Selma Cronan
{{Short description|American aviator (1913–2002)}}
File:ANCExplorer Selma Cronan grave.jpg
Selma Kantor Cronan (May 6, 1913 – August 5, 2002) was an American aviator. She was part of the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) during World War II, and after the war, she continued to fly. She was especially known for competing in air races such as the Powder Puff Derby.
Biography
Cronan was born in Asbury Park, New Jersey and was Jewish. Her mother had taken her on an airplane ride in the 1920s in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and it inspired her as a young girl to want to be a pilot.{{Cite web|title=Selma Cronan|url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/selma-cronan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923121211/https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/selma-cronan|archive-date=23 September 2018|access-date=2019-01-06|website=Jewish Virtual Library}}
Cronan earned her commercial pilot's license in 1941.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26906875/|title=She'll Have an Eye on This Air Race|date=26 February 1982|work=The Record|access-date=5 January 2019|via=Newspapers.com}} She was personally invited by Jacqueline Cochran to join the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) in 1943.
Cronan continued to fly after World War II, competing in air races.{{Cite web|url=https://jwa.org/blog/women-of-us-airforce-selma-cronan-and-yetta-moskowitz|title=Women of the U.S. Air Force: Selma Cronan and Yetta Moskowitz|last=Metal|first=Tara|date=22 May 2014|website=Jewish Women's Archive|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919113532/http://jwa.org/blog/women-of-us-airforce-selma-cronan-and-yetta-moskowitz|archive-date=19 September 2015|access-date=2019-01-06}} She joined the pilots' organization, the Ninety-Nines, in 1944.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26905913/south_florida_sun_sentinel/|title=Love of Flying|last=Smith|first=Lee Eric|date=19 April 1993|work=South Florida Sun Sentinel|access-date=2019-01-06|via=Newspapers.com}} In 1948 she was unable to participate in an air race because she could not find anyone to watch her twin sons.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26906697/the_morning_news/|title=Jeanne D'Ambly Reaches Miami|date=3 June 1948|work=The Morning News|access-date=2019-01-06|via=Newspapers.com}} She eventually taught her husband, Walter Cronan, to fly, but when he had an accident in an airplane, the couple decided that only one of them should fly.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26906365/the_record/|title=His Wife's Up in the Clouds But His Life Isn't Heavenly|date=15 July 1963|work=The Record|access-date=2019-01-06|via=Newspapers.com}} They decided that Selma should continue to pilot airplanes. Through the 1960s, she participated in the Powder Puff Derby and other air events.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26906249/the_record/|title=Bergen Pair Heads West for Powder Puff Derby|date=27 June 1960|work=The Record|access-date=2019-01-06|via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26906558/the_record/|title=Two Bergen Gals to Take Part in National Powder Puff Derby|last=Rader|first=Barbara|date=30 June 1961|work=The Record|access-date=2019-01-06|via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26906989/the_record/|title=Flying Aces Play a Hand|last=Smith|first=Grace B.|date=6 October 1968|work=The Record|access-date=2019-01-06|via=Newspapers.com}} Cronan was inducted into the Aviation Hall of Fame of New Jersey in May 1994.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26918597/the_palm_beach_post/|title=WWII Female Pilot Honored|date=28 May 1994|work=The Palm Beach Post|access-date=2019-01-06|via=Newspapers.com}}
Cronan died on August 5, 2002, and was interred at Arlington National Cemetery.{{Cite web|url=http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/arlington/cemeteries/arlington-cro-d.txt|title=Arlington County VA Archives Cemeteries...Arlington National Cemetery - Surnames CROD - D|website=USGW Archives|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030082014/http://files.usgwarchives.net:80/va/arlington/cemeteries/arlington-cro-d.txt|archive-date=30 October 2013|access-date=2019-01-06}}
References
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Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
Category:Aviators from New Jersey
Category:Women Airforce Service Pilots personnel
Category:Jewish American military personnel
Category:20th-century American Jews