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Evelyn Waldren
Juliedohbigny: ←Created page with 'Evelyn Nicholas Waldren (June 25, 1908 - October 25, 1986) was the first woman in Nebraska to become a pilot, the first woman in North Dakota with a transport pi...'
Evelyn Nicholas Waldren (June 25, 1908 - October 25, 1986) was the first woman in Nebraska to become a pilot, the first woman in North Dakota with a transport pilot's license, and one of the first women in the United States with a flight instructor's license.
== Childhood ==
Waldren was born Evelyn Nicholas in [[Stockham, Nebraska]].<ref name=":0">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> When she was five years old, her family moved to [[Lincoln, Nebraska|Lincoln]].<ref name=":0" /> A self-described tomboy, Nicholas grew up helping her stepfather in his garage<ref name=":1">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> and visiting the construction sites where he worked.<ref name=":0" /> She attended McKinley School and Bryant School.<ref name=":0" /> She was skilled at drawing and considered a career as an artist.<ref name=":0" />
In the summer of 1926, Nicholas saw an airshow in the small southern Nebraskan town where her stepfather was working on a railroad.<ref name=":2">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> She was entranced, and became interested in learning to fly.<ref name=":2" /> Aviation appealed to her because of the good pay, the opportunity for travel, and the chance to work outdoors.<ref name=":0" /> Hearing about the feats of pilots like [[Ruth Elder]], [[Charles Lindbergh]] and [[Phoebe Omlie]] strengthened her resolve.<ref name=":3">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref>
== Flight Training ==
Despite Nicholas's arguments, her mother and stepfather refused to let her fly.<ref name=":2" /> Finally, on March 1, 1928, Nicholas's mother agreed to let her train at the Lincoln School of aviation and to pay for the first fifty hours of lessons.<ref name=":2" /> As she told the story in 1986, "My mother enrolled me, paid $50 and said, 'You're on your own now: probably just a whim anyhow.' Well, this whim has lasted 56 years."<ref name=":4">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref>
On March 3, Nicholas took her first flight in a surplus World War I biplane.<ref name=":3" /> She remembered it as "the most remarkable, wonderful feeling. I felt the rush of wind in my face, smelled the exhaust. It looked like a fairyland down there."<ref name=":4" /> She was nineteen years old.<ref name=":4" />
Nicholas flew alone for the first time after 14 hours of practice.<ref name=":3" /> Later that year, she obtained her pilot's license,<ref name=":2" /> becoming the first female pilot in Nebraska.<ref name=":3" /> By then, she had spent 75 hours flying solo.<ref name=":1" />
For ten years, Nicholas's father, William Nicholas, had not known where she was.<ref name=":5">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> After he recognized her picture in the newspaper,<ref name=":1" /> they were reunited in 1928.<ref name=":5" />
== Great Depression ==
After graduating flight school, Nicholas moved to [[Rockford, Illinois]], where she carried passengers and did exhibition flying.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> She hoped to get a transport pilot's license, but needed 200 hours of flying time to qualify.<ref name=":2" /> After the [[Great Depression in the United States|Great Depression]] began in August 1929, Nicholas had difficulty finding jobs, let alone work that would allow her to fly.<ref name=":2" /> She worked as a clerk and a ticket salesman, saving whatever money she could spare towards her transport license.<ref name=":2" /> Decades later, she recalled renting a plane and flying it once around the airport for a dollar.<ref name=":2" /> She remarked that "I've got a lot of three-, four- and five-minute entries in my log book. It came very slowly."<ref name=":2" />
== North Dakota Station ==
In 1931, Nicholas married Howard Burleson, who had been one of her instructors at the Lincoln flying school.<ref name=":6">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> They moved to North Dakota, where she became the first woman in the state to get a transport pilot's license.<ref name=":2" /> With her husband, she ran a flying service out of the [[Jamestown Regional Airport|Jamestown Municipal Airport]], making charter trips.<ref name=":6" /> She also worked as an airways observer for the weather bureau and as a station agent and traffic representative for a local firm.<ref name=":6" />
== Albany Airport ==
