83 Years Ago2 photos

American Ellen Church became the world's first flight attendant

American Ellen Church (September 22, 1904 – August 22, 1965), a nurse from Iowa, became the world's first flight attendant.
When Ellen became interested in aviation, she enrolled in flying courses. However, when she asked a Boeing Air Transport manager if she could become a pilot, he suggested that another idea of hers – creating a new position similar to that of a train conductor on aircraft – might be more promising.

The company approved this idea. Ellen Church was tasked with recruiting a group of seven nurses no older than 25 and weighing no more than 115 pounds, willing to work as flight attendants for a monthly salary of $125, which was considered considerable at that time.

After several months of training, these flight attendants began flying. Ellen herself made their first flight on May 15, 1930, on a San Francisco–Shayenne route. Within three years, nearly all American airlines hired flight attendants, and their presence greatly helped popularize passenger aviation.

During World War II, Ellen Church served as a nurse on medical planes transporting wounded soldiers from North Africa and Italy, and later on a sanitary train in France. She received several medals for her services.

The Church Cro斯科 Airport in her hometown of Cro斯科 is named in honor of the world's first flight attendant, Ellen Church.