1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:01,960 Speaker 1: This Day in History Class is a production of I 2 00:00:02,040 --> 00:00:07,800 Speaker 1: Heart Radio. Hello and welcome to This Day in History Class, 3 00:00:07,840 --> 00:00:11,280 Speaker 1: a show that soars through great moments in history, one 4 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 1: day at a time. I'm Gabe Lousier and today we're 5 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:19,240 Speaker 1: looking at the story of Raymond de Laroche, a pioneering 6 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:23,239 Speaker 1: female aviator who helped earn women a permanent seat in 7 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:38,360 Speaker 1: the cockpit. The day was March eighth, nineteen French aviator 8 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:41,760 Speaker 1: Raymond de Laroche became the first woman in the world 9 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 1: to earn an official pilot's license. The license was issued 10 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:49,800 Speaker 1: by the aero Club de France and was approved by 11 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:54,960 Speaker 1: the Federation Aeronauticque Internacionale or in English, the World Air 12 00:00:55,040 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 1: Sports Federation. The f AI had been founded just five 13 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:02,880 Speaker 1: years earlier, is a way to regulate the new sport 14 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 1: of flying. Aero clubs started granting licenses in nine meaning 15 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:12,280 Speaker 1: that Laroche was an early initiant. In fact, she was 16 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:16,400 Speaker 1: only the thirty sixth pilot to be certified. She was 17 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:19,440 Speaker 1: the first woman pilot to receive a license, and in 18 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:22,320 Speaker 1: the early years of aviation, she was joined in that 19 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:27,320 Speaker 1: elite club by only a handful of others. Elise Raymond 20 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:32,559 Speaker 1: de Roche was born in Paris on August eighteen eighty six. 21 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:36,320 Speaker 1: We know little about her early life, except that her 22 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:38,680 Speaker 1: father was a plumber and that she took an early 23 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:43,039 Speaker 1: interest in cars and motorcycles. As an adult, she became 24 00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 1: a stage actress under the more dramatic name Raymond de Laroche. 25 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:51,400 Speaker 1: She made a name for herself in the French social 26 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 1: scene thanks to her exuberant personality and keen sense of style. 27 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 1: But in nineteen o eight, when she was just twenty 28 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 1: two years old, the course of her career and her 29 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 1: life took an unexpected turn skyward. It all started when 30 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:10,360 Speaker 1: she attended a flight exposition in Paris and saw Wilbur 31 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 1: Wright pilot his latest plane around the airfield. After watching 32 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 1: the aerial display, Laroche was smitten with the idea of flying. 33 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:23,680 Speaker 1: A year later, her then lover, who was an aviator himself, 34 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 1: introduced her to Charles Voissan, an aviation pioneer who ran 35 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:33,720 Speaker 1: an aircraft manufacturing company with his older brother. After learning 36 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 1: that Laroche was eager to learn how to fly, Voisan 37 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 1: agreed to teach her himself, and so in October of 38 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 1: nineteen o nine, she began her flight training at the 39 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:50,399 Speaker 1: Chalon's airfield about a hundred and forty kilometers east of Paris. However, 40 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:55,239 Speaker 1: there was a catch. Voisan's plane had room for only 41 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 1: one person, the pilot. That meant she had to sit 42 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:02,240 Speaker 1: alone in the plane while her instructor shouted directions at 43 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 1: her from the ground. Despite the awkward arrangement, Laroche quickly 44 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 1: learned the controls, and by October twenty two she was 45 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:13,000 Speaker 1: ready to take to the skies for the very first time. 46 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 1: After she taxied the aircraft around the field, Laroche reportedly 47 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:21,919 Speaker 1: caught her instructor by surprise when she opened the throttle, 48 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:25,280 Speaker 1: shot down the air strip, and took off on her 49 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 1: first solo flight. The maiden voyage didn't last very long. 50 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:32,920 Speaker 1: She rose less than five meters in the air and 51 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:36,560 Speaker 1: landed after flying for only about two hundred and seventy meters. 52 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 1: The following day, though, Laroche returned to the airfield and 53 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 1: completed a much longer flight, this time about six kilometers 54 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:49,480 Speaker 1: or just under four miles. The news of her first 55 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 1: successful flight was reported a week later, and the Royal 56 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 1: Aero Club newsletter the October right up said quote, yet 57 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:01,640 Speaker 1: another sphere, which some had thought man would retain for 58 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:06,160 Speaker 1: his own, has been invaded by the gentler Sex Baroness 59 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 1: Laroche has been successfully piloting of Woizan biplane and has 60 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:13,800 Speaker 1: thereby earned the right to be known as the first 61 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 1: lady flyer or aviatress. For some time, the Baroness has 62 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:22,400 Speaker 1: been taking lessons, and on Friday of last week she 63 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:24,599 Speaker 1: was able to take the wheel for the first time. 64 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 1: This initial voyage into the air was only a very 65 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:31,680 Speaker 1: short one. During this flight of about four miles, there 66 00:04:31,760 --> 00:04:35,039 Speaker 1: was a strong gusty wind blowing, but after the first 67 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:38,080 Speaker 1: two turnings, the Baroness said that it did not bother 68 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:43,040 Speaker 1: her as she had the machine completely under control. If 69 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:46,680 Speaker 1: you're wondering what all that baroness business is about, that 70 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:50,120 Speaker 1: was one of several nicknames Laroche was given in the press. 