"I was born at the right place at the right time, and for my part,
it was a fantastic experience. I think I was lucky.
I probably was in the best spot I could possibly have been.
The Good Lord took care of me all the time I was there
and I got through it all right and my life has gone on from there.
I think it was a tremendous opoprutunity
that I was given and I'm thankful for it." *
it was a fantastic experience. I think I was lucky.
I probably was in the best spot I could possibly have been.
The Good Lord took care of me all the time I was there
and I got through it all right and my life has gone on from there.
I think it was a tremendous opoprutunity
that I was given and I'm thankful for it." *
/s/ Barbara London, WAFS
Barbara Jane 'BJ' Erickson London, WAFS
July 1, 1920 - July 7, 2013
July 1, 1920 - July 7, 2013
London operated an aircraft sales business at Long Beach Airport
Posted: 07/10/2013 03:41:56 PM PDT
Updated: 07/10/2013 03:42:03 PM PDT
Erickson, who lived most of her life in Long Beach and operated an aircraft sales business at Long Beach Airport, had moved to Los Gatos to be close to her sister.
"She has been surrounded by family and friends and the one thing she wanted was to be able to stay in her own home, be in her own bed, and be with the people she loved," her daughter, Kristy Ardizzone, said. "All that happened just the way she wanted and she passed with dignity and grace surrounded by lots of love."
In 1940, London (then Erickson) became the first woman to be recruited into the Civil Air Patrol program at Long Beach's Daugherty Field. During World War II, she was appointed as Squadron Commander for the 6th Ferry Command.
The young pilot was qualified to fly all pursuit planes, the medium-size bombers A-20, A-26 and B-25, the cargo craft DC-3 and C-54 and the mighty B-17 Flying Fortress bomber.
Among her wartime feats in the ferrying service was flying four 2,000-mile trips in five days. She was the only woman during the war to be awarded the Air Medal for her service.
In 1948, she was commissioned as a major in the Air Force Reserve.
The Woman's Airforce Service Pilots (WASPS) was disbanded at the end of 1944 after complaints from male pilots that women were taking flights and jobs. In 1971, Congress passed legislation to give veteran status to WASP fliers, and in 2010, President Obama awarded Congressional Gold Medals to surviving WASPs, including London.
"She was so thrilled that all the gals finally got their acknowledgment when they received the Congressional Medal," Ardizzone said. "It was all about them."
Barbara met her husband, Jack London Jr., during the war when they were both pilots. After their marriage, they operated United States Aviation, a flight school, until the Korean War. He preceded her in death by 40 years and one day.
London would go on to found and operate Barney Frazier Aircraft, Inc., in Long Beach with her younger daughter, Ardizzone. Her older daughter, Terry London Rinehart, is a commercial pilot.
London also was active in the Powder Puff Derby, an airplane race series for female pilots. She served as secretary of the organization and raced herself for a number of years.
In 2006, a street near the airport was named Barbara London Drive, and she served as both an official and unofficial community advocate for the Long Beach Airport for years. She figures prominently in the airport's history exhibits along with other great Long Beach-based female pilots, including Gladys O'Donnell and Kay Daugherty.
There will not be a formal memorial or service, following her wishes, Ardizzone said.
"She just wanted people to know how much she loved being a part of the Long Beach community and especially the LB airport," Ardizzone said. "She was such an amazing mentor and supporter and touched so many people's lives."
Staff writers Harry Saltzgaver and Tim Grobaty contributed to this report.
____
v/r article respectfully reposted by Wings Across America as written
*additional quote from "Forgotten Wings: An Oral History of Women Airforce Service Pilots, the WASPs" Copyright 1992: Gail Gutierrez and Oral History Program California State University, Fullerton
Photo added by Wings Across America
Photo added by Wings Across America
Articles:
