The following article serves as a tribute to eight women who were the forerunners of the modern day flight attendant now numbering nearly 250,000 women and men worldwide.

In 1930, it was the dream of many a young man to marry a Boeing Skygirl. These “original eight” women were single nurses enticed from their homes with the idea of marriage to a rich-lonesome business passenger. Ultimately, however, they played a pivotal role in revolutionizing air travel by ensuring passenger comfort and through promoting the safety of air travel.

During that time America was in the beginning of an economic depression that would eventually deepen and spread to effect the entire world. Nevertheless, new advances in aircraft development continued to be promoted which helped strengthen the accessibility of air travel to the general public.

BOEING’S FIRSTS

The Boeing Company was, at that time, in the enviable position of being both the manufacturer of the first airliner and the first airline passenger transportation company providing cabin services. In 1928 Boeing introduced an airliner designed specifically for passenger comfort and convenience. The Model 80 touted a separate and enclosed flightdeck for the pilots and a spacious cabin for the passengers. The original model held twelve passengers and was followed one year later by the larger, 18-passenger, Model 80-A.

THE ORIGINAL EIGHT

Originally, young boys were hired to serve food, beverages, and comfort the passengers when they became airsick. Soon, however, it was suggested by Ellen Church, a registered nurse, that women — specifically nurses — could work as stewards. She felt that nurses would be best suited to care for passenger comfort (and illnesses), promote a female presence to demonstrate the safety of air travel, and to free up pilots for more important flight duties.