Age, Biography and Wiki

Cornelia Fort was born on 5 February, 1919 in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., is an American aviator (1919–1943). Discover Cornelia Fort's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is she in this year and how she spends money? Also learn how she earned most of networth at the age of 24 years old?

Popular As N/A
Occupation Aviator
Age 24 years old
Zodiac Sign Aquarius
Born 5 February 1919
Birthday 5 February
Birthplace Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Date of death 1943
Died Place near Merkel, Texas, U.S.
Nationality United States

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 5 February. She is a member of famous with the age 24 years old group.

Cornelia Fort Height, Weight & Measurements

At 24 years old, Cornelia Fort height not available right now. We will update Cornelia Fort's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
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Dating & Relationship status

She is currently single. She is not dating anyone. We don't have much information about She's past relationship and any previous engaged. According to our Database, She has no children.

Family
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Cornelia Fort Net Worth

Her net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Cornelia Fort worth at the age of 24 years old? Cornelia Fort’s income source is mostly from being a successful . She is from United States. We have estimated Cornelia Fort's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income

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Timeline

1919

Cornelia Clark Fort (February 5, 1919 – March 21, 1943) was an American aviator who became famous for being part of two aviation-related events.

Fort was born on February 5, 1919, to a wealthy and prominent family in Nashville, Tennessee; her father, Rufus Elijah Fort, was a founder of National Life and Accident Insurance Company.

1936

She received a high school certificate from the Ward-Belmont School in 1936.

1939

She graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1939.

After college, Fort joined the Junior League of Nashville.

She showed an early interest in flying, ultimately training for and earning her pilot's license in Nashville.

She was the second woman in Tennessee to get her commercial license and the first woman in Tennessee to get her instructors' license.

She applied to many flying schools and was accepted as an instructor at a Colorado flight training school.

While there, she was offered a position in Hawaii, which she accepted.

While working as a civilian pilot instructor at Pearl Harbor, Cornelia Fort inadvertently became one of the first witnesses to the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor that brought the United States into World War II.

1941

The first occurred while conducting a civilian training flight at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, when she was the first United States pilot to encounter the Japanese air fleet during the Attack on Pearl Harbor.

She and her student narrowly escaped a mid-air collision with the Japanese aircraft and a strafing attack after making an emergency landing.

The following year, Fort became the second member of what was to become the Women Airforce Service Pilots or WASP.

On December 7, 1941, Fort was in the air near Pearl Harbor teaching takeoffs and landings to a student pilot in an Interstate Cadet monoplane.

Her airplane and a few other civilian aircraft were the only U.S. planes in the air near the harbor at that time.

Fort saw a military airplane flying directly toward her and swiftly grabbed the controls from her student to pull up over the oncoming craft.

It was then she saw the rising sun insignia on the wings.

Within moments, she saw billows of black smoke coming from Pearl Harbor and bombers flying in.

She quickly landed the plane at John Rodgers civilian airport near the mouth of Pearl Harbor.

The pursuing Zero strafed her plane and the runway as she and her student ran for cover.

The airport manager was killed and two other civilian planes did not return that morning.

1942

With all civilian flights grounded in Hawaii, Fort returned to the mainland in early 1942.

She made a short movie promoting war bonds that was successful and led to speaking engagements.

Later that year, Nancy Love recruited her to serve in the newly established Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS), precursor to the Women Airforce Service Pilots.

She was the second woman accepted into the service.

The WAFS ferried military planes to bases within the United States.

Stationed at the 6th Ferrying Group base at Long Beach, California, Cornelia Fort became the first WAFS fatality.

1943

Fort was working as a WASP ferry pilot on 21 March 1943 when she became the first female pilot in American history to die while on active duty.

She was involved in a mid-air collision and crashed ten miles south of Merkel, Texas, in Mulberry Canyon.

On March 21, 1943, while flying in formation en route from Long Beach to Love Field in Dallas, the left wing of her BT-13 was struck by the landing gear of flight officer Frank Stamme Jr.'s plane.

Stamme had been flying too close to Fort's plane, approaching her and then pulling back.

On one of the close passes, the collision took place, breaking off the tip of her wing and six feet of leading edge.

He was able to control his plane, but Fort went into an irreversible dive and crashed.

The accident occurred ten miles south of Merkel, Texas in Mulberry Canyon, Texas.

At the time of the accident, Cornelia Fort was one of the most accomplished pilots of the WASPs.

The footstone of her grave is inscribed, "Killed in the Service of Her Country."

Cornelia Fort was portrayed in the film Tora! Tora! Tora! by actress Jeff Donnell.

The Cornelia Fort Airpark in East Nashville is named after her.