More than 50 years ago, jerrie mock flew into history, becoming the first woman to fly around the globe solo. In 1931, fiveyear old jerrie mock made her first flight in a ford trimotor. Jerrie mock, geraldine lois fredritz, american aviator born nov. In the third installment of our series biographies for young readers, nancy roe pimm gives us the life of jerrie mock, who in 1964 became the first woman to fly solo around the world. Mock, born in newark, ohio, received little attention for her feat, despite accomplishing what her childhood heroine amelia earhart died trying. Mock became interested in planes at the age of 7, when her father took her to the cockpit of a ford trimotor airplane.
Mock ended her historic flight back in columbus, ohio on april 17, 1964. Nov 19, 2012 jerrie has loved airplanes since her first ride as young girl in a ford trimotor. A lot of people say they want to travel the world, but newarks own jerrie mock actually accomplished this feat in 1964 when she became the first woman to fly solo around the world. Meet jerrie mock, the first woman to fly around the world.
Although in the air for only about 15 minutes, she loved flying. Johnson honored jerrie mock by presenting her with a federal aviation. Oct 01, 2014 jerrie mock, the first female pilot to fly solo around the world, died in her sleep in her northern florida home on tuesday at age 88. In 1945 she married russell mock and they settled into the bexley area of columbus. Newark native geraldine jerrie mock, the first woman to fly solo around the globe died yesterday at her home in quincy in northern florida. Oct 03, 2014 mock geraldine jerrie lois mock, the first woman to fly solo around the world, died in her sleep on september 30, 2014 at her home in quincy, fla. Geraldine jerrie mock, the ohio housewife who became the first female pilot to fly solo around the world, died tuesday in her sleep at her quincy, florida, home, grandson chris flocken said. Pioneering pilot, jerrie mock, lauded for solo triumph in 64 the late central ohio native and pilot jerrie mock joined the wright brothers, john glenn, neil armstrong and other aviation greats on thursday when she was inducted into the paul. Another columbus woman remembers jerrie mocks impact on her own life. As the story goes, jerrie complained to her husband, russ, that she was bored with staying at home all day as a mother with three children. The columbus evening dispatch, her hometown paper and one of the trips sponsors, splashed her return across the front page with the headline jerrie does it. Apr 12, 2014 jerrie mock was a 38yearold housewife from columbus, ohio, when, 50 years ago this week, she accomplished what amelia earhart is famous for having failed to do. Jerrie mock was a 38yearold housewife from columbus, ohio, when, 50 years ago this week, she accomplished what amelia earhart is famous. In 1945, putting her flying ambition on hold, she married russell mock and began a family.
Jerrie mock, first solo female pilot to circumnavigate the. Acton will receive a jerrie, a bronze miniature of the jerrie mock sculpture at john glenn columbus international airport. In pursuit of her interest, she studied aeronautical engineering at ohio state university. Jerrie mocks historic flight began 50 years ago this. Ohio native jerrie mock was first woman to fly around the.
The first woman to fly solo around the world on march 19, 1964 jerrie mock boarded her cessa 180 skywagon in an attempt to circumnavigate the globe on her own. The cessna 180 had been given several updates to help prepare the aircraft for the long distance journey. Oct 28, 2014 jerrie mock 1964 columbus dispatch amelia earhart 1937 wikimedia commons by the 1960s, the space age had arrived. Be sure to check out this jerrie mock photo gallery from the columbus dispatch and the official three eight charlie website. Oct 01, 2014 geraldine jerrie mock, the ohio housewife who became the first female pilot to fly solo around the world, died tuesday in her sleep at her quincy, florida, home, grandson chris flocken said. Geraldine jerrie fredritz mock delayed her dream of being a pilot when she married at 19. Inspired by amelia earhart, mock was an ohio housewife before she made her historic flight. Today, the columbus foundation celebrates the 50th anniversary of geraldine jerrie mocks historic flight. On april 17, 1964 jerrie mock flew solo around the world in a 1953 cessna 180 singleengine monoplane. Geraldine fredritz mock was born on november 22, 1925 in newark, ohio. Mock geraldine jerrie lois mock, the first woman to fly solo around the world, died in her sleep on september 30, 2014 at her home in quincy, fla. Pioneering pilot, jerrie mock, lauded for solo triumph in 64 the late central ohio native and pilot jerrie mock joined the wright brothers, john glenn, neil armstrong and other aviation greats on thursday when she was inducted into the paul e. Jerrie mock honored with statue at port columbus wbns. Jerrie mock was 11 when amelia earhart launched an aroundtheworld flight.
