2005 Pioneer Hall of Fame

Sandra L. Anderson

Sandra L. Anderson is the second woman pilot hired by Northwest Airlines and one of the first female pilots to check out in the left seat of the Boeing 727.

Flying wasn’t Anderson’s first vocation. She has a BS degree in art with minors in music and physical education from Texas Woman’s University and is a Hall of Fame graduate of nearby Lewisville High School. In 1970, she taught school for two years in the La Marque, Texas school district where she later met and married Dick Anderson, a NASA engineer and sky diver. A tragic accident took Dick’s life in 1975. By then, Sandy was working on her commercial pilot’s license and was determined to use her painful loss to move her life in a new direction. On the advice of her flight instructor that she had "the right stuff" to become an airline pilot, she quit her graphic illustrator’s job with Exxon Oil and concentrated all her efforts on logging flight experience, giving flight and ground instruction and achieving pilot certificates and ratings. In 1978, Sandy began applying to the airlines without success. So, she enrolled in the B-727 flight engineer’s school and kept knocking on doors for airline interviews. In 1979, she was the second female pilot hired by Northwest Orient Airlines.

At Northwest she’s served as the first NWA Boeing 727 female instructor/checkpilot, the first female Fleet Check Captain among the major US airlines and was a Chief Pilot at the Minneapolis/ St. Paul crew base. She currently is a Captain on the Boeing 747-400, flying international routes.

Anderson was presented the prestigious Northwest Airlines "Humanitarian Award," and the Texas Woman’s University "Distinguished Alumna" Award for outstanding achievements and contributions. Anderson holds a MS degree in Human Resources/Organization Development from the American University in Washington, D.C. and recently finished certification in fund raising management at the University of Indianapolis- Center of Philanthropy.

Anderson is a founding board member of Women in Aviation, International, and helped establish its Endowment Fund.

Anne Bridge Baddour

Anne Bridge Baddour is the first woman pilot to fly as an Experimental Research Pilot for the MIT Lincoln Laboratory Flight Test Facility, doing airborne research for the Department of Defense and Federal Aviation Administration. In this job from 1977 to 1997, she flew standard civilian aircraft, in the cabin of which had been installed new technology projects for communications, radar, navigation, and lasers. Previous employment included being a manager, pilot, administrative assistant, ferry pilot, flight dispatcher, aviation consultant, corporate pilot, and aviation instructor. Baddour has competed in 16 air races, beginning in 1954, and has established numerous world aviation records.

Her ongoing involvement in the Aero Club of New England has been varied and exhaustive. She served on their Board of Directors from 1977 to 2002, establishing several scholarships, and has served as an advisor since then. She currently serves on the Board of Directors, Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum, Daniel Webster College, Boston University Library–Special Collections, Villa Viscaya, and the Miami Maritime Museum.

Colleen C. Barrett

Colleen C. Barrett is currently President and Corporate Secretary for Southwest Airlines. Prior to joining Southwest in 1978, she worked for several years as an Executive Assistant to Herb Kelleher (Southwest’s current Chairman) at his law firm. For Southwest Airlines, she has served as Secretary of the Corporation since March 1978; and served as Vice President Administration from 1986 to 1990, Executive Vice President Customers from 1990 to 2001.

Barrett is divorced, with one grown son and one grandson. She is active in numerous civic and charitable organizations in Dallas, Texas and has served on numerous boards and commissions. She graduated with highest honors from Becker Junior College in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1964.

Barbara Erickson London

Barbara Erickson London joined the Women’s Auxiliary Ferry Squadron (WAFS) and was soon promoted as in charge of the 6th Ferrying Group, Long Beach, California, where she commanded more than 60 women. She was the second (and sometimes third) woman to fly the P-51, P-38, B-17, C-47, and C-54. London was the only woman pilot to be awarded the Air Medal, for completing four transcontinental ferry flights in five days. In 1948, she accepted a commission as a Major, a position she fought successfully to keep. She served in the Reserves for 20 years.

After the war London and her husband, Jack went into business with Bud and Betty Gillies. Betty Gillies, another WAFS/WASP, recruited London to work with her on the Ninety-Nines’ All-Woman Transcontinental Air Race (AWTAR), better known as the Powder Puff Derby. London went into aircraft sales in 1966, and she still brokers airplanes. Just when you think there isn’t anything in aviation that she hasn’t done, here is one final surprise. She was a “Rosie the Riveter” at Boeing working the B-17 line while she was in college. That makes her the only WASP to both build and fly the B-17!

Florene Miller Watson

Florene Miller Watson joined the WAFS in 1942, and by the following year, was named Commanding Officer of the WAFS station at Love Field. During World War II, she served as an experimental military airline pilot and also tested radar equipment. By the time the WASP were disbanded, she had flown every type of training, cargo, fighter and twin and four-engine bomber that the Army Air Corps flew and delivered them to US locations. Post-war, Watson taught college for 30 years before retiring. Watson is a member of Women in Aviation, International and is an active member of the Houston chapter.

Watson maintains close ties to many other aviation organizations, including the Texas Aviation Historical Association, the Ninety-Nines, the Air Force Association, the Commemorative Air Force, Women Military Aviators, and WASP of World War II. She is well known as National Chaplain of the WASP, for which she has delivered many inspirational prayers.