Selma Kantor Cronan (May 6, 1913 – August 5, 2002) was an American

aviator An aircraft pilot or aviator is a person who controls the flight of an aircraft by operating its Aircraft flight control system, directional flight controls. Some other aircrew, aircrew members, such as navigators or flight engineers, are al ...

. She was part of the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, and after the war, she continued to fly. She was especially known for competing in air races such as the

Powder Puff Derby The Women's Air Derby was the first official women-only air race in the United States, taking place during the 1929 National Air Races. Humorist Will Rogers referred to it as the Powder Puff Derby, the name by which the race is most commonly kn ...

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 Asbury Park () is a beachfront city located on the Jersey Shore in Monmouth County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is part of the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the city's population was 15,188

and it inspired her as a young girl to want to be a pilot. Cronan earned her commercial pilot's license in 1941. She was personally invited by

Jacqueline Cochran Jacqueline Cochran (May 11, 1906 – August 9, 1980) was an American pilot and business executive. She pioneered women's aviation as one of the most prominent racing pilots of her generation. She set numerous records and was the first woman to br ...

to join the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) in 1943. Cronan continued to fly after

, competing in air races. She joined the pilots' organization, the

Ninety-Nines The Ninety-Nines: International Organization of Women Pilots, also known as The 99s, is an international organization that provides networking, mentoring, and flight scholarship opportunities to recreational and professional female pilots. Foun ...

, in 1944. In 1948 she was unable to participate in an air race because she could not find anyone to watch her twin sons. 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. They decided that Selma should continue to pilot airplanes. Through the 1960s, she participated in the

and other air events. Cronan was inducted into the

Aviation Hall of Fame of New Jersey The Aviation Hall Of Fame & Museum of New Jersey was founded in 1972 and preserves New Jersey's aviation and space heritage. The museum displays historic aircraft, space equipment, artifacts, photographs, art and an aircraft model collection. The ...

in May 1994. Cronan died on August 5, 2002 and was interred at

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is one of two national cemeteries run by the United States Army. Nearly 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington, Virginia. There are about 30 funerals conducted on weekdays and 7 held on Sa ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cronan, Selma 1913 births 2002 deaths American aviators Burials at Arlington National Cemetery People from New Jersey Women Airforce Service Pilots personnel Jewish American military personnel 20th-century American Jews 21st-century American Jews 21st-century American women