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Contact Info
Home Town Fort Worth, Texas
Last Address Blythe Army Air Field, California
Date of Passing Feb 25, 1944
Location of Interment Santa Barbara Cemetery - Santa Barbara, California
Wall/Plot Coordinates Ocean View Lawn Section, Lot 416, Quad W 1/2, Grav
The investigating report stated that sparks from the engine exhaust had set fire to the tail of the plane. Just before the plane crashed into a mountain, Betty was spotted by a miner coming down in her parachute. It wasn't until later that the miner and two others reached Betty. She had been dragged across the rocky terrain by the strong winds and was is very bad shape. She was taken to the base hospital at Blyth where she died.
Very shortly after Betty's death, a parachute training system was built at Avenger field and twelve hours of instruction were added to basic training.
Betty was born in Fort Worth but grew up in Santa Barbara, California. She attend the public schools and state college for two years and then transferred to the University of Arizona. However, she returned to Fort Worth Municipal Airport of flight training before joining the WASP.
She was an only child and was the great niece of humourist Will Rogers. She was named after his wife.
Other Comments:
2003-2003, AT-6 Texan
From Year 2003
To Year 2003
Personal Memories
Not Specified
Image
AT-6 Texan Details
Aircraft/Missile Information
General characteristics
* Crew: two (student and instructor) * Length: 29 ft (8.84 m) * Wingspan: 42 ft (12.81 m) * Height: 11 ft 8 in (3.57 m) * Wing area: 253.7 ft (23.6 m) * Empty weight: 4,158 lb (1,886 kg) * Loaded weight: 5,617 lb (2,548 kg) * Powerplant: 1 Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 Wasp radial engine, 600 hp (450 kW)
Performance
* Maximum speed: 208 mph at 5,000 ft (335 km/h at 1,500 m) * Cruise speed: 145 mph (233 km/h) * Range: 730 miles (1,175 km) * Service ceiling 24,200 ft (7,400 m) * Rate of climb: ft/min (m/s) * Wing loading: lb/ft (kg/m) * Power/mass: hp/lb (kW/kg)
Armament
* Provision for up to 3 0.30 in (7.62 mm) machine gun