, Richey also was the first woman sworn in to pilot air mail and one of the first female flight instructors.
Added by: Michel Beckers on 01 Mar 2011
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Helen and friend
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Helen Richey with Amelia Earhart!
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Helen Richey
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Taken from the 1-11-1947 edition of The Pittsburgh Press
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Added by: Richard Boyer on 12 Nov 2012
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Helen Richey doing what she loved most...flying!
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You can also hear her voice here- https://youtu.be/umud9ylT228
By The Odd, Mysterious & Fascinating History of Pittsburgh
By The Odd, Mysterious & Fascinating History of Pittsburgh
Added by: GenerationsRemembered on 09 Oct 2022
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Added by: GenerationsRemembered on 09 Oct 2022
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Daily News
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Wednesday, January 8, 1947
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Wednesday, January 8, 1947
Added by: GenerationsRemembered on 22 Mar 2022
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Santa Cruz Evening News (Santa Cruz, CA.); 08JUL1940, Mon; P6C3
First woman ever to be licensed as a flight instructor by the C. A. A., Helen Richey...smiles after passing her test at Roosevelt Field, L. I.
First woman ever to be licensed as a flight instructor by the C. A. A., Helen Richey...smiles after passing her test at Roosevelt Field, L. I.
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Taken from the 1-8-1947 edition of The Pittsburgh Press
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Taken from the 1-11-1947 edition of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette
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Taken from the 1-10-1947 edition of the Pittsbugh Post Gazette
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Taken from the 1-9-1947 edition of The Pittsburgh Press.
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Pennsylvania Historical Marker for Helen Richey near McKeesport, PA
Added by: Mike Wintermantel on 20 Feb 2014
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