Women have been involved in aviation since its inception. Katherine Wright worked with her brothers, Orville and Wilbur Wright, to create the first motor-powered aircraft. Raymonde de Laroche of France was the first woman to fly solo in 1909 and earn a pilot’s license. Harriot Quimby was the first American woman to earn a pilot’s certificate in 1911 and fly across the English Channel in 1912. In 1921, Bessie Coleman became the first Black and Native American woman to earn a pilot’s license.
Women from around the world, including those from Georgia, pursued careers in aviation. Beyond the inherent risks of early flight—both Laroche and Coleman tragically died in plane crashes after surviving earlier incidents—they encountered obstacles in obtaining pilot’s licenses and securing commercial flying roles. Yet, these female pioneers pressed on.
Gladys Poole (1906–1991)
In 1927, Atlanta’s Gladys Poole joined Doug Davis’s flying school at Candler Field (now Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport). There, Poole discreetly took lessons without her family’s knowledge. When Poole’s father found out, he told Davis he’d allow his daughter to continue learning if he could be her first passenger upon her licensure.
After her graduation, Davis invited Poole to work with him professionally. At the time, aviation was both male-dominated and perilous, and Davis believed having an attractive woman at aerial exhibitions would attract larger crowds. Davis’s assumptions were correct as news of Poole’s distinction as the first female graduate of Davis’s flying school was deemed newsworthy. The 1920s saw barnstormers taking to the skies. These pilots would travel, captivating audiences with their aerial shows, though tragic accidents were frequent. Poole performed at aerial shows across the South alongside Davis and other male pilots, sometimes earning as much as $500 a week. She was recognized as the first licensed female pilot…
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