The fascinating tale of the two women pilots who vied to be the first to make a solo flight around the world is now the subject of a book by a Tallahassee author. The book’s launch happens this week.
Taylor Phillip’s day job is chaplain at Westminster Oaks. But he’s also a writer and his latest literary work is about the two female aviators – “Jerrie” Mock and Joan Merriam Smith – who took off on separate worldwide solo flight attempts just days apart in 1964.
“Jerrie had the NAA (National Aviation Authority) sanction, the permission to go for the record with the observers stationed around the world to verify her flight. But Joan Merriam Smith flew the Amelia Earhart route and was the first person to complete it.”
It’s a little-known part of history that Phillips will discuss during the book launch at 7 this Wednesday evening, April 27 at Midtown Reader.
“I’ll be interviewed by Dr. Denise Spivey who teaches history at TCC about the history and background.”
Those who attend will also learn who won the race around the world.
