Elizabeth Haas Pfister (July 23, 1921 – November 17, 2011) was an American aviator.

Biography

Haas Pfister was born Elizabeth Haas in

Great Neck, New York Great Neck is a region on Long Island, New York, that covers a peninsula on the North Shore (Long Island), North Shore and includes nine villages, among them Great Neck (village), New York, Great Neck, Great Neck Estates, New York, Great Neck Es ...

, the second of three children of Merle (née Simon) and Robert Kalman Haas Sr. (son of California retailer

Kalman Haas Kalman Haas (1847–1920) was an American businessman, co-founder of the Haas Brothers and member of the Haas family. Biography Haas was born to a Jewish family in Reckendorf, Bavaria, one of nine children including brothers Charles A. (b. 1825) ...

). She expressed an interest in aviation from an early age, and she began taking flying lessons while attending

Bennington College Bennington College is a private liberal arts college in Bennington, Vermont. Founded in 1932 as a women's college, it became co-educational in 1969. It claims to be the first college to include visual and performing arts as an equal partner in ...

in Vermont. By the time she graduated (early, with a degree in marine biology), she had enough flight hours to be a candidate to join the

Women Airforce Service Pilots The Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) (also Women's Army Service Pilots or Women's Auxiliary Service Pilots) was a civilian women pilots' organization, whose members were United States federal civil service employees. Members of WASP became t ...

. As a member of WASP, starting in 1943, she flew military aircraft within the United States, ferrying them from factory to airfield or airfield to port. Like other WASP members, she also assisted with aerial target practice, towing airborne targets, and flew test flights. After World War II ended, Haas Pfister purchased (for $750) a decommissioned

Bell P-39 Airacobra The Bell P-39 Airacobra is a fighter produced by Bell Aircraft for the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. It was one of the principal American fighters in service when the United States entered combat. The P-39 was used by the ...

fighter plane. The plane, with serial number 44-2433, never saw combat during the war. Haas Pfister named it "Galloping Gertie", painted it red and white, and used it in races and exhibitions. The plane was loaned to the

Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums and education and research centers, the largest such complex in the world, created by the U.S. government "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge". Founded ...

in 1950, with the donation becoming permanent in 1956. In her racing career, Haas Pfister twice won the All Women’s International Air Race, in 1950 and 1952. In her later career, Haas Pfister undertook a number of aviation endeavors. After the war, she worked for

Pan American Airways Pan American World Airways, originally founded as Pan American Airways and commonly known as Pan Am, was an American airline that was the principal and largest international air carrier and unofficial overseas flag carrier of the United States ...

as a stewardess and served as an aviation instructor. She started flying other aircraft like gliders and balloons, and in 1953, she earned her helicopter license, the 52nd American woman to do so. She competed with the U.S. Helicopter Team in the 1973 and 1978 world championships and later served as a judge. Haas Pfister advocated for upgrades to the

Aspen–Pitkin County Airport Aspen/Pitkin County Airport , also known as Sardy Field, is a county-owned public-use airport located three nautical miles (6 km) northwest of the central business district of Aspen, in Pitkin County, Colorado, United States. Aspen/Pitkin Co ...

that allowed it to accommodate major commercial traffic. She supervised the construction of the

Aspen Valley Hospital Aspen is a common name for certain tree species; some, but not all, are classified by botanists in the section ''Populus'', of the '' Populus'' genus. Species These species are called aspens: *'' Populus adenopoda'' – Chinese aspen (Chin ...

Heliport. She also helped found the

Pitkin County Air Rescue Group Pitkin may refer to: People * Pitkin (surname) Places * Pitkin, Colorado, USA, a town in Gunnison County * Pitkin County, Colorado, USA * Pitkin, Louisiana, USA, a community in Vernon Parish * The Pitkin Formation, a sedimentary rock layer F ...

, flying numerous rescue missions in the mountains. She founded the Aspen chapter of the

Ninety-Nines The Ninety-Nines: International Organization of Women Pilots, also known as The 99s, is an international organization that provides networking, mentoring, and flight scholarship opportunities to recreational and professional female pilots. Foun ...

International Organization of Women Pilots and the

Snowmass, Colorado Snowmass (sometimes known locally as Old Snowmass) is an unincorporated community and a U.S. Post Office located in Pitkin County, Colorado, United States. It is situated in the valley of the Roaring Fork River, near the mouth of Snowmass Creek ...

, Balloon Festival.

Awards and honors

Haas Pfister was inducted into the

Colorado Aviation Hall of Fame The Colorado Aviation Hall of Fame was established by the Colorado Aviation Historical Society (CAHS) in Denver, Colorado, USA, on November 11, 1969 for the State of Colorado. The original and first ten Colorado aviation pioneers were inducted in ...

in 1984. The

National Aeronautic Association The National Aeronautic Association of the United States (NAA) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and a founding member of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). Founded in 1905, it is the oldest national aviation club in the Uni ...

gave her the

Katharine Wright Katharine Wright Haskell (August 19, 1874 – March 3, 1929) was the younger sister of aviation pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright. She worked closely with her brothers, managing their bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio, when they were away; acting as ...

Memorial Award in 1992 and the Elder Statesman of Aviation Award in 1994.

Whirly-Girls The Whirly-Girls, officially known as Whirly-Girls International, are a non-profit, charitable and educational organization that aims to advance women in helicopter aviation. They are an affiliate member of the Helicopter Association International ...

International, which she served as president from 1985–1987, gave her their Livingston Award in 1995. In 2010, Haas Pfister was in attendance when the members of WASP, as a group, were awarded the

Congressional Gold Medal The Congressional Gold Medal is an award bestowed by the United States Congress. It is Congress's highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions by individuals or institutions. The congressional pract ...

Personal life

Haas Pfister married Arthur Pfister in 1954; he died in 2008. They had three children: Suzanne Pfister, Christina Pfister Smith, and

Nancy Pfister Nancy Merle Pfister was an American woman who was found murdered on February 26, 2014, in a walk-in closet of her secluded home in the Rocky Mountains. She had been beaten in the head and chest with a hammer, ax, and lamp. Pfister has been descr ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pfister, Betty Haas Women Airforce Service Pilots personnel Bennington College alumni 1921 births 2011 deaths Haas family