Sky-high Service
On May 15, 1930, Ellen Church,third from left, made the first official flight of a "stewardess" aboard a Boeing tri-motor flying from Oakland, California, to Chicago. The first eight stewardesses, shown here beside a Boeing model 80A as new employees of Boeing Air Transport, the predecessor to United Airlines, were all registered nurses. Their job came with strict guidelines: They had to be single, younger than 25 years old, weigh less than 115 pounds, and stand less than 5 feet, 4 inches. They were expected to accommodate the needs of passengers, load luggage, screw down loose seats, fuel aircraft, and help pilots push their planes inside hangars, all for a salary of $125 a month. (Photo: NASM 00131171)
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