NEWS RELEASE 01-05
January 7, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WAI Honors Pioneer Hall of Fame Inductees for 2005

DAYTONA BEACH, FL, January 7, 2005 –Women in Aviation, International will induct five new members into its Pioneer Hall of Fame during the closing banquet at the sixteenth annual Women in Aviation, International Conference in Dallas, Texas. The Conference will be held from March 10-12, 2005.

These five women will be inducted on Saturday, March 12, 2005: Captain Sandra L. Anderson is the second woman pilot hired by Northwest Airlines and one of the first female pilots to check out in the left seat of the Boeing 727. She served as the first NWA Boeing 727 female instructor/checkpilot, the first female Fleet Check Captain among the major US airlines and was a Chief Pilot at the Minneapolis St. Paul crew base. She currently is a Captain on the Boeing 747 400 flying international routes. She is a founding board member of Women in Aviation, International.

Anne Bridge Baddour is the first woman pilot to fly as an Experimental Research Pilot for the MIT Lincoln Laboratory Flight Test Facility, doing airborne research for the Department of Defense and Federal Aviation Administration. In this job from 1977 to 1997, she flew standard civilian aircraft, in the cabin of which had been installed new technology projects for communications, radar, navigation, and lasers. Previous employment included being a manager, pilot, administrative assistant, ferry pilot, flight dispatcher, aviation consultant, corporate pilot, and aviation instructor.

Colleen C. Barrett is currently President and Corporate Secretary for Southwest Airlines. Prior to joining Southwest in 1978, she worked for several years as an Executive Assistant to Herb Kelleher (Southwest’s current Chairman) at his law firm. For Southwest Airlines, she has served as Secretary of the Corporation since March 1978; and served as Vice President Administration from 1986 to 1990, Executive Vice President Customers from 1990 to 2001.

2005 Pioneer Hall of Fame Inductees

Barbara Erickson London joined the Women’s Auxiliary Ferry Squadron (WAFS) and was soon promoted as in charge of the 6th Ferrying Group, Long Beach, CA, where she commanded more than 60 women. She was the second (and sometimes third) woman to fly the P-51, P-38, B-17, C-47, and C-54. London was the only woman pilot to be awarded the Air Medal, for completing four transcontinental ferry flights in five days. In 1948, she accepted a commission as a Major, a position she fought successfully to keep. She served in the Reserves for 20 years. She then started selling airplanes, a role she continues today.

Florene Miller Watson joined the WAFS in 1942, and by the following year, was named Commanding Officer of the WAFS station at Love Field. During World War II, she served as an experimental military airline pilot and also tested radar equipment. By the time the WASP were disbanded, she had flown every type of training, cargo, fighter and twin and four-engine bomber that the Army Air Corps flew and delivered them to US locations. Post-war, Watson taught college for 30 years before retiring.

The Women in Aviation, International Pioneer Hall of Fame was established in 1992 to honor women who have made significant contributions as record setters, pioneers, or innovators. Special consideration is given to individuals or groups who have helped other women be successful in aviation or opened doors of opportunity for other women. Each year, the organization solicits nominations from throughout the aviation industry for the WAI Pioneer Hall of Fame.

Women in Aviation, International is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization that provides networking, mentoring and scholarship opportunities for women who looking for challenging and fulfilling careers in the aviation and aerospace industries, for aviation enthusiasts, and aviation educators.

For more information about the conference and about WAI, contact WAI at 101 Corsair Drive, Daytona Beach, FL 32114, Phone (386) 226-7996; Fax (386) 226-7998; Web www.wai.org.

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Contact:

Priscilla Lamont
Women in Aviation International
386.226.7996 Phone
386.226.7998 Fax