Alverna Babbs Williams (née Bennett, September 3, 1918 – March 7, 2007) was the first American pilot with disabilities to earn a pilot's license.[1]
Alverna Babbs Williams | |
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| Born | September 3, 1918  Farrell |
| Died | March 7, 2007 (aged 88) |
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Personal life
editAlverna Bennett was born on September 3, 1918 in Farrell, Pennsylvania.[1] Alverna had both her legs amputated above the knee after surviving a car crash when she was thirteen months old.[1][2][3]
In October 1936, Bennett married Louis “Speedy” Babbs, who owned a motordrome and raced motorcycles.[1][4] Bennett and Babbs honeymooned in Honolulu.[1] They divorced in 1948 or 1949.[1]
Alverna then married Albert “Flash” Williams and had a son with him in 1949.[1]
Alverna had gone by several different names, including Alverna Daisy Bennett, Alverna Daisy Babbs, and her official registered name at the time of her death, Alverna Daisy Williams.[4] Her biographical file in the National Air and Space Museum archives is “Babbs (Williams), Alverna Daisy Bennett”.[5]
Career
editIn 1935, Bennett became a featured acrobatic dancer and trapeze artist with Ringling Brothers Circus and toured the United States.[1][3] After marrying her husband in 1936, they continued to travel across country with their various acts.
In 1942, Alverna Babbs took an aeronautical course at Youngstown College.[1] In 1943, Louis and Alverna bought a General Skyfarer to celebrate their seventh anniversary.[1] Alverna nicknamed the plane, “Seventh Heaven.”[1][3]
In 1944, Alverna Babbs tried to obtain a student flying permit but was denied by the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) even though she had followed all proper procedures to do so.[1][2][3] On September 19, 1944, with the help of Roscue Turner, Alverna Babbs received her student permit after certain CAA regulations were changed.[1][3][5] Alverna Babbs made her first solo flight on October 30, 1944.[1] In 1946, she earned her pilot's license.[1]
In 1973, Alverna joined the Ninety-Nines.[5] She attended Mountain View Junior College in the fall of 1975 for an instrument ground course.[5] In 1977, Alverna participated as a solo pilot in the 30th Anniversary Powder Puff Derby Commemorative Flight from California to Florida that was being held on July 2 - July 5.[3][5] However, due to a fuel leak, Alverna had to complete the flight with the help of Suzanne Parish.[5] In addition of the Ninety-Nines, Alverna was also a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), Ercoupe Owners Club, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), and Silver Wings.[5]
Awards and honors
editIn 1977, Alverna was honored by The Wheelchair Association.[5] She was also named “Lady Ercouper of the Year.”[5] The city of Grand Prairie, where she lived, officially declared November 7 to be “Alverna Williams Day.”[5] Texas Representative Dale Milford had an honorarium read into the Congressional Record for “A Remarkable Woman—Alverna Williams ” on December 15, 1977.[5]
Death and legacy
editAlverna died on March 7, 2007.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Alverna Babbs: Fighting to Fly – Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Part 1". airandspace.si.edu. 26 July 2020. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
- ^ a b "Legless Woman to Fly Across Country Alone". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
- ^ a b c d e f "Alverna Williams full article". Grand Prairie Daily News. 1977-03-27. p. 1. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
- ^ a b Williams, Alverna; Babbs, Louis (1944). The life story of Miss Alverna and "Speedy" Babbs : stars of The Dare-Devil Circus. Cincinnati, Ohio: Sidney Printing Works. OCLC 277781077.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Alverna Williams: Returning to the Skies – Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Part 2". airandspace.si.edu. 26 July 2020. Retrieved 2021-11-01.