Jerrie mock19252014 aviator to make final trip around the world columbus dispatch, 2 oct 2014, page 3b, accessed on newsbank 9 january 2019. Jerrie mock, first female pilot to fly solo around the. On march 19th, 1964 when jerrie took off from the columbus, ohio airport, she was a 38 year old homemaker, not a commercial pilot, few of whom would ever attempt such a. Jerrie mock, first woman to fly solo around the world. I built the foundation of my career as a reporter at the columbus dispatch, where i was named best feature writer in ohio by. Jerrie mock poses beside the nose of her cessna 180 spirit of columbus at port columbus airport, columbus, ohio, march 19, 1964, immediately before she takes off on her record setting solo flight around world in single engine plane. The untold story of the first woman to fly around the world jerrie mock was an ohio housewife when she accomplished what amelia earhart failed to do. The columbus dispatch reports she passed away at her florida home. I thought it was so cool that she was such a fearless woman flying everywhere in her little plane.
Women in aviation and space history smithsonian national. Jerrie mock was the first woman to fly solo around the world. Oct 01, 2014 newark native geraldine jerrie mock, the first woman to fly solo around the globe died yesterday at her home in quincy in northern florida. Newark native geraldine jerrie mock, the first woman to fly around the world has died at the age of 88. Another columbus woman remembers jerrie mock s impact on her own life. Rhodes proclaimed her ohios golden eagle but newspapers preferred to call jerrie mock, a 38yearold mother of three from suburban columbus, the flying housewife. This consisted of her flying outfit, a blue skirt and jacket, a quickdrying blouse, a pair of slacks, and a pair of high heels and sandals. She took off in her cessna 180 plane nicknamed spirit of columbus from port columbus international airport on march 19, 1964 after a brief delay of course. Please join us in honoring the 2020 spirit of columbus award winner, dr. Jerrie mock was a 38yearold housewife from columbus, ohio, when, 50 years ago this week, she accomplished what amelia earhart is famous for having failed to do. A flight in a ford 5at trimotor at the age of 7 was all it took for jerrie to know she wanted to fly around the world that, and ride a camel and an elephant. Newark native jerrie mock, the first woman to fly around the.
Every day after school, mock tuned in to the radio reports of her idols progress, then to the news of efforts to find her. Amy acton announced as 2020 spirit of columbus award. Jerrie mock, first female pilot to fly solo around the world. Celebrating jerrie mock, the first woman to fly around the. Pimm, nancy roe, the jerried mock story the first woman to fly solo around the world, ohio university.
Fiftyfive years ago today, my grandmother, geraldine jerrie mock, became the first woman to fly solo around the world. Johnson honored jerrie mock by presenting her with a federal aviation agency gold medal in ceremonies at the white. Geraldine jerrie mock, 1st female pilot to circle globe. The first woman to make a solo flight around the world. Geraldine jerrie fredritz mock november 22, 1925 september 30, 2014 was an american pilot and the first woman to fly solo around the world, which she did in 1964.
