Crosson, Marvel (1904–1929)

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Crosson, Marvel (1904–1929)

American pilot. Born April 27, 1904, in Warsaw, Indiana; died Aug 18, 1929, in Wellton, Arizona.

Made 1 st solo flight in San Diego (1923); accompanied brother to Alaska to try bush flying, and became the 1st woman there to earn pilot's license (1927); became stunt flyer and, with brother, founded an air-transport company; became women's altitude record holder (1929); died during the National Women's Air Derby (1929), after jumping from her disabled plane. Accusations were made that Crosson's plane, and the planes of some other women at the Derby, had suffered from tampering or inadequate maintenance to keep them out of the race.