![BuhlCA-3CAirsedan](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/17/BuhlCA-3CAirsedan.jpg)
Mildred Alice Doran (10 May 1905 – 16 August 1927) was a Canadian aviation enthusiast who was the only woman to enter the
Dole Air Race
The Dole Air Race, also known as the Dole Derby, was a deadly air race across the Pacific Ocean from Oakland, California to Honolulu in the Territory of Hawaii held in August 1927. There were eighteen official and unofficial entrants; fifteen of ...
in 1927, created to be the first to fly from California to Hawaii. During the race, she and several other competitors disappeared.
Early life and education
Doran was born in
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
to a Canadian father, William Doran, a farmer, and American mother, Minnie Doran. She was raised in
Flint, Michigan
Flint is the largest city and seat of Genesee County, Michigan, United States. Located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit, it is a principal city within the region known as Mid Michigan. At the 2020 census, Flint had a population of 8 ...
. Her mother, who was born in Michigan, died in about 1922 when she was 16. She raised her younger sister, Helen, and had brothers William and Floyd. Doran worked her way through high school as a telephone operator, continuing to do so after her graduation in 1924. A local businessman and owner of the Lincoln Petroleum Company, William Malloska, heard about her and paid for her to attend a teacher's course at
Michigan State Normal School
Eastern Michigan University (EMU, Eastern Michigan or simply Eastern), is a public research university in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School, the school was the fourth normal school established in the United Sta ...
. She got interested in flying at a local airshow while she was in college. By the time of the race she was about 22 years old and working as a fifth-grade school teacher in
Caro
Caro may refer to: Places
* Caro, Michigan, United States
* Caro, Morbihan, France
* Çaro, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France
Other uses
* Caro (given name), including a list of people with the given name
* Caro (surname), including a list of peo ...
, Michigan.
While in college, Doran became a member of
Alpha Sigma Tau.
The air-race
Doran convinced Malloska to enter an airplane in the
Dole Air Race
The Dole Air Race, also known as the Dole Derby, was a deadly air race across the Pacific Ocean from Oakland, California to Honolulu in the Territory of Hawaii held in August 1927. There were eighteen official and unofficial entrants; fifteen of ...
and to allow her to fly along. The plane, a biplane
Buhl Airsedan
The Buhl AirSedan was a family of American civil cabin sesquiplane aircraft developed and manufactured by the Buhl Aircraft Company in the late 1920s. One example completed the first transcontinental non-stop roundtrip flight, made in 1929 by ...
, was named the Miss Doran in her honour. The pilot was John 'Auggy' Pedlar and the navigator was Vilas Knope.
Because of the attitudes of the day, Doran was popular for interviews with the press.
It was considered strange for a woman to take part. She was quoted as saying “A woman should fly just as easily as a man.… Women certainly have the courage and tenacity required for long flights.”
Doran wanted to be the first woman to make such an ocean flight. She had been on long overland flights with the crew before.
Despite engine trouble early in the race, and attempts by the crew and crowd to get her to remain behind, Doran stayed with the plane. However, although other planes arrived in
Hawaii
Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...
, nothing was heard from the Miss Doran or her crew again. There was a search by the Army and Navy, and also a competitor's plane which then also went missing after joining the search.
James Dole
James Drummond Dole (September 27, 1877 – May 20, 1958), also known as the "Pineapple King", was an American industrialist who developed the pineapple industry in Hawaii. He established the Hawaiian Pineapple Company (HAPCO) which was later r ...
offered $20,000 to find the missing planes. Malloska added $10,000 to find his friend and the others.
Hearst also added a reward. There were many tributes after her death.
Ontario, Canada
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...
named a lake in her honour and Doran Tower was put up beside Lincoln Field in Flint. The tower was destroyed in 1973 because the owner could no longer afford the taxes.
See also
*
List of people who disappeared mysteriously at sea
Throughout history, people have mysteriously disappeared at sea, many on voyages aboard floating vessels or traveling via aircraft. The following is a list of known individuals who have mysteriously vanished in open waters, and whose whereabouts r ...
References
Further reading
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Doran, Mildred
1905 births
1927 deaths
Aviators from Michigan
Canadian women aviators
People from Flint, Michigan
People lost at sea
Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1927