Grave at Arlington National Cemetery

Selma Kantor Cronan (May 6, 1913 – August 5, 2002) was an American aviator. She was part of the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) during World War II, and after the war, she continued to fly. She was especially known for competing in air races such as the Powder Puff Derby.

Biography

Cronan was born in Asbury Park, New Jersey and was Jewish. Her mother had taken her on an airplane ride in the 1920s in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and it inspired her as a young girl to want to be a pilot.[1]

Cronan earned her commercial pilot's license in 1941.[2] She was personally invited by Jacqueline Cochran to join the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) in 1943.[1]

Cronan continued to fly after World War II, competing in air races.[3] She joined the pilots' organization, the Ninety-Nines, in 1944.[4] In 1948 she was unable to participate in an air race because she could not find anyone to watch her twin sons.[5] She eventually taught her husband, Walter Cronan, to fly, but when he had an accident in an airplane, the couple decided that only one of them should fly.[6] They decided that Selma should continue to pilot airplanes.[6] Through the 1960s, she participated in the Powder Puff Derby and other air events.[7][8][9] Cronan was inducted into the Aviation Hall of Fame of New Jersey in May 1994.[10]

Cronan died on August 5, 2002, and was interred at Arlington National Cemetery.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b "Selma Cronan". Jewish Virtual Library. Archived from the original on 23 September 2018. Retrieved 2019-01-06.
  2. ^ "She'll Have an Eye on This Air Race". The Record. 26 February 1982. Retrieved 5 January 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Metal, Tara (22 May 2014). "Women of the U.S. Air Force: Selma Cronan and Yetta Moskowitz". Jewish Women's Archive. Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 2019-01-06.
  4. ^ Smith, Lee Eric (19 April 1993). "Love of Flying". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2019-01-06 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Jeanne D'Ambly Reaches Miami". The Morning News. 3 June 1948. Retrieved 2019-01-06 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b "His Wife's Up in the Clouds But His Life Isn't Heavenly". The Record. 15 July 1963. Retrieved 2019-01-06 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Bergen Pair Heads West for Powder Puff Derby". The Record. 27 June 1960. Retrieved 2019-01-06 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Rader, Barbara (30 June 1961). "Two Bergen Gals to Take Part in National Powder Puff Derby". The Record. Retrieved 2019-01-06 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Smith, Grace B. (6 October 1968). "Flying Aces Play a Hand". The Record. Retrieved 2019-01-06 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "WWII Female Pilot Honored". The Palm Beach Post. 28 May 1994. Retrieved 2019-01-06 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Arlington County VA Archives Cemeteries...Arlington National Cemetery - Surnames CROD - D". USGW Archives. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 2019-01-06.
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