I like Cindy-Vicky

Today I want to explain how my family influenced my life’s passion. People who know me think that my passion for aviation was due to my brother. My brother flew a plane before he drove a car. I don’t remember anything about his flying days. He got his private license and flew for a few years.

He became an aeronautical engineer and worked for Boeing for 40 years. Today he is retired but is a Docent and researcher at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. When I was in Seattle he gave me a tour at this wonderful museum.
Today he has many other interests and I think I’m more into aviation then he is. All he remembers about our Aunt Vicky is the saddle she kept in my parent’s basement. Vicky had her own horse but when she was separated from her husband she bounced from place to place. One of those places was my parents home. I also remember the saddle but nothing else comes to mind about Vicky. I was about 5 when she lived in Chicago. My brother is two years older and he doesn’t remember anything either.
I know I went on a family vacation to see Aunt Vicky. I was about six when we visited her in San Diego. Vicky had remarried a man named George LaMonte. I don’t remember anything about that trip or George.

It wasn’t till my dad passed away that I developed my interest in aviation and Vicky. Dad had possession of an old suitcase of Vicky. I went through the newspapers, pictures and medals of Vicky’s interesting life. I became enthralled with Vicky and aviation.
In future posts I will explain what I found in this magical suitcase.
It wasn’t until the last few posts that I realized I was finding myself as I learned about aviation and Vicky. I know now that I am Cindy-Vicky or Vicky-Cindy and that I am beginning to like the person I became. I never felt that way before.

I am grateful for technology that has taken me back decades and yet me also helped me live in the present.

Thank you for reading and following. I wish you all:
BLUE SKIES AND SOFT WINDS THAT TAKE YOU THROUGH THIS FASCINATING RIDE…CALLED LIFE.

Vicky, A Jewish Woman Pilot in 1931

In Vicky’s suitcase I found a newspaper clipping, dated October 16, 1931, that was fascinating. Unfortunately, the date doesn’t appear in the copy that I have. I researched it and found the date of the article. It stated that Vicky was the only Jewish women pilot in 1931. She took flying lessons after she traveled. The money to fly came from the Durant and Lederer families. But where did the motivation come from. No one in my family flew a plane but it was the era of Lindbergh and Amelia. Everyone wanted to be up in the air. Women were expected to be in the kitchen and caring for her husband and children. Well, Vicky had no children and her husband had just walked out on her. She had money and her adventurous spirit probably told her why not learn to fly!
I don’t know if she was a practicing Jew or just on the fringes of her religion. My grandparents were orthodox Jews, but my parents were Reform German Jews. This group of Jews were not accepted during this time.
I imagine that Vicky was like her brother my dad. He was a very liberal reform Jew. Still, it was very unusual for a Jewish woman to become a pilot. She was 40 years old when she learned to fly. She was much older than other women who had learned to fly during the 30’s.
This article was in a bulletin from a synagogue called Temple Emanuel. The clipping is so old that all I can see is the end of the temple’s name “uel”. I know that my parents belonged to this temple. It is located in Chicago, near Lake Michigan and is still in existence today. Because this is so ago it is impossible to locate anyone who might have known Vicky.
I have not been able to find any other information about Vicky being one of the only Jewish woman pilots from that era. There were Jewish men that flew in that era only Vicky and a woman named Ruth Elder were pilots. If anyone knows information about any Jewish women pilots in the early 30’s please email me at: Lflyer333@gmail.com.

Going Back To Raymere

I found some interesting information that I found in the book “Around Deal Lake” by Marie A. Sylvester (Arcadia 1998). There is a picture of Raymere the caption says: “This is Raymere, the stately French-influenced mansion of General Motors founder William C. Durant.” It had fourteen floors and six bathrooms.  The home was near the Jersey shore and was one of the most valuable in Deal Beach. Huge amounts of money was spent on decorating and the parties were the most extravagant in the community.  Vicky and Ward visited often even though Vicky, Catherine and Durrants mother never got along well. When my father came to Raymere, he found opulence in every direction. Huge dinner parties were the norm. Vicky was very athletic and played golf and swam at Raymere. William and Catherine belonged to thirteen golf clubs. The pools were large and surrounded by beautiful flowers, statues and fountains. Durant bought the home in 1920 and remained there till 1940. As I mentioned before it was torn down in 1951. It’s amazing that it took seven weeks to tear down the home.

