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Arizona Edition: Yuma's Connection to the first Women's National Air Derby

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* NOTE - This interview first aired in March or 2019 to honor Women's History Month.

In 1929, 20 women competed in the first Women’s National Air Derby, an airplane race that took them from Santa Monica, California to Cleveland, Ohio -- with a stop in Yuma.

You may have heard of one of the race participants – Amelia Earhardt, but, by and large, the women, each a pioneer in aviation, are largely forgotten.

Heather Taylor is executive producer of the film, "Breaking Through the Clouds: The First Women's National Air Derby." Taylor talks about the race and the aviation pioneers who took part.

We hear tales of sabotage, sexism, and even death.

More information about the documentary "Breaking Through the Clouds: The First Women's National Air Derby"

Lou grew up in Tucson and has a long family history in the state of Arizona. He began his public radio career in 1988 at KNAU in Flagstaff as a classical music DJ and has been hooked on public radio since, transitioning to news after trying his hand at several other careers in publishing and commercial broadcasting. Lou has a degree in American Studies from Arizona State University and was KAWC's Morning Edition host for two and half years before becoming News and Operations Director.
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