San Fernando Valley
Ninety-Nines®


About The 99s®


WASP Jan Wood with long-time member and
Chapter photographer Lilian Darling Holt. (2008)
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SFV Chapter

  • Organized into Chapters & Sections, the SFV Chapter is part of the Southwest Section of The Ninety-Nines, Inc.®, International Organization of Women Pilots®
  • More details on the Chapter Info tab (above)
  • Contact SFV
Southwest Section

International

Who Are The 99s®?

The Ninety-Nines, Inc.® was founded November 2, 1929, at Curtiss Field in Valley Stream, Long Island, New York. At that time, there were 117 women pilots worldwide. All were invited to attend a meeting in Long Island to discuss the possibility of establishing an organization of women pilots. Only a handful was able to attend the meeting, however, Louise Thaden was elected secretary and worked tirelessly to keep the group together as we struggled to organize and grow. Of the 117 originally invited, 99 joined to become charter members. The group took its name from the number of charter members and in 1931 elected Amelia Earhart its first president.

The Ninety-Nines, Inc.® is now an international organization of licensed women pilots from 35 countries -- we currently have over 6,500 members throughout the world. Our International Headquarters are located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Although there are other female pilot organizations in various states and nations, virtually all women of achievement in aviation have been or are members of The Ninety-Nines.

Today, Ninety-Nines® are professional pilots for airlines, industry, and government; we are pilots who teach and pilots who fly for pleasure; we are pilots who are technicians and mechanics. But first and foremost, we are women who love to fly!

Print and share this Flyer Promoting the San Fernando Valley 99s!

WASP Jan Wood, flanked by long-time members Mary Glassman (left) and Paula Sandling (right)

WASP Jan Wood, flanked
by long-time members
Mary Glassman (left) and
Paula Sandling (right).
(Photo by Lilian Darling Holt, 2008)

History of the SFV Chapter

The San Fernando Valley Chapter of The Ninety-Nines® (SFV 99s®) began on February 1, 1952 as a spin-off from the Los Angeles Chapter. From the original membership of 13 women (listed below), our chapter has grown to over 70 members.

Clara B. Davies Jean (Parker) Rose * Jeanne L. Strahl
Barbara Dewees Roberta Smith Margaret Stugis
Anne Rambo Margaret Standish * Kathrine Wagner
Elsie Ringer Irma "Babe" Story * Belle Young
Beatrice "Trixie" Ann Schubert

The SFV Chapter is proud to have had a number of former WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) in our ranks. * Above, asterisks indicate WASP in our original membership. Since then, other WASP include Lauretta Foy, Jary McKay, Mary Lou Neale, Lola Ricci, Alyce Rohrer, and Jan Wood.

The WASP organization was formed in the early part of World War II and dissolved in 1944. More info on WASP may be found at Wings Across America and Wikipedia.

San Fernando Valley is one of the largest, most active, and most innovative chapters within the global reaches of The Ninety-Nines®. With over 70 members, the Chapter continually strives to promote aerospace education to school-age children and to the general aviation community.

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