Mary Riddle

Mary Riddle, also known as Kingfisher, was the early Native American woman pilot. She was born in 1912 in Portland and was a member of the Clatsop and Quinault Indian Nation in her home state of Washington.

   She decided to prove that women could be as good as male pilots. She received her pilots license with very few lessons. 

  In 1930 Mary flew to Washington D.C. to present President Hoover with tribal gifts from her tribe in the Northwest. On May 19, 1930, Mary soloed and then she appeared in the Portland Rose Festival. She was dressed in her tribal costume and rode a horse up to her plane. She was asked to help form an all-women’s stunt team, but she decided to fly on her own. 

  She was a barnstormer and became well-known because she was American Indian, and she was a fabulous pilot. Mary wore traditional clothing and attracted huge crowds to her performances.

  1937 was a special year for Mary when she earned her commercial pilots license.   

  This was a tremendous achievement for a woman Native-American. 1937 was a year that discrimination was very prevalent in the United States. She was able to overcome the negative language that was said about her. Mary proved that a women could excel at anything she attempted.

  Mary was a member of the Seattle chapter of the 99s.  She wanted to learn how to parachute and attended the Spartan School in Tulsa. The school president didn’t want her to take lessons because she was an Indian and a woman. She convinced them that she was serious and would be a superior student. She showed her intelligence when she graduated with honors.  

  In 1937 Mary’s parachute didn’t open correctly and it tangled around her legs, and she broke her back. After that accident she gave up her flying career. 

 Even though Mary wasn’t flying she couldn’t stay away from airplanes. During World War 11 she was aluminum sheet metal worker and helped maintain planes for the United States Air Force’s Civil Service. Her fellow workers found that she was pleasant and very knowledgeable. At first, they didn’t accept Mary, but they learned that she was a proficient pilot not just a women American Indian pilot.

 

Dad, Vicky and Ward at Raymere

My dad is kneeling and my aunt and her husband, Ward Lederer are on the far right. I have no idea who the other people are. They are standing in front of Raymere, the fourteen bedrooms of the home of William C. Durant. My Dad told me he didn’t know which spoon to use when he visited Vicky!

I hope that someone can recognize the others in the picture. It’s the only picture I have of my dad with his sister Vicky. This picture was taken in the late ‘20s.

Vicky wasn’t famous but. ……

Everyone is famous in some way.  I wrote some of the accomplishments of her flying days. I will tell you more but it’s her spirit that makes her so special. She broke the rules that were expected for women. That’s the kind of women that thrills me. Vicky followed her passion now it’s my turn.

I have divided my story of Vicky into three parts. I only know her early years through her paraphernalia. If I repeat some of this information, I’m sorry but I just feel trilled with her accomplishments.

1. Vicky was a graduate of Roosevelt Field Flying School in Mineola, Long Island New York. This was the same field as Lindbergh, and Amelia. Most of the famous flights in the 30’s were out of Roosevelt Field.  It was the most modern field at the time.  Mineola became known as the “Hot Bed” of Aviation during the Golden Age of Aviation” during the 30’s.   Now I want to continue to tell you more about Vicky’s accomplishments.

2 Vicky participated in the Miami American Air Race.

3. She owned a flying school.

4. She also had a flying school in Juneau, Alaska.

5. She vied with 4 men for a race from Honolulu to San Francisco in 1931.

6. She was an honorary member of the New York Ariel Police.

7. Vicky was a member of the Air Pilots Association.

8. She drove a midget car New York to Cleveland.

9. Vicky was a member of the Aviation Country Club at Palwaukee Airport.

10. Now I go in the way back machine to 1925 when Vicky married a wealthy man named Ward Lederer. This was the beginning of life in the fast lane for Vicky.

The Rich Versus The Poor During The Depression

                                      

High Society women lived well even during the Depression.

The culture of the 30’s changed in many ways because of the Depression. It was a time of austerity and wealth.  Only a small % of the population lived in the high society. Most lived abject poverty. The stars were pictured in many magazines, but women could only stare at them. Most could never achieve the looks of these famous people. Women used accessories like jewelry, belts and hats to appear like their screen idols.

There was an incredible disparity between the rich and the wealthy during the depression. Those in high society barely noticed the horrors of poverty that the average person endured. The rich lived in their own little world of excitement and fun. Many still had an incredible amount of money during the depression. Most people weren’t aware of the wealthy people because they were just trying to survive. They couldn’t imagine that they would ever that they could climb out poverty. Incredibly, this small percentage of rich people did exist. 

