This year marks the 70th anniversary of the foundation of The 99s and Thea would have been 99 years old - what better opportunity to submit some details of her remarkable life and achievements to the American headquarters/aviation museum as an acknowlegdement of the pride the German Section feel for their pioneer flyer.

As was the case for many female pilots, Thea was determined to achieve her goals, and so, against all the odds became one of the first woman to obtain a pilots license for flying after the first world war.

Along with other great pilots, such as Ernst Udet, she participated as the only woman in an air show held in Berlin and subsequently in Providence/Boston, won an aerobatic competition in which 25 of America´s best pilots were taking part.

Not only was she awarded "wings around the world for peace", but she was the first woman in the world to be accepted as a member of the "Quiet Birdman". She also flew in the very first Powder Puff Derby in the USA.

Because of her wealthy background (her father was a brewery director in Unna/Westfalia), she was able to enjoy outdoor pursuits, such as tennis, hockey and riding. The final part of her education was at the Agriculture Institute for Women, but her father had other plans for her future. Wanting to see his daughter in a "good marriage" he found her a suitor. However, Thea broke off the engagement half an hour before the ceremony took place, so, instead of landing up in front of the alter in Berlin, she landed on a farm in Frankfurt/Oder in the position of agricultural inspector.

It was her visit to the Rhoen in the summer of 1924 which changed forever the direction of Thea's life. She had registered as a flight student in Muenster only shortly before, but now was introduced to the Wasserkuppe (Germany´s center for glider flying). It was there that she met Paul Bäumler and after her first lesson she never looked back. She canceled her registration in Münster to go to Hamburg and continue learning under Paul's expert tutelage.

To finance her dream she took up various clerical posts. With the necessary financial backing she was an eager and talented student. She learned quickly and at only 25 became the first German woman to obtain a pilot's license after the 1st World War. It took her only a few more months to receive her aerobatic license.

She proved herself in 1925 by obtaining her glider license in only 4 days and by participating in her first aerobatics competition. She became known as one of the best women pilots in the world. The quotation from Ernst Udet "this woman can really fly - nobody can touch her" only echoed the feelings of many of her colleagues. She proved the truth of this remark when she gave the performance of her life at an aerobatics meeting on Roosevelt Field in the States. For the recklessness and brilliance of her stunts the English press named her the "Dare-Devil of the Skys".

Her female colleagues accorded her the title of "Queen of the Air". Following her meeting with Amelia Earhart, she became a charter member of the group Amelia was beginning, the first all-women pilots association, subsequently known as The 99s.

Following her remarkable achievements as a pilot, she was all over the European press. However, far from allowing that to go to her head, she devoted her time and energy to encouraging the up-and-coming generation of women pilots.

Text by Margot Mielck, German Section