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MANILA DAVIS TALLEY

(These notes are largely from "Biographies of THE CLASS OF 1923," New England Conservatory of Music, prepared by Madeline Meredith, for the Occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration, June 2, 1973.)

Manila Carolyn Davis, daughter of Claude C. and Ada Lee (Berry) Davis, was born at Flatwoods, W. Va., June 29, 1898; graduated Sutton, W. Va., High School; Three years W. Va., University School of Music and Science; Graduated New England Conservatory of Music, BosTon, Mass., Pianoforte Diploma (1923); Graduate Orchestral Director of the New Rousekoff Ballet-two years; New York School of Design-one year; Massachusetts Institute of Technology Guggenheim School of Aeronautics-one year; Writer's Digest Writing to Sell; USAF Officer's Candidate School; Squadron Officer's School; Command and Staff College, and USAF Air War College (1966)-the third woman to so graduate.

Learned to fly in 1929, and was first woman pilot in West Virginia, and first woman on Curtiss Wright Sales Force, Boston (1929-30). Research in Wall Street for John-Price-Jones Corp., NYC, (1930-33); Organized and helped promote the first National Air Meet and Races for Women, Dayton, Ohio, (1934). She crash landed her Great Lakes Trainer, NC848K, while test flying it following over-haul four days before the meet and did not fly in this meet.