RUTH LAW OLIVER 1887-1970

Ruth Law Photo: Dave Cadorette from Holcomb's Aerodrome By permission from Kevin Holcomb

 

	Biography	VIE AU GRAND AIR (Life in the open air),	Resources

 

Ruth Law Oliver, the first woman to loop the loop in an airplane, the first to make a night flight and the one- time holder of the Chicago to New York aerial speed record, died Tuesday, December 1, 1970 in San Francisco at the age of 83.      Ruth Law bought her first airplane in 1912 from Orville Wright when she was 21 years old. From that time she proceeded to pile up new records in flying and was the outstanding woman barnstormer of her era.      In 1917, Miss Law was the first woman authorized to wear a military uniform, but she was denied permission to fly in combat. She was told that she could do a lot of good just by teaching others to fly.      After the war, there came the Ruth Law Flying Circus, a three plane troupe that left throngs at state and county fairs astonished. She flew her old Curtiss plane, with Wright controls, and the two male pilots flew Jennys in close formation with her. Finally her husband and manager of the flying circus, Charles Oliver confided that he was becoming more and more distressed watching his wife flying 25 feet above racing cars on county tracks. So, in 1922, Miss Law announced that she was retiring. The Olivers lived in Beverly Hills from 1922 to 1946, when they moved to San Francisco. Charles Oliver died the following year.      Funeral services were held Saturday, December 5, 1970, with officers of the San Francisco Chapter of the Eastern Star officiating. Burial was in Lynn, Massachusetts, where Miss Law was born, March 21, 1887 From The Early Birds of Aviation CHIRP, January, 1971, Number 77

 

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