 Screen stars like Greta Garbo, Vivien Leigh and Claudette Colbert represented glamour and rich women wanted to emulate them. Even the wealthy used accessories to enhance their look. Belts, jewelry, and hats were used on a regular basis by those that could afford these extras.

  They were able to afford some of these expensive styles but women living in poverty could never imagine wearing those clothes or any accessories. These accessories made many women feel like they were wearing different clothing.

  Women found ways to be frugal by wearing two-piece suits. This would allow women to change tops or skirts for different occasions. Women felt they had new clothes. Women’s coats during the depression were perfect for the frugal. The wealthy wore detachable fur collars and made it appear like two coats.  Spring brought rain and high society women used clear umbrellas so their exquisite and stylish clothes could be seen underneath the umbrella.

  Wealthy men wanted to look like Cary Grant, James Stewart or Clark Gable. They wanted to dress like them, act like them or even imitate their talk. Men wore raccoon coats because they rode in open cars and had to protect themselves in inclement weather. These coats were the rage of the era while the men living in poverty were lucky to have a light coat.

  Men of great wealth always wore a suit. They were made to make men look more manly. The bought were very long to make seem strong and tall. Men who lived in poverty didn’t worry about looking more manly. Most of them didn’t even have any suits. They wore ill-fitting clothes because they never had the money to buy new clothes. They were just grateful to feed and clothe their wives and children.

  Men in poor families found jobs where physical strength was needed. They became dirty and needed strong clothes to be farmers, construction workers or minors. These clothes were called overalls.    

  Children learned to play by using their imagination. Rich families bought their kids Mickey Mouse dolls or even a Buck Rogers ray gun.  Boys and girls played with Tinker Toy Construction Sets, toy trains and Lincoln Logs. Poor families couldn’t afford to buy store bought toys for their children so they gave them old toys from siblings. These children played with finger paint, marbles and jacks.

  Children’s clothing depended on the parents’ monetary situation. If the parents were wealthy their children dressed as the child stars of Hollywood like Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney and Shirley Temple. Poor families were not able to dress their children in the same way. It was common for them to make their children’s clothes. Sometimes they even used empty flour sacks for their children’s clothes.

  Wealthy Parents were able to buy their children’s shoes for play, school or church. Poor children usually went barefoot because the family couldn’t afford to buy their shoes.

   High society people continued to live as they had in the 20’s. Scions of industry like John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie came to see and be seen at the famous El Morocco and The Stork Club. The most famous socialite was Betty Hutton. She had the most lavish coming out party that cost more than $ 6,000 dollars.

  Wealthy people could continue their lifestyle during the Depression where they could drink as much as they wanted. Those that wanted fun would travel by boat far enough from the shore line so prohibition laws wouldn’t apply. They partied, drank and danced to the best bands like Glenn Miller, Harry James and Jimmy Dorsey.

 The 30’s were the most unusual time in our country’s history. The wealthy and the poor never seemed to meet in the middle. Those who lived through the Depression era felt it colored their lives with riches or poverty. Not everyone was standing in line asking Brother Can You Spare a Dime. I don’t mean to diminish the horror of poverty during this era but we must remember both groups existed during the Depression. This reality was part of our country’s history.

   New York was the center of the cafe society. The El Morocco and The Stork Club were the places to see and be seen. Socialities, celebrities and those from aristocratic families lived lives that the rest of Americans couldn’t even imagine. The Waldorf Astoria-Hotel and The Ritz Hotel held lavish parties often planned by hostess Elsa Maxwell. These parties were the most extravagant of the era. Socialite, Betty Hutton was the granddaughter of the Woolworth family had a coming out party that cost over $60,000 in 1933. The rich and famous were in attendance including the Rockefellers and the Astors.

Wealthy, newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst was losing huge amounts of money during the Depression but he continued to spend extravagantly. His parties were known all over the country due to the gossip columnist Louella Parsons. 

 The 30’s would be remembered as the of excruciating poverty and incredible excesses. Most people today only relate with their extremely difficult lives. Most don’t realize that there was a segment of the society that still lived the high life. The 30’s were the most unusual time in our country’s history. The wealthy and the poor never seemed to meet in the middle. Those who lived through the Depression era felt it colored their lives with riches or poverty. Not everyone was standing in line asking Brother Can You Spare a Dime. I don’t mean to diminish the horror of poverty during this era but we must remember both groups existed during the Depression. This reality was part of our country’s history.

