An Aviation Aside to the Titanic Tragedy

Kim Sun Apr 15, 2012 9:33 am

Harriet Quimbly was an American Socialite, and the first female to receive a U.S. Pilot's License. She was also the first female pilot to cross the English Channel by airplane, flying her Bleriot Monoplane from Dover, England to a landing on a beach near Calais, France.

Her aeronautical feat, accomplished on April 16, 1912, was vastly over-shadowed by the sinking of the Titanic the day before. The tremendous loss of life in that tragedy shoved all other stories to the back pages of the newspapers, so Harriet was never to receive accolades comparable to Louis Bleriot, the first pilot to cross the English Channel.

She continued making aviation history until her death two months later, when she and her passenger were flung from her Bleriot, falling to their deaths.

In the 1990's, the post office issued a stamp, honoring her and her flight.

An Aviation Aside to the Titanic Tragedy Harrio10

An Aviation Aside to the Titanic Tragedy Harrio10

**Cribbs74** Sun Apr 15, 2012 9:56 am

Thanks for that Kim, interesting but, tragic story.

Talk about an unfortunate sequence of events. I bet she was not all upset her aeronautical feat was overshadowed by the Titanic sinking.

Too many times recognition is granted posthumously and what a shame that is.

Good job Harriet!

SuperDave Sun Apr 15, 2012 10:58 am

And I would add that that fame and gender were not equally equated in 1912 America.

Remember women were not allowed to vote until the passage of the 19th Amendment to the US consitiution in August of 1920. Some states, like Wyoming, where allowing them in state elections prior to 1920.

Some women will tell you today that the "playing field" is still not level. (But let's not "go there") Laughing

Ivanhoe Sun Apr 15, 2012 5:19 pm

I can't escape from the Titanic this year, but then she was built 50 miles from here!

SuperDave Sun Apr 15, 2012 5:39 pm

Wilf:

The April 2012 edion of National Geographic Magazine is dedicated to "Titanic" and what actually happened to her told in exclusive new high-tech pictures piecing together images to tell the story.

During her death agony "Titaninac" broke into two pieces slightly aft of amidships the stern settling to the bottom some two miles distant from the foward section. They now lie about two miles down in the North Atlantic and are still of subject of great curiosity, but is protected by RMS Titanic, Inc, the Titantic's legal salvager since 1994.

I high recommend this piece to you.

Ivanhoe Mon Apr 16, 2012 3:30 am

SuperDave wrote:Wilf:

The April 2012 edion of National Geographic Magazine is dedicated to "Titanic" and what actually happened to her told in exclusive new high-tech pictures piecing together images to tell the story.

During her death agony "Titaninac" broke into two pieces slightly aft of amidships the stern settling to the bottom some two miles distant from the foward section. They now lie about two miles down in the North Atlantic and are still of subject of great curiosity, but is protected by RMS Titanic, Inc, the Titantic's legal salvager since 1994.

I high recommend this piece to you.

Unfortunately she isn't protected enough, lots of items from the wreck are still coming up for auction on a regular basis, despite the fact that legally nothing should be taken from the site, it is, after all, the grave of over a thousand people.

SuperDave Mon Apr 16, 2012 10:48 am

Wilf:

No doubt she is not protected enough from scavengers in pursuit of monetary gain. Prior to 1994 there was a "free for all" in the depths but the legal salvage authority has made inroads to preserve what's left.

Read the National Geographic for the details. If nothing else the piece focuses attention on the need for protection of the tragedy site and human remains.

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