Noyes, Blanche (1900–1981)

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Noyes, Blanche (1900–1981)

American aviator. Born June 23, 1900, in Cleveland, Ohio; died Oct 1981 in Washington, DC; m. Dewey Noyes (airmail pilot, killed in an air crash, 1935).

Soloed (Feb 15, 1929); became a demonstration pilot for Standard Oil (1931); worked for Air Marking Group of the Bureau of Air Commerce (1936–71); with co-pilot Louise Thaden, became 1st woman to enter and win the Bendix Cup Race, flying from NY to Los Angeles in a record-setting 14 hours, 54 minutes (1936); was the 1st woman to receive a gold medal from the Commerce Department. Inducted into Aviation Hall of Fame (1970).