Opal Kunz (November 6, 1894 – May 15, 1967) was an early Americanaviator, the chief organizer of theBetsy Ross Air Corps, and a charter member of theNinety-Nines organization of women pilots. In 1930, she became the first woman pilot to race with men in an open competition. She made many public appearances to urge more women to take up flying.
Opal Logan Giberson was born in 1894 in Missouri to Edward F. Giberson and his wife.[a][1] She graduated fromDana Hall School in Wellesley, Massachusetts.[1]
In 1923, she married mineralogistGeorge Frederick Kunz (1856–1932).[2][3] The marriage was annulled in 1929. The couple remained on good terms, with Kunz caring for George for the remainder of his life.[4] On his death, he left her a substantial bequest.[5][6]
Kunz earned her pilot's license in 1929. A crash two weeks later in New Jersey drew extensive press coverage; she escaped uninjured.[7][8] A second crash two years later left her with gasoline burns.[9][10]
She spent a great deal of time and money on her flying pursuits and always named her planes afterBetsy Ross.[2] On April 7, 1930, at the Philadelphia American Legion Benefit Air Meet, she became the first woman to race with men in open competition.[2][11] She won the race.[12]
Kunz gave frequent press interviews and radio addresses to urge more women to take up flying.[13][14][15]
In 1929, Kunz participated in the firstWomen's Air Derby, later dubbed the "Powder Puff Derby" by humorist Will Rogers. At the time, there were only 70 licensed female pilots in the entire United States, and only 40 qualified to take part in this contest. The course began in Santa Monica, California, and ended in Cleveland, Ohio.
Race rules stipulated that the aircraft must have horsepower "appropriate for a woman." Kunz was told her own 300-horsepower BeechTravel Air was too fast for a woman to handle and would not be allowed. Forced to borrow a less-powerful airplane in order to take part in the race, she finished eighth.[16]
On September 7, 1930, Kunz loaned her plane to aviatorJohn Donaldson at the American Legion Air Races meet in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Donaldson suffered fatal injuries when the airplane fell from a height of 1,800 feet straight down into the municipal airfield.[17]
Kunz was an organizer of theBetsy Ross Air Corps, a paramilitary service formed to support the Army Air Corps (the precursor to the U.S. Air Force) in national defense and to serve as humanitarian "air minutemen"[18] in times of emergency.[11][19][20][21][22][23] It also had the goal of offering flight instruction to women in order to build a reserve group of women aviators.[20][24][25] Kunz grew the corps to about 100 members, partially funding it herself.[11][26] She served as the corps' first commander, and her husband designed its insignia.[20][27][28][29] The short-lived corps (1931–1933) was never formally recognized by the U.S. military.
After the war, she became an inspector for theAerojet Corporation in California.[30]
In 1961, following after the historic space flight of the Russian cosmonautYuri Gagarin, she wrote to PresidentJohn F. Kennedy to volunteer her services as an American astronaut. In honor of her extensive aviation experience, the president wrote her a courteous reply.[30]
^ab"Dr. G. F. Kunz Weds Miss Opal Giberson: Ceremony in Tarrytown Church Where Washington Irving Worshipped: They Sail for Bermuda."The New York Times, May 16, 1923.
^abcKunz, Opal. Letter to Carol Craig of the 99's. July 24, 1963. The letter describes her experiences and early days of flying.
^"Dr. George F. Kunz and Opal L. Giberson Married."The New York Times, May 16, 1923, p. 19:1.
^"G. F. Kunz Marriage Annulled Nov. 21: Tiffany Official and His Wife Agreed in Court Action, She Reveals: Still Live in Same Home."The New York Times, Jan. 25, 1930.
^"Dr. G. F. Kunz Left Estate of $114,109.00."The New York Times, November 7, 1932.
^"Opal Kunz, Famous Flier, Gets Million: Will of Divorced Husband Gives Aviatrix Half Interest in the Estate of Dr. George F. Kunz."Washington Daily News, July 12, 1932.
^abcLetter from Opal Kunz to President Kennedy, dated April 14, 1961. John F. Kennedy Library, Boston, "White House Central Name File, Box 1532, Folder: KUNZ."
^"Thrilled the Groundsmen at the Legion’s Aerial Derby: Mrs. Opal Kunz, Who Won the Ten-Mile Race in a 300-Horsepower Plane at the Joint Aviation Show and Carnival of Unity Post, American Legion, of Roselle, and Aviation Post of New York, at the Westfield Airport."The New York Times, June 29, 1930.
^"Mrs. George F. Kunz Speaks on Radio Urging Women to Fly."The New York Times, Aug. 7, 1929, p. 2:5.
^"John O. Donaldson, Noted Ace, Dies As His Plane Crashes: Greenville [SC] Man Killed When Plane Crashes at Philadelphia Airport; Machine Went Into Fatal Tail Twirl; Body Badly Mangled As Ship is Demolished- Had Great Record in the War."Greenville (South Carolina) News, Sept. 8, 1930.
^abc“Girl Flyers Ready to Aid Army: Opal Kunz Heads Betsy Ross Corps, Formed as Military Auxiliary Unit”.New York Sun, Jan. 2, 1931.
^Johnson, J. C. “Women’s Flying Corps, Named After the Creator of the First United States Flag, Stands Ready to Meet Any Emergency that May Confront the Nation.”Washington Post, June 11, 1933.
^“Women Fliers Military Club Organized by Mrs. Opal Kunz.”Newark Evening News, January 3, 1931.
^“Is there a Women’s Air Reserve?”Evening Star (Washington, DC), June 6, 1933.
^“Women Reserve Pilots to Train: Construction of Eastern Center is Under Way at Orange City, Florida.”Evening Star (Washington, DC), January 19, 1932.
^“Betsy Ross Corps Adds Members.”New York Herald Tribune, April 16, 1933.
^"Opal Kunz.Davis-Monthan Aviation Field Register. Dec. 28, 2015.
^“Girl Flyers Ready to Aid Army: Opal Kunz Heads Betsy Ross Corps, Formed as Military Auxiliary Unit.”New York Sun, January 2, 1931.
^Altick, Sherman B. “Betsy Ross Air Corps to March: Girl Flyers Will Meet in Washington to Plan Military Auxiliary Work."Sun (New York), April 20, 1931.
^abcCanton, Ray. "Woman Flyer, Who Volunteered for Space Flight, Is Full of Surprises."The Sacramento Bee, June 4, 1961, p. B4.
^"Mrs. Opal Kunz, Noted Aviatrix, Dies in Auburn".The Sacramento Bee. 17 May 1967.