71 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 1: The other big one was La femoizeaux or the bird Woman. 72 00:04:55,640 --> 00:04:59,480 Speaker 1: As you can imagine, she much preferred being called the Baroness. 73 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:02,160 Speaker 1: She actually he took to using the royal title herself, 74 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:06,000 Speaker 1: and even started wearing fancier outfits to better suit the role. 75 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:11,040 Speaker 1: Laroche continued taking flying lessons for several months, becoming a 76 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 1: much more confident and capable pilot. She flew in numerous 77 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:19,360 Speaker 1: exhibitions and races, both at home in France and abroad 78 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 1: in countries such as Egypt and Russia. She won prizes, 79 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:28,560 Speaker 1: set records, and sometimes unfortunately crashed into trees and sustained 80 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:32,120 Speaker 1: minor injuries. One of the most important missions of her 81 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 1: career was to prove her worth as a pilot to 82 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:41,440 Speaker 1: the Federation Aeronautic Internacionale. On March eight, she gave an 83 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:44,839 Speaker 1: aerial demonstration as part of the application process for a 84 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:48,840 Speaker 1: pilot's license. The French officials were more than impressed with 85 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:51,960 Speaker 1: what they'd seen, so later that day they issued her 86 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:55,680 Speaker 1: pilot's license number thirty six, the first to be given 87 00:05:55,720 --> 00:06:01,280 Speaker 1: to a woman. With her license in hand, Laroche continued flying, competing, 88 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:04,840 Speaker 1: and crashing for the next four years when she wasn't 89 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:09,640 Speaker 1: recuperating with broken bones. In nineteen fourteen, she was grounded 90 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:12,719 Speaker 1: again when the onset of World War One put a 91 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:16,680 Speaker 1: stop to all commercial aviation so that more resources could 92 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 1: be focused on the war effort. Laroche offered her services 93 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:23,479 Speaker 1: to the French Air Force, but she and all other 94 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:27,960 Speaker 1: women pilots were refused. Rather than sit on the sidelines, 95 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:32,599 Speaker 1: the baroness became a military chauffeur, driving Army officers to 96 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:36,680 Speaker 1: and from the various trenches. When the Great War was 97 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:40,880 Speaker 1: finally over, Laroche took to the air again, this time 98 00:06:41,080 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 1: seeking to make history as the first female test pilot. 99 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:48,400 Speaker 1: In June of nineteen nineteen, she showed she was up 100 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:50,680 Speaker 1: for the task when she set a new record for 101 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:55,720 Speaker 1: women's altitude in astonishing fifteen thousand, seven hundred and forty 102 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:59,640 Speaker 1: eight feet. That daring flight, along with her many other 103 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 1: credit chols, earned her an invitation to act as copilot 104 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:09,040 Speaker 1: during a test of an experimental single engined French biplane. Laroche, 105 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:12,840 Speaker 1: now thirty three years old, accepted the offer and joined 106 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:16,760 Speaker 1: a professional male test pilot at the Le Crotoi airfield 107 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 1: on July eighteenth, nineteen nineteen. The flight went smoothly enough, 108 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:26,240 Speaker 1: but as they prepared the land, a system malfunction caused 109 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 1: the plane to suddenly nosedive straight into the ground. Neither 110 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:35,120 Speaker 1: the baroness nor the test pilot survived the crash. She 111 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:37,920 Speaker 1: was pronounced dead at the scene, and he succumbed to 112 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:41,960 Speaker 1: injuries on his way to the hospital. Today, a statue 113 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:45,960 Speaker 1: of Raymond de Laroche stands at the famous l'uer Bourger 114 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:49,440 Speaker 1: airport in Paris. It's a tribute to a woman who 115 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 1: demonstrated great tenacity and self assurance during an era when 116 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:58,200 Speaker 1: such qualities were not widely encouraged in women. Plenty of 117 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:01,080 Speaker 1: people said that she had no place in the world 118 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:04,920 Speaker 1: of aviation, that women couldn't perform under pressure as well 119 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 1: as men, and that flying itself was an enterprise unbecoming 120 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 1: of a lady. But the Baroness didn't listen her naysayers 121 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:18,520 Speaker 1: stood firmly planted on the ground while she was flying 122 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 1: circles above their heads. I'm Gabe Lucier and hopefully you 123 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:28,120 Speaker 1: now know a little more about history today than you 124 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:31,840 Speaker 1: did yesterday. You can learn even more about history by 125 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 1: following us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at t d 126 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 1: i HC Show, and if you have any comments or suggestions, 127 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:43,439 Speaker 1: you can send them my way at this Day at 128 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:46,960 Speaker 1: I heart media dot com. Thanks to Chandler Mays for 129 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:50,080 Speaker 1: producing the show, and thank you for listening. I'll see 130 00:08:50,080 --> 00:09:02,840 Speaker 1: you back here again tomorrow for another day in History. Class. Yeah. 131 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from I heart Radio, visit the iHeart 132 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:08,240 Speaker 1: Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your 133 00:09:08,280 --> 00:09:08,920 Speaker 1: favorite shows.