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[[Image]] FLY-AWAY of Amelia Earhart commemorative covers by Ninety-Nines is described by Louise Thaden, center, while visiting with Mrs. O. A. Beech, president, and Frank E. Hedrick, executive vice president. Mrs. Thaden was associated with Travel Air Company and Beechcraft in its early years as sales demonstration pilot. [[Image]] ADMIRING memorial plaque designed by Miss Felicity Burnalli, of New York, are from left, Mrs. Arthur Marshall, Mrs. Beech, Viola Gentry and Mrs. Truly Nolen, who flew in from Tucson, Arizona. Plaque was presented to library of Purdue University by Miss Gentry under sponsorship of Ninety-Nines and anonymous donor. Amelia Earhart Commemoration Leaders Visit Beech Two world-famous pilots, principals in the recent commemorative ceremonies for the renowned Kansas-born aviatrix, Amelia Earhart, were recent visitors to Beech Aircraft. The long-time personal friends of Mrs. O. A. Beech, president, were Louise Thaden and Viola Gentry, each of whom has won distinction in the annals of aviation history. As charter members of the Ninety-Nines, Inc., international organizations of women pilots, Mrs. Thaden and Miss Gentry took leading parts in the Amelia Earhart commemorative stamp lift at Atchison, Kansas, Miss Earhart's birthplace. The Ninety-Nines were sponsors of the stamp lift in which they flew first-day issue covers to cities and towns from coast to coast, each one a point at which Amelia Earhart had touched down during her many flights. They also arranged for the covers to be flown by airlines to 19 other countries. Mrs. Beech, long noted for her active support of aviation causes, was honored when the first covers to be flown into Wichita from Atchison were delivered to her at Beech Field. They were flown to Wichita by local Ninety-Nines. The visit to Beechcraft by Mrs. Thaden and Miss Gentry recalled the numerous flying records which they established in the 1920s and 1930s. Mrs. Thaden in 1929 flew Travel Airs to national altitude and endurance records for women and won the Women's Air Derby. She gained wide fame in 1936 in piloting the Beechcraft Model 17 to a national speed record for women and to first place in the Bendix Trophy Race, New york to Los Angeles. Miss Gentry, who learned to fly at Roosevelt Field in New York in 1926, distinguished herself by such exploits as establishing the first official solo endurance record for women. She has accomplished much work in organizing women's interest in aviation. Amelia Earhart, whose accomplishments are held in high esteem throughout the world, was a charter member of the Ninety-Nines and their first president. She winged her way to international fame with many aviation triumphs, among which were: first woman to fly the Atlantic alone (in 1932); first person to fly from Hawaii to the United States mainland, and first woman to fly nonstop across the United States. In July, 1937, while attempting a flight around the world with copilot Fred Noonan, the plane which she was flying was lost from contact while in the Pacific area. Exact circumstances surrounding her disappearance have never been fully ascertained. [[image]] LOUISE THADEN piloted new Beechcraft Musketeer in fly-away from Atchison, then delivered the plane to Piedmont Aviation, Beech Aircraft distributor in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. [[image]] ATTRACTIVE first-day issue covers, bearing memorial airmail stamp and Ninety-Nine cachet, are being sold around the world in support of Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship Fund. Stamps were issued on what would have been Miss Earhart's 66th birthday and 26 years of the month since she vanished in Pacific. [[image]] FLYING from Atchison to Beech Field via Beechcraft Bonanza to deliver first commemorative covers to Mrs. Beech were Wichitans, at left, Mrs. Charles Aikins, of Ninety-Nines, who piloted the plane; second from right, Mrs. Owen McEwen, also of Ninety-Nines; Mrs. R.E. Weniger, of Women's Aeronautical Association. August 1963 The BEECHCRAFTER 8 48