Mrs. Anne Lindbergh’s Letter

When I first started my research about my Aunt Vicky, I sent out 102 letters to everyone in her address book. I received three responses. This letter was the most unusual reply. I found the address of Anne Lindberg wife of Charles, in a public library in my community. After all that happened in that family, I was floored that her address was public. Her baby was kidnaped and killed. I decided to write her and hoped that she would remember my aunt.

The letter I received was written in 1996 and Mrs. Lindberg was up there in age, so her nurse wrote me. Anne remembered my aunt but knew any details except that she was a women pilot.

Mrs. Lindbergh lived in Darian, Connecticut which was a very wealthy community. I couldn’t believe I received a letter. It was written by her nurse, but she said she showed Mrs. Lindbergh my letter and she thought she remembered a Jewish woman pilot. Her nurse said Mrs. Lindbergh wished she remembered more about my aunt.

I just couldn’t believe that I received any reply!

When I first started my research about my Aunt Vicky, I sent out 102 letters to everyone in her address book. I received three responses. This letter was the most unusual reply. I found the address of Anne Lindberg wife of Charles, in a public library in my community. After all that happened in that family, I was floored that her address was public. Her baby was kidnaped and killed. I decided to write her and hoped that she would remember my aunt.

The letter I received was written in 1996 and Mrs. Lindberg was up there in age, so her nurse wrote me. Anne remembered my aunt but knew any details except that she was a women pilot.

Mrs. Lindbergh lived in Darian, Connecticut which was a very wealthy community. I couldn’t believe I received a letter. It was written by her nurse, but she said she showed Mrs. Lindbergh my letter and she thought she remembered a Jewish woman pilot. Her nurse said Mrs. Lindbergh wished she remembered more about my aunt.

I just couldn’t believe that I received any reply!

 

Aline Rhonie Pilot and Artist

Mural by Aline Rhonie

Aline Rhonie Hofheimer, a pilot in the 30’s and 40’s was known in aviation only by the name Aline Rhonie. She was born in 1909 and died in 1963. She was only 54 at the time of her death.

  She was known for some unusual activities in aviation. In 1931 she was a participant in a contest where she dropped bombs and a contest for the best dead stick landing. A dead stick landing when a plane loses its power. This is a very dangerous method to land but Aline was very proficient with this method. 

  Dropping bombs known was an exciting stunt on the aerial circus. It was dangerous and the spectators were horrified but excited to see this stunt.   Aline married a race pilot socialite named Peter Brooks. They celebrated this honeymoon by flying in separate planes for a 17,500-mile flight. Peter and Aline were enthralled with aviation but that wasn’t enough to make their marriage last.

  Aline had many achievements as a pilot. As a woman she achieved more honors that men thought women could ever make. 

  Aline earned her transport license in 1936. She went on to be the first woman to receive the Irish Commercial license in 1938. This certainly was unusual. She went on to show men that she was an incredible pilot and just as proficient as men in aviation.

Aline went to Mexico and met Diego Rivera who was a Mexican artist. He taught her the basics of painting. She went back to Long Island and became famous for painting a mural about the pilots that flew on Long Island. Unfortunately, the painting is now in storage.

Pilots and Hollywood

Through the decades aviation manufactures have had close ties to the entertainment industry. Douglas Aircraft Co. was headquartered in Santa Monica the location helped them have access to Hollywood stars. The stars were glamorous, and people wanted to emulate them. World War 11 many films were about the e success of the fighter planes. During the Depression the aviation industry was growing. In order to entice more people to fly they would have movie stars make talks about how wonderful it was to travel by air. 

 In 1927 Boeing had many of their planes in the motion picture “Wings” It was a silent picture that won the first Oscar for first “Best Picture.” The combination of the fighter planes in the movie made the film very accurate. 

  Passengers flying in the 30s, 40s and 50s had flew first class pricing and seating. They thought that there was a chance to sit next to their favorite star. Boeing and other plane manufacturers were consultants on the accuracy of the technical aspects of the film. As consultants they got to know the stars in the films and spread the word of the companies. Boeing and others wanted to help recreate the glamor of flying. Today that isn’t true. Passengers don’t have very many amenities. In decades past travel by air was the best way to travel.

  Boeing developed a very close relationship with the major movie studios. Even today the company has a interesting relationship with the movie industry.