Despite negative reaction, a Vancouver-based non-profit devoted to increasing women’s presence in aviation is standing by its decision to recognize the achievements of the world’s first female helicopter pilot.
The problem is that Hanna Reitsch was a Nazi, and apparently an unrepentant one.
The Institute for Women of Aviation Worldwide (IWAW) chose Reitsch as an honoree for this year’s Women of Aviation Worldwide Week, a global event whose theme is helicopter aviation, in recognition of Reitsch’s breakthrough for women 80 years ago. She was also an early glider pilot and later flew powered aircraft.
A highlight in Canada of the week, the seventh, is an event at the Lachute Airport, north of Montreal, on March 11, which encourages girls to consider a career in aviation and celebrates women in that field, past and present.
A test pilot for the Luftwaffe from 1937 onward, Reitsch became a national heroine and was used by the Nazi regime in its propaganda. She was personally close to Hitler and became the only woman awarded the Iron Cross First Class during World War II.
READ: A (POSSIBLY) TALL TALE ABOUT ED MIRVISH AND MY GRANDPA
Historians record her as having flown the last plane out of Berlin, leaving behind Hitler in his bunker.
In an interview before her death in 1979, Reitsch was quoted as saying: “I am not ashamed to say I believed in National Socialism. I still wear the Iron Cross with diamonds Hitler gave me.” Her only regret was that Germany lost the war.
B’nai Brith Canada objected to the tribute, but Mireille Goyer, founder and president of IWAW, defended her choice, arguing that Reitsch’s historic achievement and talent as an aviator, as well as her postwar work in Africa, are distinguishable from her politics.
“If you’re aiming to talk about her maybe controversial part in political history, to me, that’s not relevant,” Goyer told CBC News.
B’nai Brith called the tribute to Reitsch inappropriate and insensitive. Regional director Harvey Levine said, “The idea of using a Nazi celebrity sets a horrific example as a role model for girls and young women, and shows a total lack of sensitivity for Holocaust survivors and their families.”
Reitsch’s story is being told through archival videos and her image appeared on posters during the week. The biography on the Women of Aviation Week website does not mention her Nazi past or even the Luftwaffe.
The website says Reitsch established “multiple records” as a glider pilot and was “influential in helping improve aircraft designs… After the war, Reitsch returned to glider flying and helped establish [aviation] schools in India and Ghana.”
Goyer, who is from France, said up to 50,000 women and girls were taking part in the week’s events in 42 countries on four continents from March 6 to 12.
At Lachute, 800 are expected to attend a day of free flights in small aircraft, conversations with women pilots, both commercial and military, and tours of the Bell Helicopter plant.
Air Canada, a major sponsor of IWAW, responding to the controversy in a statement, saying, “We believe it is important to celebrate and promote the role of women in aviation… We were not involved in the planning and choice of theme, or consulted and advised of any people being recognized… Our support is determined on an annual basis, and we will be reviewing it.”