Interview with Heather Taylor by Keri Kittleson
Thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity to interview you via email and telephone conversation. Mr. Mike O Neal (from "Over the Front with League of WWI Aviation Historians) made this special opportunity possible to be able to talk/interview a real film producer.
Interviewer: Can you tell me a little about yourself and your film Breaking Through the Clouds (about the 1929 women’s air derby) and why you chose this topic?
Heather Taylor: There are many reasons I produced the film but one in particular is that I was looking for my own path in life. Unlike many who know from early on that they want to be a Dr. Lawyer or other traditional role, I didn’t know what I wanted to do or be. When I learned about the women of the derby and saw footage of them, I wondered what made them choose flying, why their eyes sparkled and how I could find that for myself. I thought if I could harness that sparkle in their eyes and show it in the film, the women could serve as role models to others looking for their own passion. The women could also model how it’s ok to follow that passion if it’s outside the box, outside of conventional roles or illogical to others at the time. The derby was 9 days longs from April 18, 1929 and ended the April 26, 1929.
Interviewer: Can you tell me how the suffrage movement may have impacted the women in the air derby?
Heather Taylor: The derby happened just 9 years after the 19th amendment was passed. There seems to have been a real movement of women’s rights throughout the 20’s and the women in the derby epitomized that. One of the main purposes of the air derby was to prove that women could fly and to show the world it wasn’t just a novelty - they were also showing that flying was a viable means of transportation as aviation was still new to the everyday person. Airlines were just starting as was general aviation (not just for military). Amelia said at the end of the derby that she hoped the next year that there would be a woman on the committee.
Interviewer: Were African American women in the air derby?
Heather Taylor: There were no African American women in the air derby. I really can’t answer the rest of your question on this one. I am sure you know one of the most famous African American women in history is Bessie Coleman. She died before the derby happened. I often wonder if she would have flown this first derby and if so, what impact that might have had.
Interviewer: How were the women in the derby treated and what obstacles, if any did they have to overcome?
Heather Taylor: The women of the derby were constantly overcoming obstacles. What set them apart is that they were able to do so with intelligence, ingenuity and humor. Some examples include:
Blanche Noyes had to make an emergency landing in the mesquite area of the desert when a fire developed in her plane while she was flying. Once she landed, she had to put out the fire, prop her plane by herself, and take off with a broken landing gear - then land at the next airport with that broken landing gear.
Ruth Elder’s map flew out of her open cockpit plane at one point during the race so she had to land to find out where she was (they had to use road maps cause there weren’t many aviation maps, no GPS of course, or radios in their planes - they followed railroad lines, road maps, etc). She landed in a pasture full of cows and had to figure out how to take off again.
One of the women in the derby, Marvel Crosson, crashed and died. She was an experienced pilot but those who felt women shouldn’t fly used this as an excuse to say the race should be called off. The women banded together, faced down their opposition and were determined to continue the race to honor Marvel. All the women were test pilots during that time. Flying was a dangerous profession. They were risking their lives to do this and they knew it.
The women faced issues of sabotage, lots of navigational issues, weather issues (imagine the hot desert sun beating down on you or rain hitting you in an open cockpit plane!), mechanical issues with their planes and lots of stereotypes. Often the reporters focused on what the women wore or looked like. Comments about them wearing pants was quite common as that was pretty unusual at the time
Amelia Earhart landed on her propeller in Yuma and all the women waited an extra amount of time so that she could get her propeller fixed. They all agreed early on, that mechanics would not be flying with them and prove that they were the pilots. Their collaboration together proved you can reach personal goals, even in a competition, by working together.
The women stated that the most difficult part of the race, however, was all the banquets they had to attend in their honor each night. They’d change their oil during the day and change into ball gowns at night to be celebrated, sign autographs, etc. It was very exhausting. They also complained about all the fried chicken they had to eat :). They would have preferred to take care of their planes, map out their course and get some rest. Instead, they ended up only getting 4 to 6 hours of sleep each night as they had to take off sometimes as early as 6am.
Interviewer: Which woman aviator from the Derby do you think was the most successful leader and what type of legacy did they leave? How do you think it is still impacting women today?
