User:Camviator/sandbox

Amy Tomlinson:

Amy Tomlinson was born on February 2nd, 1978 in Carlsbad, California. Her father was a Navy pilot.

In 1977, Tomlinson enrolled as a freshman at the University of Southern California where she studied public relations and journalism. In her second semester, she joined the ROTC program where she received a scholarship and agreed to join the Navy after graduation. Tomlinson was one of three women in her graduating class out of approximately 80 people total. Upon graduation, Tomlinson was commissioned as a Naval Officer. In May, 2000 she moved to Pensacola, Florida where she completed a year and a half of training to be a Weapons Systems Officer.

Bettie Lund:

Elizabeth "Bettie" Elkins Lund was a stunt pilot in the 1920s and 1930s. She performed with her husband Freddy Lund at airshows across the country. Bettie broke the women's record for number of barrel rolls completed in flight after only twenty minutes of solo flight.

Early Life:

Bettie was born in Fillmore, California on June 6, 1906 to Caswell Carl Elkins Jr. and Amy Fay Anderson Elkins. In 1929, Bettie met a barnstorming stunt pilot named Frederick "Freddie" Lund at the Gates Flying Circus in Hollywood. After graduating high school, Bettie followed Freddie around the country as he performed barnstorming aerial stunts at airshows across the country. Freddie Lund was killed while flying a Waco Taperwing during an air race in 1931. October 24, 1931, three weeks after her husband’s death, and still wearing mourning attire, Bettie performed for a crowd at Droyer’s Point Field in New Jersey, carrying on the tradition.

Bettie continued to perform after her husband's death. She purchased her own Waco Taperwing, painted it red, white, and blue to match her late husband's, and began her own solo career. By the late 1930's, Lund was one of the country's most iconic stunt pilots known for breaking the women's world record for number of barrel rolls completed in flight.

World War II

During the war, Bettie served in the Women's Air Force where she transported airplanes from the manufacturing plants on the west coast to the east coast where they were then transported to Europe.

Sources:


 * 1) Science and Invention, "Over and Over Again by Bettie Elkins Lund." Magazine, volume 18 issue 5. September 1930.
 * 2) Pedersen, Tom (May 21 2008). "Our Pioneer Heritage". The Fillmore Gazette.
 * 3) Charlotte Observer, "[title]" November 16, 1932. [link]
 * 4) Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame, Freddy Lund. http://www.mnaviationhalloffame.org/inductees/l.html