The Burlesons managed the [[Albany Municipal Airport (Oregon)|Albany Municipal Airport]] in Oregon from 1937 to 1941.<ref name=":7">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> Evelyn Burleson also wrote a column on aviation for the [[Albany Democrat-Herald]],<ref name=":7" /> called Wings Over Willamette.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> In 1939, she was appointed to the women's committee and the junior activities committee of the [[National Aeronautic Association]]'s [[Willamette Valley]] chapter.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref>
In February 1939, Burleson was appointed an air patrolman by the Albany chief of police, making her the second female air patrolman in Oregon.<ref name=":8">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> Her jurisdiction extended over the airport, where she had the responsibility of enforcing aviation law and responding to any emergencies.<ref name=":8" /> She was recommended for the post by the Aero Policewoman's Association of America.<ref name=":8" />
In October 1939, [[Albany Municipal Airport (Oregon)|Albany Municipal Airport]] was approved to run a training program for the [[Civil Aeronautics Authority]].<ref name=":9">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> Burleson became a Civilian Aviation Authority Flight Examiner<ref name=":7" /> after passing her written exam with a score of 94.<ref name=":9" /> It was the highest score her examiner had ever given.<ref name=":9" /> With this achievement, Burleson became the second women to receive a pilot instructor's license in the United States.<ref name=":2" /> Through the program, she instructed an initial group of ten students<ref name=":9" /> and a second group of fifteen students.<ref name=":10">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> Burleson's second class included six women.<ref name=":10" /> The students were required to have eight hours of flight instruction before flying on their own.<ref name=":10" />
In 1941, Oregon women reactivated their chapter of the [[Ninety-Nines]], a professional organization for female pilots.<ref name=":11">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> Burleson was named vice governor of the chapter, which included [[Edith Foltz]], [[Leah Hing]], and Bessie Gale Halliday.<ref name=":11" />
<br />
[[Category:Aviators from Nebraska]][[Category:Aviators from North Dakota]][[Category:Aviators from Oregon]][[Category:American aviators]][[Category:American female aviators]][[Category:Female aviators]]
== Childhood ==
Waldren was born Evelyn Nicholas in [[Stockham, Nebraska]].<ref name=":0">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> When she was five years old, her family moved to [[Lincoln, Nebraska|Lincoln]].<ref name=":0" /> A self-described tomboy, Nicholas grew up helping her stepfather in his garage<ref name=":1">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> and visiting the construction sites where he worked.<ref name=":0" /> She attended McKinley School and Bryant School.<ref name=":0" /> She was skilled at drawing and considered a career as an artist.<ref name=":0" />
In the summer of 1926, Nicholas saw an airshow in the small southern Nebraskan town where her stepfather was working on a railroad.<ref name=":2">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> She was entranced, and became interested in learning to fly.<ref name=":2" /> Aviation appealed to her because of the good pay, the opportunity for travel, and the chance to work outdoors.<ref name=":0" /> Hearing about the feats of pilots like [[Ruth Elder]], [[Charles Lindbergh]] and [[Phoebe Omlie]] strengthened her resolve.<ref name=":3">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref>
== Flight Training ==
Despite Nicholas's arguments, her mother and stepfather refused to let her fly.<ref name=":2" /> Finally, on March 1, 1928, Nicholas's mother agreed to let her train at the Lincoln School of aviation and to pay for the first fifty hours of lessons.<ref name=":2" /> As she told the story in 1986, "My mother enrolled me, paid $50 and said, 'You're on your own now: probably just a whim anyhow.' Well, this whim has lasted 56 years."<ref name=":4">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref>
On March 3, Nicholas took her first flight in a surplus World War I biplane.<ref name=":3" /> She remembered it as "the most remarkable, wonderful feeling. I felt the rush of wind in my face, smelled the exhaust. It looked like a fairyland down there."<ref name=":4" /> She was nineteen years old.<ref name=":4" />
