Helen Richey (1909-1947)
N 40° 20.442 W 079° 49.640
17T E 599600 N 4466232
Pennsylvania State Historical Marker located on Eden Park Blvd. in McKeesport, Pennsylvania commemorating the woman aviator Helen Richey.
Waymark Code: WM1BJZ
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 03/25/2007
Views: 111
MARKER TEXT: In 1934 this McKeesport native became the 1st woman to pilot a commercial airliner. Discriminated against because she was a woman, she resigned within a year and went on to become the 1st woman licensed instructor by the Civil Aeronautics Authority; & in WWII, the commandant of the American wing, British Air Transport Auxiliary; member of the Women's Airforce Service Pilots; & Major by the war's end.
This is a traditional blue and gold roadside marker in front of the McKeesport Fire Department on Eden Park Blvd. near Tulip Drive in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. Helen Richey was born in McKeesport in 1909. She set the endurance record in 1932 staying aloft for 10 days which required in-flight refueling. She set several speed records and flew in a race with Amelia Earhart. She was the first woman licensed airline pilot, first licensed woman air mail pilot, and one of the first women flight instructors. She flew for the British Air Transport Auxiliary and was in the Women’s Air Force. Tragically she died of an overdose of sleeping pills in 1947 that was ruled a suicide.
NOTE! Do not park in the lot near the sign. This is the McKeesport Fire Department and will result in a ticket for blocking emergency vehicles. Parking is available behind the fire house by driving a short distance up Tulip Drive and turning into the lot for the Helen Richey Ballfield.
LINKS:
Britsh Air Transport Auxillary: “Helen Richey”:
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Wikipedia: “Helen Richey”: (
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US Centennial of Flight Commission: “The Ninety-Nines”: (
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Pittsburgh Post Gazette: “Slideshow: McKeesport's Helen Richey is lost in history” (includes multimedia presentation):
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