| Ruth Bancroft Law | |
|---|---|
Ruth Law in 1915 |
|
| Born | 1887 |
| Died | December 1, 1970 (aged 83) |
| Nationality | American |
| Citizenship | American |
| Known for | aviation pioneer |
Ruth Bancroft Law (1887 - 1970) was a pioneer American aviatrix during the 1910s.
Law received her pilot's license in November 1912. In 1915 she gave a demonstration of aerobatics at Daytona Beach, Florida, before a large crowd. She announced that she was going to "loop the loop" for the first time, and proceeded to do so, not once but twice, to the consternation of her husband Charles Oliver.
In the spring of 1916, Law took part in an altitude competition, twice narrowly coming second to male fliers. She was furious, determined to set a record that would stand against men as well as women.
Law's greatest feat took place on 19 November 1916, when she smashed the existing cross-country distance flying record of 452 miles (728 km) set by Victor Carlstrom by flying non-stop from Chicago to New York State, a distance of 590 miles (950 km). The next day she flew on to New York City. Flying over Manhattan, her fuel cut out, but she coolly glided to a safe landing on Governors Island and was met by United States Army Captain Henry "Hap" Arnold, who would one day become Commanding General of the United States Army Air Forces. She was the toast of the city; President Woodrow Wilson attended a dinner held in her honor on 2 December 1916.
After the United States entered World War I in April 1917, Law campaigned unsuccessfully for women to be allowed to fly military aircraft. Stung by her rejection, she wrote an article entitled "Let Women Fly!" in the magazine Air Travel, where she argued that success in aviation should prove a woman's fitness for work in that field.
After the war, Law continued to set records. After Raymonde de Laroche of France set a women's altitude record of nearly 13,000 feet (3,962 m) on 7 June 1919,[1] Law broke Laroche's record on 10 June, flying to 14,700 feet (4,481 m).[2] Laroche in turn, however, broke Law's record on 12 June, flying to a height of 15,748 feet (4,800 m).[3]
Law's brother was the famous parachutist and pioneer movie stuntman Rodman Law (1885-1919).