Heather Taylor: I give entire presentations on this! The women worked collaboratively to ensure everyone’s success. They consulted each other before making decisions so they were ALL leaders. This is one of the reasons I produced the film as the women are role models of working together toward both collective and personal goals even in a competition! If they fought or only chose one leader, then the press would pick up on that and try to make it seem like there were cat fights. This would overtake the women’s entire purpose of proving they could fly and that flying was safe. This helped not only them, but all those relying on the women for the success of the derby including the plane manufacturers, sponsors, and cities that were promoting them.
Interviewer: Who were some of the most notable women in the derby?
Heather Taylor: In my eyes, they are ALL notable. Of course you know Amelia Earhart but there was Phoebe Omlie who flew for President Franklin Roosevelt in his 1932 and 1936 presidential campaigns among many other huge accomplishments. You mention the WASPs and how you are or will interview one of them. Phoebe developed a flight school and a WASP I met, Dorothy Swain Lewis, was taught to fly BY Phoebe.
There was Mary Von Mach who was the final inspector for B-24 Bomber planes during World War II (those planes didn’t fly out without her approval). She was amazing and did much more than this!
There was Ruth Nichols who organized what was to become the Civil Air Patrol among dozens and dozens of additional accomplishments.
Ruth Elder almost beat Amelia Earhart as the first woman across the Atlantic Ocean. She attempted it with pilot George Holderman in 1927, just 5 months after Lindberg’s flight (and a year before Amelia). Just 300 miles from their goal, they had to land in the ocean due to a gas line problem (they both survived and were rescued by a ship). At the time of the derby in 1929, she was just as famous as Amelia Earhart.
Pancho Barnes created the first stunt pilots union among a bunch of other amazing feats.
Several of the women set aviation records for fastest, highest and longest flights. Two of the women in the derby were from overseas: Thea Rasche from Germany and “Chubbie” Miller from Australia and famous in their own country.
If you go to my website, you can learn a little bit about each one of the women. Since there are 20, I can’t go into each one’s accomplishments here. It is so vast, that I’m actually working on a book on that now. I do want to emphasize that they were ALL notable, each bringing her own unique gifts and talents to what they did.
Interviewer: How do you think the early women in aviation made it easier for the women in aviation today?
Heather Taylor: This is another one I could write an entire essay on. Of course doing something is better than just talking about it and these women certainly excelled in this. They are role models in following a passion and being so enthusiastic that others helped them make their dreams possible. They learned their skill, practiced and thought outside the box on how to tackle any obstacles they faced. They also became part of a community and supported one another. They took the first steps which the rest of us could build on. If you see my film, you’ll see famous pilots like Patty Wagstaff say she looks to those who came before her, like Louise Thaden, for her career!
Interviewer: What do you think were the common character traits or strengths of these women?
Heather Taylor: Of course the women were brave, courageous, adventurous, with strong personalities and confidence. Many had a sense of humor as well. They went after their passion, despite it being unconventional for women to fly, and their enthusiasm was so contagious, they motivated an entire country of volunteers, sponsors, and spectators to support them during this “amazing race.” Some were just born to fly so they did all they knew to do to accomplish this goal.
Interviewer: Can you please share with me what you wanted people to learn most about these women aviators from your film?
Heather Taylor: One concrete goal I wanted to accomplish with the film was to bring these women’s stories to the forefront and restore their legacy. Most people know Amelia Earhart but very few know the other women and what they did to pave the way for others. The other thing which I already mentioned is how these women worked collaboratively, despite being in competition. However, one of the biggest reasons for the film is that I hope people follow a passion, spark or energy they have towards something, no matter how unconventional it may be, just like the women of the derby did. You never know who you might influence by doing so.. even decades later.
Interviewer: Is there anything else you can share with me about the women in the derby about their leadership and legacy that lives on today?
Heather Taylor: If we each follow that energy within us, then it opens doors for those who follow. This is true of the women in the derby. They modeled this. The women were definitely leaders but one thing I stress is they lead using their own unique talents. In a world often dominated by a linear form of power, these women showed there are other ways to lead and that there are gifts to each style of leadership. I’m glad the leadership & legacy is a theme. That is something I am passionate about showcasing with the women in the derby. They are perfect examples of both. The women always made decisions together and always consulted with one another. Even though they were competing against each other, they made decisions based on the safety and success for everyone involved.
Interviewer: Thank you so much with your generosity and time with this interview.
Sarah Taylor: I hope I gave you some useful information today on the phone and over our emails. I look forward to hearing how the project goes and staying in touch regarding your aviation adventures!