On April 17, 1964, a single-engine Cessna 180 touched down in Columbus, Ohio, completing a historic solo flight around the globe. Piloted by Geraldine "Jerrie" Mock, the aircraft, nicknamed "Charlie," navigated 22,860 miles across 21 stopovers. This achievement marked the first time a woman had successfully completed a solo circumnavigation by air, cementing her place in aviation history.
Early Interest in Aviation
Born in 1925 in Newark, Ohio, to Timothy and Blanche Fredritz, Geraldine showed early interest in mechanical pursuits. Her fascination with flight ignited at age seven during an experience in the cockpit of a Ford Trimotor aircraft. While attending Newark High School, she pursued engineering coursework as the only girl in her class. She later enrolled at Ohio State University, where she joined the Phi Mu sorority before leaving in 1945 to marry Russell Mock.
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In 1964, Mock undertook a competitive flight to become the first woman to circle the globe solo. Supported by a loan from The Columbus Dispatch, she departed Columbus on March 19, 1964. Her path took her over the Atlantic, through Morocco and Saudi Arabia, and across Vietnam. Throughout the journey, she managed various logistical challenges, including a mistaken landing at a military base in Egypt and navigating international airspace, eventually completing the circuit in just over 29 days.
Aviation Records and Recognition
Following her world flight, Mock continued to push boundaries in aviation, becoming the first woman to pilot a plane across the Pacific in both directions and across the North Atlantic from the United States to Africa. Throughout the 1960s, she set numerous records for distance and speed in Class C1-c and C1-d categories. Her career earned her several honors, including the Federal Aviation Agency Gold Medal for Exceptional Service and the Louis Blériot Silver Medal.
Legacy and Historical Preservation
The aircraft used for her journey, the Spirit of Columbus, is currently housed at the National Air and Space Museum. In 2013, the city of Newark, Ohio, declared September 14 as Jerrie Mock Day and unveiled a bronze sculpture in her honor. Following her death in 2014 in Quincy, Florida, her contributions to aviation continue to be recognized, including her 2022 induction into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.
Fast facts
- Born: 1925, Newark, Ohio
- Died: 2014, Quincy, Florida
- Aircraft: Cessna 180, Spirit of Columbus
- Duration of circumnavigation: 29 days, 11 hours, 59 minutes
- Total distance covered: 22,860 miles
- Ohio Women's Hall of Fame induction: 1979
- National Aviation Hall of Fame induction: 2022
Questions readers ask
What aircraft did Jerrie Mock fly during her world trip?
She flew a single-engine Cessna 180, registration N1538C, which she nicknamed "Charlie".
Was she the first woman to fly solo around the world?
Yes, she became the first woman to complete a solo flight around the world in 1964.
Achievements
- Ohio Women's Hall of Fame — 1979
- National Aviation Hall of Fame — 2022
- Educated at Ohio State University and Newark High School
- Worked as aircraft pilot
