FEMALE AVIATOR KILLED ATTEMPTING TO SET WORLD RECORD FOR LOOPING
Garden City, Long Island (JFK+50) On June 5, 1921, Laura Bromwell*, world-record setting aviator, was killed when her J.M.D. bi-plane fell from 1800 feet at the Curtiss School of Aviation flying field here in Garden City.
Ms. Bromwell, who had given her fiancee a kiss before taking off, was able to complete only one loop when the mishap occurred. She had intended to set a new world record for airplane looping of "at least 210 loops."
Laura Bromwell set the record of 199 "completed air circles" at Mineola on May 15, 1921. The New York Tribune reported that Ms. Bromwell's seat strapping may have been loose causing her to lose control of the aircraft. 5000 spectators were on the scene.
*Laura Bromwell (1897-1921) was born in Cincinnati, Ohio & received her pilot's license in 1919. LB was the 1st female member of the NY Aerial Police Reserve.
SOURCE
"One Air Loop Kills Laura Bromwell, Who Did 199," The New York Tribune, June 6, 1921, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
