03-21 TABLE of CONTENTS: Cornelia Fort is the first American pilot to die on active duty DATES, ANNIVERSARIES, and EVENTS QUOTES by . Cornelia Fort Event 03-21-1943: Over Texas near Loredo, separate groups - men pilots and women pilots of the quasi-military Ferrying Command - are ferrying planes to a flight training field. One of the men decides to have fun with the girls and pulls out of formation and goes over to buzz the women's formation. He flies straight at a plane piloted by Carnelia Fort and rolls around her to frighten her even more. She continues to fly in formation and doesn't deviate from her course. He isn't the pilot he thinks he is and his wing cuts through Fort's cockpit canopy and strikes her. She dies almost instantly... but lives long enough to reach out and turn off the ignition switch.       Crashing, she will not be consumed by flames.       Cornelia Fort is the first American pilot to die on active duty.       The Air Force reacts swiftly. It restricts women pilots to lighter, less powerful planes and to fly in different directions than the men. They are also NEVER to co-pilot with a male. No record is made of what happened to the male pilot who all but murdered Cornelia Fort with his irresponsible flying.       By the way, Fort must be sent home and buried with funds from her family and friends. The Army Air Force provides $10,000 insurance for the men and none for the women who find out they can't buy insurance as military-style pilots for any price. | PRIOR DATE |        | HOME |       | WOA INDEX |       | NEXT DATE |   | RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE | 03-21 DATES, ANNIVERSARIES, and EVENTS Event 03-21-1934, Babe Didrikson, pitches a full inning against the Brooklyn Dodgers while wearing the uniform of the Philadelphia Athletics. Event 03-21-1973, Corrine C. (Lindy) Boggs, elected to fill the vacancy in the U.S. House of Representatives caused by the presumed death of her husband Hale who was missing over Alaska. Ms. Bogg became a staunch supporter of women's rights. Her daughter is Cokie Roberts, noted TV journalist. Event 03-21-1986, Debi Thomas, becomes the first black woman to win the gold medal in a world skating competition. | PRIOR DATE |        | HOME |       | WOA INDEX |       | NEXT DATE |   | RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE | QUOTES DU JOUR Coming soon... your patience is appreciated. | PRIOR DATE |        | HOME |       | WOA INDEX |       | NEXT DATE |   | RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE |