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Charter Date: February 1, 1952
The Long Beach Chapter was created
by members of the Los Angeles Chapter and local Ninety-Nines. There was
a need for a local chapter to host the terminus of the Powder Puff Air Race.
The chartering members were Mary Aileen Pickering, Diana Cyrus Bixby, Betty Loufek, Fern Shefler, Claire McMillan Walters, May Sharp, Donna Evans, Barbara London, Beatrice Meads, and Rita Gibson.
Rita Gibson is the mother of astronaut pilot "Hoot" Gibson and mother-in-law of astronaut mission specialist, Dr. Rea Seddon. Barbara London, former WASP, has remained active in the Long Beach area, with aircraft sales, Airport Commission member, and Airport Days staff. Iris Critchell is a valued member; former WASP retired lecturer at Claremont College and is still flying.
The chapter always has been active in air racing. Almost all air races have one or more members entered from the chapter.
Over a span of twenty-five years, the chapter sponsored and hosted the Flight Instructors re-validation clinics in Long Beach. We have presented Flying Companion seminars, and Poker Runs. Margaret Callaway and Mary Wenholz were half the committee who created the All Woman Baja Air Race. It takes many workers to do any large project.
Our chapter has and had several Flight Instructors, a United Airlines Captain, Delta Airlines pilot, FAA briefer, and NTSB investigator, CAP officers, a director of the Torrance Air fair and many women who just love to fly.
Our members have come from all walks of life; FAA, NTSB, WASP, schoolteachers, technicians, housewives, and theater.
Long Beach chapter sponsored a Ninety-Nine-Section meeting on the Queen Mary in Long Beach in spring of 2001.