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Organizations, Honors and Races
All Aviation and Space
Women Pilots
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After World War II ended in 1945, over a thousand American women had pilot's licenses. A few women (former WASP, former CAP, etc.) tried to get jobs as pilots in commercial aviation but were turned down.
1947
In 1947, some members of a Florida chapter of the 99s (the international women's pilot organization that had been founded in 1929) decided to hold an All Woman Air show. They invited members of a California chapter to hold a cross country air race to Tampa, Florida in order to publicize the event. In the end, only two pilots could get hold of planes on such short notice, and only one actually finished the race, the other withdrawing because of engine trouble.
1948
In 1948, the Florida 99s held another All Woman air show, and the All Woman Transcontinental Air Race was held again, this time with much better organization and publicity.
Jacqueline Cochran sponsored the race, so it was called the Jacqueline Cochran All-Woman Trophy Race. Six women took part, one of whom was 99s member Claire McMillan Walters (who signed the cover below as Claire McMillan.) (She flew with her twin sister,Betty.) [Cochran also sponsored the 1949 race, which was called the Jacqueline Cochran All-Woman Transcontinental Air Race - but they are all under the AWTAR/Powder Puff Derby umbrella.]
So the cover below is both a 99s cover and the first AWTAR/Powder Puff Derby cover.
| This is an "unofficial" cover, and consists only of pilot Claire McMillan's signature and note that it was flown during the "second" Powder Puff Derby.
The inscription reads:
Calif. Fla.
Trans Race
Claire McMillan
Santa Anna, Calif.
I assume McMillan lived in Santa Anna.
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Producer of this cover unknown
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1966
Producer of this cover: Wyndham Philatelic Institute
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This cover was mailed in Clearwater, Florida to Seattle Washington, on July 7, 1966. It commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Powder Puff Derby.
Such are the speeds of the planes being flown that the trip from Seattle, Washington to Clearwater, Florida will take only 4 days.
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Producer of this cover: Wyndham Philatelic Institute
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The text of the insert for this cover.
This insert makes it clear that the cachets were sold as a money-making stream for the AWTAR.
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1971
In 1971, the AWTAR began outside the United States for the first time, with pilots taking off from Calgary, Canada. It was also the 25th Jubilee, or anniversary of the first AWTAR (according to the Powder Puff Derby record. However, 1971-25 = 1946, which was a year before the first race!
There were at least two covers produced for this 1971 race, one from the Sports Cover Club of America and the other from the Powder Puff Derby folks, AWTAR, Inc.
| This cover was not sent to anyone, but has a cancellation date of July 8 from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
It has no explanatory insert (if one was even made for it.)
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Producer of this cover: Sports Cover Club of America
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Producer of this cover: AWTAR, Inc.
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This cover was not sent to anyone. It was flown - the cancellation stamps on it are from when the pilot took off from Calgary, on the front of the cover, and on the back of the cover, the cancellation stamp from the arrival at Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
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Producer of this cover: AWTAR, Inc.
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The insert for this cover.
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1973
This postcard is from the 1973 Powder Puff Derby. For each of the races, it was necessary for the pilots to stay in radio contact with the airports, and a variety of ham radio operators helped them.
Producer of this pstcard: The Constantine Press
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The postcard is generic, with red text telling people what to fill out. For this postcard, the information is for the Powder Puff Derby.
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Producer of this pstcard: The Constantine Press
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The postcard was sent from Douglas H. Classon (his ham radio id # is above his name). "Thanks for help in Powder Puff Derby" is the text, with a 73's which I'm assuming is the year 1973, signed by Dolly.
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1977
| The Smithsonian Institution National Air and Space Museum issued this cover in their Milestones of Flight Commemorative Series, #53, to honor the 30th Anniversary of the Powder Puff Derby.
The fact that this was the final PPD race was known a year ahead of time. |
Producer of this cover: Smithsonian Institution
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Producer of this cover: Smithsonian Institution
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One of two inserts provided. |
The second insert was a 8 X 11 piece of paper folded in half to form 4 pages.
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For the 30th anniversary of the AWTAR, postcards were produced. I don't know how many, but perhaps 24, based on the HONOR PIONEERS text that appears at the bottom of each postcard, on the back. I have two of them.
The text on the back does not even mention Fran Bera, the woman featured on the front of the card. I wonder if it was a printing error.
Producer of this postcard: Unknown
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The text on the back reads:
Marion Banks and Barbara Evans are officers of the All
Woman Transcontinental Air Race, Inc. which has held
the Powder Puff Derby for thirty years.
HONOR PIONEERS - 24-B
Note that this postcard appears to be part of a mosaic. At the top right are the words 30th POWDER, and then Palm Springs, CA to. And at the bottom right corner is part of the photo of another plane. If I had all the postcards and put them together int he right order...it'd be interesting!
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Producer of this postcard: Roy Votaw
| The back text of this post card states:
Carolyn West won the first Powder Puff Derby held in
1947 over the same route, Palm Springs, CA to Tampa,
FL, used for the 30th commemorative flight of 1977.
HONOR PIONEERS - 24- C
The first race had only two participants, one of whom had engine trouble and withdrew without starting. |
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June 1975 featured a series of strips about the 1975 Powder Puff Derby, with Peppermint Patty.
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