Volume 14 , Issue 14

100 Years Ago Today - April 2, 1912

In The Evening World, New York, Tuesday, April 2, 1912, there was this headline sprawled across the top of the front page, "First Woman Makes Flight From London To Paris." Although, Miss Mary Davis was only passenger, she was recognized as the first women to cross the English Channel with aviator Gustav W. Hamel made the trip in an Aero-plane from London and landed safely in Paris. It was reported that Miss Davis soared to great heights over water. Miss Davis was reported as saying she "greatly enjoyed her record flight."

London, April 2, 1912 -- Mary Davis was a young woman who had shown great interest in aviation and had been a passenger with many famous aviators. Miss Davis crossed the English Channel in an airplane as the passenger of Gustave Hamel as she set a new record, being the first woman to make the air trip across the Channel.

Hamel and Davis started their trip from Hendon, on the outskirts of London, at 9:38 o'clock, as Hamel immediately shooting his machine 2000 feet up in the air. At 11:15 o'clock the airplane, with Miss Davis and Hamel crossed over Dover and began the passage across the Channel, flying sky high. It was the aviators' intention to pass over Boulogne and make for Paris, but he changed his mind after approaching Boulogne and alighted at noon at Saint Inglevert, not far from Boulogne.

The aviator and passenger said that their trip had been altogether without incident. Mary Davis said that she enjoyed the flight, and they both had lunch at St. Inglevert, which was to the southeast of Cape Grianez, before reporting their arrival to the Aero Club of London. The delay in receiving their report caused anxiety among the friends of the young woman and the aviator, who had gathered at the Aero Club to get news of the trip.

The Boulogne citizens were disappointed greatly that Hamel did not land in the city, in which a great reception had been planned for them, as the Mayor and common council awaited them. Watchers at Boulogne watched the sky carefully for hours for a speck in the sky for the aeronaut and his companion.

It was later in the day that Hamel and Miss Davis again ascended and proceeded to Paris, arriving safely in the French Capital. Enthusiasm was great in the aviation circles there over the new record Miss Davis had made for her sex. She was described as an absolutely fearless woman, always ready to take any invitation extended to her by an aviator.

Paris, April 2, 1912 -- Gustave Hamel, with his woman passenger, Miss Mary Davis, after a short stay in Saint Inglevert, after a the flight across the english Channel, made another ascent and flew to Paris, where they arrived on the aviation ground at Issy-les-Moulineaux at five minutes to six that evening.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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