1993 Pioneer Hall of Fame

Nancy Hopkins Tier

Nancy Hopkins Tier started flying in November 1927 at Hoover Field in Arlington, Virginia. In 1930 she entered the Women's Dixie Derby," a 2,000-mile air race from Washington to Chicago, and was the only woman to enter the 5,000-mile Ford Reliability Air Race. She won the New England Air Race in 1971 and placed several times. Tier joined the Civil Air Patrol in 1942, where she served for 18 years. She was the first woman to receive the rank of Colonel as Wing Commander of Connecticut. She also served eight years on the National Conunander Advisory Staff and received the Exceptional Service Award and the Meritorious Award.

Evelyn "Bobbi" Trout

Evelyn "Bobbi" Trout knew she would learn to fly from the day she saw her first airplane. Her first ride was in 1922 in an OX5 powered Jenny. By age 22, she had earned enough money to take flying lessons and became the fifth woman in the U.S. to obtain her transport license. She also became a demonstration and test pilot for the Golden Eagle Aircraft Company. One of many records Trout set was the world's record for solo endurance flight for women in 1929. The flight lasted 12 hours and 11 minutes. She flew in the first Women's Air Derby from Santa Monica to Cleveland, and also set a refueling endurance record in 1929.

Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP)

The Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) were formed in August of 1943 as an adjunct to the Army Air Forces' war effort. The organization was made up of two civilian-flying groups: the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron and the Women's Hying Training Detachment. Under the guidance of Jacqueline Cochran, the WASP became involved in all aspects of military flying operations, with the exception of combat and overseas ferrying. More than 1,000 WASP pilots flew over 70 million miles and delivered 12,650 airplanes across the country during their time of operation. The WASP program was suspended in December 1944.