Nicholas flew alone for the first time after 14 hours of practice.<ref name=":3" /> Later that year, she obtained her pilot's license,<ref name=":2" /> becoming the first female pilot in Nebraska.<ref name=":3" /> By then, she had spent 75 hours flying solo.<ref name=":1" />
For ten years, Nicholas's father, William Nicholas, had not known where she was.<ref name=":5">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> After he recognized her picture in the newspaper,<ref name=":1" /> they were reunited in 1928.<ref name=":5" />
== Great Depression ==
After graduating flight school, Nicholas moved to [[Rockford, Illinois]], where she carried passengers and did exhibition flying.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> She hoped to get a transport pilot's license, but needed 200 hours of flying time to qualify.<ref name=":2" /> After the [[Great Depression in the United States|Great Depression]] began in August 1929, Nicholas had difficulty finding jobs, let alone work that would allow her to fly.<ref name=":2" /> She worked as a clerk and a ticket salesman, saving whatever money she could spare towards her transport license.<ref name=":2" /> Decades later, she recalled renting a plane and flying it once around the airport for a dollar.<ref name=":2" /> She remarked that "I've got a lot of three-, four- and five-minute entries in my log book. It came very slowly."<ref name=":2" />
== North Dakota Station ==
In 1931, Nicholas married Howard Burleson, who had been one of her instructors at the Lincoln flying school.<ref name=":6">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> They moved to North Dakota, where she became the first woman in the state to get a transport pilot's license.<ref name=":2" /> With her husband, she ran a flying service out of the [[Jamestown Regional Airport|Jamestown Municipal Airport]], making charter trips.<ref name=":6" /> She also worked as an airways observer for the weather bureau and as a station agent and traffic representative for a local firm.<ref name=":6" />
== Albany Airport ==
The Burlesons managed the [[Albany Municipal Airport (Oregon)|Albany Municipal Airport]] in Oregon from 1937 to 1941.<ref name=":7">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> Evelyn Burleson also wrote a column on aviation for the [[Albany Democrat-Herald]],<ref name=":7" /> called Wings Over Willamette.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> In 1939, she was appointed to the women's committee and the junior activities committee of the [[National Aeronautic Association]]'s [[Willamette Valley]] chapter.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref><ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref>
In February 1939, Burleson was appointed an air patrolman by the Albany chief of police, making her the second female air patrolman in Oregon.<ref name=":8">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> Her jurisdiction extended over the airport, where she had the responsibility of enforcing aviation law and responding to any emergencies.<ref name=":8" /> She was recommended for the post by the Aero Policewoman's Association of America.<ref name=":8" />
In October 1939, [[Albany Municipal Airport (Oregon)|Albany Municipal Airport]] was approved to run a training program for the [[Civil Aeronautics Authority]].<ref name=":9">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> Burleson became a Civilian Aviation Authority Flight Examiner<ref name=":7" /> after passing her written exam with a score of 94.<ref name=":9" /> It was the highest score her examiner had ever given.<ref name=":9" /> With this achievement, Burleson became the second women to receive a pilot instructor's license in the United States.<ref name=":2" /> Through the program, she instructed an initial group of ten students<ref name=":9" /> and a second group of fifteen students.<ref name=":10">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> Burleson's second class included six women.<ref name=":10" /> The students were required to have eight hours of flight instruction before flying on their own.<ref name=":10" />
In 1941, Oregon women reactivated their chapter of the [[Ninety-Nines]], a professional organization for female pilots.<ref name=":11">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> Burleson was named vice governor of the chapter, which included [[Edith Foltz]], [[Leah Hing]], and Bessie Gale Halliday.<ref name=":11" />
<br />
[[Category:Aviators from Nebraska]][[Category:Aviators from North Dakota]][[Category:Aviators from Oregon]][[Category:American aviators]][[Category:American female aviators]][[Category:Female aviators]]
January 18, 2019 at 08:05PM
