Bessica Medlar Raiche

Infobox Person
name = Bessica Medlar Raiche


image_size = 180px
caption = Bessica Medlar Raiche in flying gear
birth_date = April, 1875
birth_place = Wisconsin
death_date = death date|1932|4|11|mf=y
death_place = Balboa Island, Newport Beach, California
occupation = Dentist, businesswoman, and physician
spouse = François "Frank" C. Raiche
parents = Elizabeth and James B. Medlar
children = Catherine E. Raiche

Bessica Medlar Raiche (April, 1875 – April 11, 1932) was a dentist, businesswoman, and physician, notable for being the first woman in the United States accredited with flying solo in an airplane.

Biography

Early life

She was born in April 1875 in Wisconsin. Her mother, Elizabeth, was from New Hampshire, and her father, James B. Medlar, was from New York. She had a sister: Alice M. Medlar (1879-?). In 1880 the family was living in Rockford, Illinois, and she was using the name "Bessie F. Medler". Raiche was a proto-feminist, she drove an automobile and wore bloomers. She was also a musician, painter, and linguist, and participated in swimming and shooting. In 1900 she was working as a dentist and living in New Hampton, New Hampshire, renting a room under the name Faith Medlar. She married François "Frank" C. Raiche (1874-?) of New Hampshire and they moved to Mineola, New York. Frank's parents were both from France.

Aviation

Together the newlyweds built the pieces of a Wright type biplane in their living room and then assembled it in their yard. The Raiches constructed their flyer from bamboo and silk instead of a heavier canvas covering. On September 16, 1910, in her homemade flyer at Hempstead Plains, Bessica Raiche made the first solo airplane flight by a woman in the United States to be accredited by the Aeronautical Society of America. Blanche Stuart Scott had flown solo earlier the same month but her flight was less well documented and arguably not an intentional flight. Raiche said:

:"Blanche deserved the recognition, but I got more attention because of my lifestyle. I drove an automobile, was active in sports like shooting and swimming, and I even wore riding pants and knickers. People who did not know me or understand me looked down on this behavior. I was an accomplished musician, painter and linguist, I enjoyed life, and just wanted to be myself."

On October 13, 1910, Bessica Raiche was awarded a diamond-studded gold medal inscribed "First Woman Aviator in America" by Hudson Maxim of the Aeronautical Society of America at a dinner the society held in her honor.

Bessica and François Raiche went on to build more airplanes as part of their successful aviation engineering business the French-American Aeroplane Company. They were innovators in the use of lighter weight materials in aircraft construction, including the use of piano wire to replace heavier iron wire.

Family

In 1915 the Raiches had a daughter: Catherine E. Raiche (1915-?). In 1920 the Raiches were living in Newport Beach, California. Bessica was a qualified physician, one of the first women specialists in obstetrics and gynecology in the U.S., and Frank was practising as a lawyer. In 1923 Bessica served as president of the Orange County Medical Association. In 1930 she was living in Santa Ana, California.

Death

On April 11, 1932, Raiche died in her sleep in Balboa Island, Newport Beach, California of a heart attack.

Timeline

*1874 Born in Rockford, Illinois
*1880 as "Bessie F. Medler"
*1900 as "Faith Medlar"
*1910 Solo flight on September 16
*1920 with "Frank C. Raiche" and "Beonce F. Raiche"
*1923 President of the Orange County Medical Association
*1930
*1932 Death in Balboa, California, on April 11

Awards

*October 13, 1910, awarded a diamond-studded gold medal inscribed "First Woman Aviator in America" by Hudson Maxim of the Aeronautical Society of America.

References

*New York Times; April 12, 1932, page 24; . Received Gold Medal From Hudson Maxim as 'First Woman Aviator of America.' Built her own airplane, made flights in it in 1910, was painter, musician and linguist and practicing physician. Santa Ana, California, April 11, 1932 (Associated Press) Dr. Bessica Raiche, 58 years old, reputed to be the first woman who ever flew an airplane, died yesterday at her home in Balboa, a beach resort near here. She was found in her bed by her daughter Catherine. Death apparently was caused by heart disease.

ee also

*Blanche Stuart Scott

External links

* [http://www.ctie.monash.edu.au/hargrave/raiche.html Hargrave: Bessica Raiche]
* [http://www.nasm.si.edu/research/aero/women_aviators/bessica_raiche.htm Smithsonian: Bessica Raiche]

Persondata
NAME=Raiche, Bessica Medlar
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Aviator
DATE OF BIRTH=April, 1875
PLACE OF BIRTH=Wisconsin
DATE OF DEATH=April 11, 1932
PLACE OF DEATH=Balboa Island, Newport Beach, California