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Holcomb Family Powder Puff Derby By The Southwick Historical Society, Inc.
Did you ever hear of the Powder Puff Derby? It was a transcontinental air race for women pilots held annually from 1947 through 1977, sponsored by the Ninety-Nines, Inc., an international organization of licensed women pilots. Twenty-four of the races began in California, and only three went east to west. In early July 1955, the Powder Puff Derby began in Long Beach, California and ended at Barnes Airport in Westfield, the only race that ended in Massachusetts. Thanks to a newspaper clipping saved by late Southwick resident Bertha Miller and donated to the Southwick Historical Society, Inc. by her daughter Sandra Jablonski, we learn that a local woman Mrs. Clarissa Holcomb participated in that race and was copilot and navigator with pilot Esther Gardiner of Millstone, Waterford, Connecticut in their 150 horsepower Bellanca airplane. (The Springfield newspaper had a photograph of both women and noted that they were both tall: Clarissa was 5’ 9” and Esther was 6’ tall.) The two women placed third in the race, and were
Clarissa “Deed” Holcomb, on left, greets Esther “Gerry” Gardiner as they prepare to fly in the 1955 Powder Puff Derby.
awarded their prize at the Ninety-Nines Convention held at the Hotel Sheraton-Kimball in Springfield on July 7 & 8, 1955 and at Hiller Airport on July 9. Clarissa (Hill) Holcomb (nickname Deed) was the wife of Maxwell Holcomb, oldest son of Leon Edward Holcomb and Evelyn Ellis. Max was also a pilot. Maxwell Edward Holcomb (born March 16, 1918), his brother Leon Ellis Holcomb (born November 22, 1919), and his sister Janet Ruth Holcomb grew up in the house at the crest of Vining Hill Road, at the top of the “T” that Mort Vining Road makes with Vining Hill where their father and grandfather also grew up. Grandfather Edward
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SOUTHWOODS MAGAZINE June 2013
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