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Charter Date: 1946
The San Diego Chapter was founded in 1946
by a few women pilots weary of commuting from San Diego to Los Angeles
Chapter meetings.
They were joined by Betty Gillies, a charter member of the 99s who had
moved to San Diego. As membership grew, some San Diego Chapter members
left to form the El Cajon Valley Chapter. Palomar Chapter, whose members
are also from the San Diego area, was sponsored by the San Diego Chapter,
as was the Phoenix and Borrego Valley Chapters.
Throughout its history, the chapter has been a strong supporter of women's
cross-country speed races. In 1949 when the chapter sponsored the start
of the Jacqueline Cochran All-Woman Transcontinental Air Race, the entries
more than doubled from the previous year. Entries more than doubled again
the following year when the chapter again managed the start of the race,
which was then and afterward known simply as the AWTAR.
In the mid 1960s, a short "fun" race was started by the chapter
members and friends to serve as a preparatory exercise for aspiring AWTAR
racers and to provide an opportunity for facing experience for women pilots
lacking the time and funds to fly the transcontinental races. The race
became known as the Pacific Air Race, and the El Cajon Valley Chapter
joined to co-sponsor the annual event. In several years, the popularity
of the race was surpassed only by that of the AWTAR.
The activity of the chapter was not limited to racing support. The chapter
established in the early 1970s a seminar course for fllying companions.
The local GADO office, quick to realize the safety education aspects,
lent its full support. The continuing success of the sminars led chapter
members to prepare a procedures outline for sale to those interested in
setting u a similar course. Chapter members have also assisted directly
in establishing the course for other gruops.
Throughout the years, the chapter has been active in Southwest Section
affairs, has supplied International board members, and an International
President, Betty Gillies.
The chapter has maintained for many years a committee to oversee the 99s
and AWTAR exhibits at the San Diego Aero-Space Museum. Because of a disastrous
fire that destroyed the museum and its collection in early 1978, there
has been a continued effort to restore and expand the Women in Aviation
display and to act as an auxiliary group for the museum.
If the whole is made up on the sum of its parts, individual members' accomplishments
in aviation outside 99s have provided an example for other chapter members
and given impetus to chapter endeavors. The San Diego Chapter has had
among its membership individuals who were WASPs, test pilots, flight instructors,
FAA examiners, soaring trophy holders, aviation writers and authors, aviation
company executives, owners of aviation businesses and military pilots.