Betty Gillies
From Women Aviators
Betty Huyler Gillies (January 1, 1909 - October 14, 1998) was a pioneer American aviator.
Betty was born in Syosset, Long Island, New York.
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World War II
Betty was the first female pilot to qualify for the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron.
She entered the WAFS on September 12, 1942. At this time she had 14 years of flying experience, with a total of 1400 hours to her credit. She also held various aeronautical ratings, and for two years (1939 - 1941) was president of the Ninety-Nines, an international club of women flyers formed in 1929.
When Nancy Love transferred to Dallas Love Field, in Dallas, Texas to start a new WAFS ferrying unit, she was made squadron leader of the WAFS assigned to the 2nd Ferrying Group, New Castle Army Air Base, Wilmington, Delaware.
In early March 1943, Betty became the first woman to fly the P-47 (Republic P-47 Thunderbolt) when she was checked out on the aircraft at Wilmington. The "check out" consisted of an explanation of aircraft systems, flight characteristics and emergency procedures. Since the P-47 was a single seat aircraft, her first flight was also her first solo flight.
On August 15, 1943, Nancy Love and Betty Gillies qualified as first pilots (i.e. aircraft commanders) on Boeing B-17s and made three deliveries together during the balance of the month. On September 2, 1943, they departed Cincinnati on a ferry mission to deliver a B-17F to England; however, the mission was canceled before the aircraft left Goose Bay, Labrador.
Betty remained squadron leader of the Women Airforce Service Pilots assigned to the 2nd Ferrying Group at New Castle Army Air Base until the WASPs were disbanded on December 20, 1944.
After World War II, she married and had three children. One of her children died at age 4; her remaining son and daughter became commercial pilots, and four of her grandchildren also became pilots.
Also after the war, Betty was a ham radio operator who, using her radio, connected phone calls to ships in the Pacific from her home in California. She had her huge antenneas directed at the Antartic and maintained contact with the staff and Navy personnel in Operation Deep Freeze who were stationed there for two year hitches.
Awards And Honors
- Served as president of The Ninety-Nines
- President Johnson appointed Gillies in 1964 to be the first FAA Women's Advisory Committee.
- Received a Paul Tissandier Diploma from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale in 1977
- The National Aeronautic Association Elder Statesman of Aviation Award in 1982
References
- Betty Huyler Gillies: Charter Member
- National Museum of the Air Force Betty Gillies Biography
- Oral History Transcript of Florene Miller Watson by Rebecca Wright in March 2000
- Award Winners of the Wesley L. McDonald Elder Statesman Award winners