Mock died in 2014 at 88 years old, shortly after the 50th anniversary of her flight, leaving behind a legacy of spirit and determination. This photo ran in the dispatch in may that year, on the day president lyndon b. Jerrie mock honored with statue at port columbus wbns10tv. In the mid1960s, geraldine jerrie mock was seen at airports around the world. Geraldine mock obituary columbus, oh the columbus dispatch. She flew a singleengine cessna, completing the circumnavigation in 29 days. Jerrie mock 1964 columbus dispatch amelia earhart 1937 wikimedia commons by the 1960s, the space age had arrived. The spirit of columbus award honors pilot jerrie mock, the first woman to fly solo around the world. In 1964 it was already 11 years old and its pilot, jerrie mock, appeared to conform to conservative stereotypes of the era, as an affluent, white, middleclass. Geraldine mock and the spirit of columbus air facts journal.
She flew her singleengine cessna 180 spirit of columbus 23,000 miles in 29plus days before landing in ohios capital city on april 17, 1964. Apr 17, 2019 fiftyfive years ago today, my grandmother, geraldine jerrie mock, became the first woman to fly solo around the world. The columbus evening dispatch, her hometown paper and one of the trips sponsors, splashed her return across the. Mock wrote stories throughout the trip, sending them back home to columbus evening dispatch as part of a sponsorship agreement. As a stayathome mom, jerrie was not the kind of woman who was satisfied by tea parties and playing cards. Mock never flew the spirit of columbus again as first javelin aircraft and then cessna acquired the aircraft, displaying it at the cessna factory until donating it to the national air and space museum in 1976 where it is now displayed at the museums udvarhazy center. Jerrie mockthe spirit of columbus the columbus foundation. Apr 17, 2014 columbus is home to an often overlooked piece of history. In 1964, when mock was a 38yearold mother of three, she set out from columbus, ohio, in a single.
Where amelia earhart tried, geraldine mock succeeded. Actons leadership and determination as the director of the ohio department of health represents all of ohios public health workers, first responders, and medical personnel on the frontlines of the covid19 crisis, and we honor her on behalf of all of them. Obituaries columbus dispatch, 3 oct 2014, page 9b accessed on newsbank 9 january 2019. Mock took off from columbus on march 19, 1964, two weeks.
Columbus is home to an often overlooked piece of history. Jerrie mock, the first female pilot to fly solo around the world, died in her sleep in her northern florida home on tuesday at age 88. On march 19, 1964, jerrie, then a bexley resident and mother of three, climbed into her singleengine cessna, spirit of columbus, and took off from port columbus international airport. She arrived back home at the port columbus airport, welcomed by thousands who followed her journey.
The columbus dispatch was the lead sponsor of her epic flight along with a host of others. Mar 19, 2014 this photo ran in the dispatch in may that year, on the day president lyndon b. April geraldine jerrie fredritz mock touched down in columbus, ohio, on this date, capping a journey that lasted 29 days, 11 hours and 59 minutes and beating out a competitor for the title of first woman to fly around the world. Jerrie mock s historic flight began 50 years ago this morning. I followed her flying career closely, even though i was just a kid, recalled terry fogle. Jerrie mock for web federal aviation administration. Jerrie mocks historic flight ohio history connection. According to research completed by amy saunders, a former reporter for the columbus dispatch, jerrie mocks decision to fly solo around the world began with a conversation one night at the dinner table. I am hopeful the 50th anniversary of mocks flight and earharts 2014 adventure will inspire more aviation adventurers and increase interest in aviation for girls around the world. We hope to have that statue installed on the 50th anniversary of. Jerrie mock left from columbus, ohio, to fly solo around the world in 1964, becoming the first woman to do so.
At the time she didnt get the recognition she deserved, but shes getting her recognition now, along with a statue to claim her. The spirit of columbus now resides at the smithsonian, and a statue of mock can be admired at port columbus. Columbus, ohio wcmh ohio native jerrie mock was the first woman to fly solo around the world 56 years ago today. Find out how she jumpstarted her aviation passion and became the flying housewife.
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