Historic Memorabilia on Display Excusively at Phi Mu National Headquarters
During a visit with Jerrie Mock, Aglaia Editor and Foundation Development Consultant Kathy Curtin, ΑΓ, and archivist Kristin Veline, ΑΝ, secured several items of significant historic importance on behalf of Phi Mu Foundation for exclusive display at National Headquarters until spring 2010 when they will be sent for permanent display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
As an educational outreach, the Foundation is planning a community-wide event
for the aviation industry and local schools before the exhibit leaves the Peachtree
City area. More event details will be available at www.phimufoundation.org.
Castle Harbour Hotel
Tucker’s Town, Bermuda
This was the first hotel Jerrie stayed in on her historic trip. Due to severe weather conditions, her stay was extended for over a week. Jerrie’s husband, Russell Mock, wanted her to pose by a palm tree for a publicity shot. She could only find one palm tree on the island, right
by the airport, where she dutifully posed for the photograph.
Shell Algeria Bill
March 31, 1964
Jerrie landed in Bone, Algeria on March 30, 1964. When purchasing gas in a foreign country, a pilot often needed to tell the gas company where the pilot came from and where she was headed on the next flight. The Shell employee listed Jerrie’s next stop as “Vertical Tunis,” which meant “Cairo.”
Letter from Bangor, Thailand
April 8, 1964
Mrs. Pawa Watanasupt from the Public Relations Department of Radio Thailand wrote a letter to Jerrie’s husband, Russell, acknowledging that Jerrie arrived safely in Thailand on April 7, 1964. Because there were problems accepting Jerrie’s traveler’s checks, Mrs. Watanasupt paid the expenses for a collect cable and was writing Russell to request reimbursement. Such logistics are hard to fathom in today’s world where credit
cards and instant communication are both so readily available.
 Jerrie’s suit worn on the day of her departure is on display in the Phi Mu museum. Her flight around the world was initially planned as a leisurely trip while setting a flight record. However, just months before her intended take-off, Jerrie learned of another woman who was trying to set the same record, Joan Merriam Smith. Although the women insisted they were not in competition with each other, having a second person trying to set the same record changed the itinerary of Jerrie’s trip. Jerrie completed her flight on April 17, 1964; Joan completed hers on May 12.
|
|
|
|