"Mrs Ruby D Garrett" ATA Pilot

[paulmcmillan]

"Mrs Ruby D Garrett" is labelled as from USA in Brief Glory by Cheesman.. She is also down on the RAF Museum web site as the "first American Woman pilot to join the ATA". She is also referenced as such by
Smithsonian Studies in Air and Space - Issue 7 and
Women and military aviation in the Second World War:


"One American woman Ruby Garrett served with ATA from March through December 1941, before Cochran's arrival."

HOWEVER..

I can only find a Ruby Dwight Garrett Jr as a pilot. He flew from TWA from 1942 to 1969 (dovetails the above dates very well)... I wonder if Cheesman saw the name "Ruby". Assumed it was a Woman and a legend is born....

Of course she could be listed as was common at the time of 'via her husbands name' but all the other names are given in full

Can anyone prove disprove this theory?

Basically find a RUBY D. GARRETT (female pilot) of the time


Paul

[dennis_burke]

MISTER Ruby D Garrett jjr appears as single on the 1940 US census and then marries a Carolyn Stockwell in late 1940 in Missouri.

On the census HE is a flight cadet in Bexar, Texas and was born in Missouri.

Nothing glaring up at me on ancestry.com for SHE being a pilot or another lady of that name.

[Resmoroh]

And "transgender" hadn't even been invented in them days!!!!!!!!!!!

[paulmcmillan]

Dennis thanks ! I think that confirms it.

I have some more stuff on this person which I will add tomorrow

Thanks Paul

[paulmcmillan]

From Google Books...

1969

Never in summer: At the not particularly advanced age of 53, Ruby Garrett tired of seeing the world from 30,000 feet or so — Paris, Rome, London, Hong Kong, Saigon, etc. And so he began hauling things (including boats) at zero altitude, over highways.

To meet people. Ruby is a solidly built, balding, blue-eyed extrovert who has put in 27 years as a pilot with
TWA, most recently as a captain on international flights. He presently is on medical leave from TWA
and plans to retire next March.

The dates all match. Aged 53 in 1969 means born in 1916 (his parents married in 1910), which would make him 24in 1940 and 27 years with TWA means 1942 start

Also found another reference to 'Ruby D. Garrett Jr. TWA' so same man

Paul

[dennis_burke]

There are many examples of of Rudy Garrett with without the the D and jr as a Captain of TWA aircraft from 1944 onwards on Ancestry.com, since he is fligth crew there is no background data.

unfortunate error if thats the case.

[paulmcmillan]

Denis

Thanas

Paul

[paulmcmillan]

Update

I got in touch with RAF Museum and they replied!

"Thank you for drawing this to our attention. I have checked Ruby Garrett's ATA personnel file, and there is a brief mention that he had served in the US Army - that is the only indication that Ruby was male! We will amend the text accordingly."

Paul

[thorne83]

Hi Paul,

he (I had assumed he was a she also!) was involved in a minor accident, as per accident cards:

21st November 1941. Whitley Z9422 of 6 FPP. Ferrying Baginton-Cosford. Overshot only short runway available due to runway under construction, brakes inefficient on wet ground, hit wire fence at end of runway. 1st Officer R D Garrett, American.

Cheers,

Tom

[paulmcmillan]

Tom

Thanks for info all adds to back story!

Paul