Western Museum of Flight Celebrity Series: Iris Critchell, Pioneer Female Aviator
Just think of the changes you'd see in life and the community. Well Iris Critchell, a pioneer female aviator, has seen changes ... from a 1,00 feet up. Sure some people realize the way life was in their neighborhoods but Critchell saw Torrance, Los Angeles and LA County blossom. Started in 1939 at Mines Field continuing at the USC Civilian Pilot programs at Gardena Valley Airport. Iris she taught Civil Pilot Training programs; was a Ferry Command WAFS/WASP pilot and based at Long Beach AAB, after the 6 th Ferry Group/ 556 Air Base Unit took over the Torrance airport in 1944. She flew new aircraft qualification transition flights into and around the Torrance Airport. In 1945 as the WASP was disbanding, she gave instruction for the local CAP unit at Torrance Airport. She left for Santa Maria teaching aero courses and instrument flight, Iris returned in 1948. Iris established the new Long Beach Chapter of the Ninety Nines (International Organization of Women Pilots) and to serve in the regeneration of the All Woman Transcontinental Air Race, Iris worked with several of the pioneer women pilots who had founded this Race and the Ninety Nines in 1929. While raising their family of two with her pilot husband, Howard, she found time each year for 16 years to fly the AWTAR race which continued for thirty years. For seven of these years the start or the finish was hosted by the Long Beach Chapter of the 99’s and for three of those years the race start or finish was here at Torrance Airport. By 1961 several paths of aviation education interested people from the South Bay joined to bring the unique Isabel Bates Foundation for Aeronautical Education to Harvey Mudd College in Claremont. Iris developed the courses, Class and Flight, and taught both at Harvey Mudd for the next 35 years. She still flies and continues working with the unique Bates/Harvey Mudd College Aero Heritage Library.
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