Louise Thaden

Pilot

Birthday November 12, 1905

Birth Sign Scorpio

Birthplace Arkansas

DEATH DATE Nov 9, 1979 (73)

#257,111 Most Popular

About

American pilot who set many altitude and endurance records and won the prestigious Bendix trophy.

Before Fame

Her job as a sales representative with a Kansas air travel company offered her the opportunity to take free flying lessons.

Trivia

She won the prestigious Bendix Transcontinental Air Race of 1936, earning $4,500 for her first place finish and an additional $2,500 for being the first female winner of the race.

Family Life

Her pilot and engineer husband, Herbert von Thaden, helped her design her record-breaking planes.

Associated With

She was a friend of fellow aviator Amelia Earhart.