Ruth Reinhold
Ruth Reinhold | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Reinhold with Barry Goldwater's private plane in 1964 | |
| Born | Ruth Cotterell Merrill 1902 |
| Died | December 17, 1985 (aged 82–83) Phoenix, Arizona, US |
| Occupations | Pilot, flight instructor, author |
| Organisations | |
| Spouses | Louis James Chalmers
(m. 1928)Robert Reinhold (m. 1944) |
Ruth Reinhold (née Merrill; 1902 — December 17, 1985) was an American pilot and flight instructor. One of Arizona's first female pilots, she also worked as a flight instructor and served as a captain in the Civil Air Patrol.
Biography
[edit]Reinhold was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1902.[1] Her father was Meldon H. Merrill.[2] She studied fine arts at Boston University and later attended UCLA.[3] Reinhold moved to Arizona in 1933.[4]
Reinhold learned to fly in Sky Harbor, Arizona.[5] Prior to the start of World War II, Reinhold flew charter planes and taught in the Civilian Pilot Training Program.[6] After the start of the war, Reinhold taught instrument flying to B-24 bomber pilots.[5] She also served as a captain in the Civil Air Patrol and participated in search-and-rescue missions.[7] Reinhold was just below five feet in height, and tower operators would refer to her plane as "pilotless" due to difficulty in seeing her in the plane's cockpit.[7]
Reinhold was the first woman appointed to board for the Arizona Department of Aeronautics.[3] She also was the private pilot for Senator Barry Goldwater, including during his presidential run.[8] In 1982, she wrote and published a book on the history of aviation in Arizona entitled Sky Pioneering: Arizona in Aviation History.[6]
Personal life
[edit]On July 2, 1928, Ruth married Louis James Chalmers in Los Angeles.[2] Ruth married Robert Reinhold on April 21, 1944. The couple both worked at Phoenix Sky Harbor Flying Service, with Robert serving as maintenance chief and Ruth working as its secretary and instructor.[9][10]
Death and legacy
[edit]Reinhold died at Phoenix's St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center on December 17, 1985.[10][5] She is remembered as one of Arizona's first female pilots,[11] and is the namesake of Arizona's Ruth Reinhold Award, given to recognize significant contributions to aviation safety.[12] Flight magazine Ninety-Nines called her "the foremost woman pilot in Arizona aviation history".[5]
Her awards include:
- In 1969, Reinhold received the Amelia Earhart Award in honor of her dedication to aviation[1]
- In 1986, Reinhold was inducted into the Arizona Women's Hall of Fame[6]
- In 1991, Reinhold was inducted into the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame[13]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Ehrlich, Michaelanne E. (May 2006). "Ruth Reinhold Aviation Collection: FM MSS #14" (PDF). Arizona Historical Society. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
- ^ a b "Couple to Live in Los Angeles". San Francisco Chronicle. July 8, 1928. B8. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ^ a b Jaffe, Matt. "An Ace in the Crowd". Arizona Highways. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
- ^ "Ruth M. Reinhold". National Air and Space Museum. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
- ^ a b c d "Ruth Reinhold: 99" (PDF). Ninety-Nines. Vol. 13, no. 1. January 1986. p. 11. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
- ^ a b c "Ruth Reinhold". Arizona Women's Hall of Fame. 1986. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
- ^ a b Melton, Brad; Smith, Dean, eds. (April 2003). Arizona Goes to War: The Home Front and the Front Lines During World War II. University of Arizona Press. p. 64. ISBN 9780816521906. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
- ^ Moen, Fred (July 10, 1964). "Ruth Reinhold Favors Indian Mocassins When Piloting Her Favorite Passenger". Muskegon Chronicle. Retrieved April 5, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Phoenix Aviation Officials are Wed". Arizona Daily Star. April 23, 1944. p. 16. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ^ a b "Ruth M. Reinhold obituary". Arizona Republic. December 19, 1985. E25. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ^ "Women in Arizona Aviation: A Brief History, with a focus on the Phoenix/Mesa area". AAHS Journal. 67 (2). American Aviation Historical Society. 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
- ^ Ziem, Keaton S. (February 10, 2026). "Embry‑Riddle Professor Honored with Arizona Aviation Safety Award". Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
- ^ "Ruth R. Reinhold". Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University. 1991. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
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