Trailblazing aviators Hazel Ying Lee, left, and Leah Hing were two of the first Chinese American women ever to earn pilot's licenses. They both grew up and learned to fly in Portland.
Courtesy of the U.S. Air Force and Oregon Historical Society, OrHi 58757
The 1930s were a golden age of aviation, as famous pilots like Amelia Earhart made flights once thought impossible and inspired new curiosity about the skies.
At the time, more and more women were learning to fly in the Pacific Northwest. In fact, some of the first Chinese American women ever to earn pilots licenses grew up in the same tight-knit Chinese community in Portland.
On this week’s show, we learn about two of these barrier-breaking pilots: Hazel Ying Lee and Leah Hing. Their passion for flying cemented their roles in the history of a country which sought to exclude them.
We’ll hear how they’re remembered today — by their loved ones, by Portlanders, by Americans — at a time when so much history is intentionally being forgotten.
Watch the OPB “Oregon Experience” video about Hazel Ying Lee, “Her Name Means ‘Hero.’”
Listen to all episodes of The Evergreen podcast here.
