Orange City in Volusia County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Betsy Ross Airfield for Women
Photographed by Tim Fillmon, July 11, 2024
1. Betsy Ross Airfield for Women Marker Side 1
Inscription.
Betsy Ross Airfield for Women. . , On May 9, 1931, the land beyond this sign was donated to the Betsy Ross Air Corps, a pre-World War II organization of female pilots. Designated the Betsy Ross Airport, the airfield was the only airport in the nation entirely owned and operated by women. Its purpose was a place for female pilots to learn to fly and improve their skills. In the northeast corner of the 160-acre site was Arawana Lodge, used as the Corps regional headquarters and a place for the pilots to vacation. The vision, gift, and construction were all realized by Orange City's Dr. Frances Dickinson. She was an educator, woman's rights advocate, ophthalmologist and club woman. A flyer herself, Dickinson noted female pilots were not provided equal opportunity in the growing field of aviation. By 1932, Dickinson completed construction of one 1,000-foot runway and a 600-foot central axis designed to serve seven more runways. On January 13, 1932, the Betsy Ross Air Corp's National Commander, Opal Kunz, and Lt. Commander, Lillian Perkins, assumed operations and continued development of the airfield., The Betsy Ross Air Corps' period of existence was short-lived (1931-1933), and never formally recognized by the U.S. Military. Dickinson secured funding to complete the airport construction from Florida's Federal Emergency Relief Administration in December 1934. By 1935, Volusia County signed a five-year lease to use the airfield as an emergency landing field. After World War II, the airfield was renamed to the DeLand-Orange City Airport. In January 1945, J. Wade Coleman of the Orange State Flying Services leased the airfield to operate an educational facility. Coleman contracted with Stetson University to provide flight training supplementing the university's existing aviation ground school courses. Before Dickinson's death on May 19, 1945, four women earned their solo pilots licenses from her airfield. The field remained an active private airfield until a television tower was constructed over the western edge in the mid-1960s. Portions of the former airfield are now home to Manatee Cove Elementary and River Springs Middle School. The Compass Landing Subdivision pays tribute to the legacy of the Betsy Ross Airport and Dr. Frances Dickinsons vision to advance women fliers. , A Florida Heritage Site
On May 9, 1931, the land beyond this sign was donated to the Betsy Ross Air Corps, a pre-World War II organization of female pilots. Designated the Betsy Ross Airport, the airfield was the only airport in the nation entirely owned and operated by women. Its purpose was a place for female pilots to learn to fly and improve their skills. In the northeast corner of the 160-acre site was Arawana Lodge, used as the Corps regional headquarters and a place for the pilots to vacation. The vision, gift, and construction were all realized by Orange City's Dr. Frances Dickinson. She was an educator, woman's rights advocate, ophthalmologist and club woman. A flyer herself, Dickinson noted female pilots were not provided equal opportunity in the growing field of aviation. By 1932, Dickinson completed construction of one 1,000-foot runway and a 600-foot central axis designed to serve seven more runways. On January 13, 1932, the Betsy Ross Air Corp's National Commander, Opal Kunz, and Lt. Commander, Lillian Perkins, assumed operations and continued development of the airfield.
The Betsy Ross Air Corps' period of existence was short-lived
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(1931-1933), and never formally recognized by the U.S. Military. Dickinson secured funding to complete the airport construction from Florida's Federal Emergency Relief Administration in December 1934. By 1935, Volusia County signed a five-year lease to use the airfield as an emergency landing field. After World War II, the airfield was renamed to the DeLand-Orange City Airport. In January 1945, J. Wade Coleman of the Orange State Flying Services leased the airfield to operate an educational facility. Coleman contracted with Stetson University to provide flight training supplementing the university's existing aviation ground school courses. Before Dickinson's death on May 19, 1945, four women earned their solo pilots licenses from her airfield. The field remained an active private airfield until a television tower was constructed over the western edge in the mid-1960s. Portions of the former airfield are now home to Manatee Cove Elementary and River Springs Middle School. The Compass Landing Subdivision pays tribute to the legacy of the Betsy Ross Airport and Dr. Frances Dickinsons vision to advance women fliers.
A Florida Heritage
Photographed by Tim Fillmon, July 11, 2024
2. Betsy Ross Airfield for Women Marker Side 2
Site
Erected 2022 by The City of Orange City and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-1197.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Women. A significant historical date for this entry is May 9, 1931.
Location. 28° 56.068′ N, 81° 18.435′ W. Marker is in Orange City, Florida, in Volusia County. It is at the intersection of West Rhode Island Avenue and South Sparkman Avenue, on the right when traveling west on West Rhode Island Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Orange City FL 32763, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Florida’s First Coast. It is also in the American South and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured
Credits. This page was last revised on January 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 14, 2024, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,210 times since then and 148 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on July 14, 2024, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.
