Helen Richey 

Born in 1919 in McKeesport, PA, Helen Richey as a young girl became enthralled with flying. She was determined to be a pinot and willingly participated in many high-risk flying ventures to establish herself and forge a path for women in aviation. Richey established several amazing records. She was the FIRST woman to be: 

~ Licensed Pinot in Bettis Field, in Allegheny County PA (1930)

~Licensed Commercial Flight Pilot in the US (1934)

~First Woman to fly Air Mail Flights in the US (1934)

~Licensed by the Civil Aeronautics Authority as a Flight Instructor (1940).

Richey was fearless in her flying and set several aviation records: 

~In 1931 Richey and co-pilot Frances Marsalis set a women's endurance record for flying 237 hours and 43 minutes.

~In 1936, Richey set an international women's speed record for light planes and an altitude record. The public and the American Press were fascinated by women in aviation, but most male pilots were not. Richey often faced hostile pilots who worked hard to eliminate her from the competition and well-paying jobs. 

~In 1942, she traveled to Great Britain and became commander of the small group of American women who flew planes for the British Air Transport Auxiliary, transporting planes and bombs between munition factories and airbases. 

~In 1943, she joined the Women's Air Force Service Pinots (WASP). Over the next twenty months, she logged more than 300 hours ferrying fighter planes, heavy bombers, and cargo planes between U.S. bases. 

When the WASP was disbanded at the end of WWII, Richey found herself unable to secure a flying job. Despondent and ill, Helen Richey took her own life on August 7, 1947. At her funeral service in McKeesport's Versailles Cemetery, four airplanes from Bettis Airfield circled overhead in tribute to her. 

In 1957, McKeesport dedicated the Helen Richey Memorial Field in Renziehausen Park. A Pennsylvania Historical Marker was dedicated to Helen Richey in 2002 at Renzie Park.