Stinson, Marjorie (1894–1975)

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Stinson, Marjorie (1894–1975)

American aviator. Name variations: The Flying Schoolmarm; Madge Stinson. Born July 5, 1894, at Fort Payne, AL; died April 15, 1975, in Washington, DC; dau. of Emma Beavers Stinson (who served as business manager for family flight school); sister of Katherine Stinson (aviator), Eddie Stinson (airplane designer), and Jack Stinson (pilot).

At 18, enrolled in Wright School at Dayton; received pilot's license (1914 [some sources cite 1913]); served as chief flying instructor at family's flight school in San Antonio, TX; inducted (as only woman) into US Aviation Reserve Corps (1915); when refused position as pilot in US Army, and family school shut down due to ban on civilian flying, served as draftsman with Aeronautical Division of US Navy, Washington, DC.