Helen MacCloskey

Helen MacCloskey
MacCloskey, from the 1929 yearbook of Wellesley College
Born(1909-10-20)October 20, 1909
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedFebruary 17, 1977(1977-02-17) (aged 67)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Other nameHelen Rough
RelativesManus MacCloskey (uncle)
Monro MacCloskey (cousin)

Helen MacCloskey Rough (October 20, 1909 – 1977) was an American aviator, one of Pittsburgh's "Three Flying Helens", along with fellow pilots Helen Stiner Ball and Helen Richey.[1][2]

Early life and education

MacCloskey was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the daughter of James Edward MacCloskey Jr. and Helen Irwin MacCloskey.[3][4] Her uncle Manus MacCloskey was a United States Army general.[5] She attended Schenley High School, graduated from Wellesley College in 1929, and pursued further studies at Columbia University, while taking flying lessons on Staten Island.[6][7]

Career

MacCloskey earned a pilot's license in 1930, and a transport license in 1931; her 1931 license was signed by Orville Wright. Based in Pittsburgh, she was a flight instructor, did exhibition flying, and competed in air derbies[8][9] with her own plane,[10] including the Cord Cup race in 1932.[11] She set air speed, altitude, and distance records in the mid-1930s.[12][13][14]

From 1934 to 1937 MacCloskey worked with Nancy Harkness, Louise Thaden,[15] Blanche Noyes,[16] and Phoebe Omlie at the Bureau of Air Commerce's National Air Marking Program,[17] identifying buildings to mark as navigation aids.[18][19] During World War II she was an organizer of the Civil Air Patrol,[20] and worked with the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS).[21] She also drive an ambulance for the American Red Cross.[22]

MacCloskey was a member of the Ninety-Nines and the Sportsman Pilots Association. She named a Pioneer of Aviation in 1970, by the National Aviation Club. OX5 Aviation Pioneers presented her with the Outstanding Women's Award in 1975.[22]

Personal life

MacCloskey married fellow aviator Howard Fanning Rough in 1937.[23][24] They had a son.[20][25] Her husband died in 1969, and she died in 1977, at the age of 67, in Washington, D.C.[22] Her family papers are in the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Mastrangelo, Gina; Dougherty, Evan (2025-03-17). "Meet the Women Who Built Pittsburgh Aviation". Blue Sky News. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  2. ↑ "Three Flying Helens to Represent City in Long Island Air Race". The Pittsburgh Press. 1933-05-18. p. 22. Retrieved 2026-07-22 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "J. E. MacCloskey Dead at 77; Fall on Ship Fatal to Business Leader". Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. 1954-12-07. p. 1. Retrieved 2026-07-22 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Mrs. Helen MacCloskey". The Pittsburgh Press. 1941-01-27. p. 5. Retrieved 2026-07-22 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Obituary for James E. McCloskey". The Pittsburgh Press. 1954-12-20. p. 32. Retrieved 2026-07-22 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 Rea, Theresa (2014). "Helen MacCloskey, Pioneer Aviatrix". Heinz History Center. Archived from the original on 2024-06-21. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  7. ↑ Moyer, Adele (1932-11-09). "Ladies, Forget Your Troubles...Fly!". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 22. Retrieved 2026-07-22 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Two Girl Friends Fly Here to be Rivals in Derby". Times Herald. 1932-08-17. p. 13. Retrieved 2026-07-22 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Girl Battles 'Dead' Plane in Air Derby". The Pittsburgh Press. 1932-08-22. p. 1. Retrieved 2026-07-22 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ Burke, Evelyn (1936-06-25). "Pittsburgh's Girl Fliers Believe in Keeping Endless Caverns' Meet Purse Here at Home". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 28. Retrieved 2026-07-22 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Helen MacCloskey Jumps Into Lead in Southern Air Race". The Washington Daily News. 1932-08-24. p. 3. Retrieved 2026-07-22 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Helen MacCloskey Tries for Record". The Kane Republican. 1936-06-25. p. 1. Retrieved 2026-07-22 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Aviatrix Sets Speed Record in Light Ship; Helen McCloskey Lands at Endless Caverns after 515-mile Trip". The Virginian-Pilot. 1936-06-26. p. 2. Retrieved 2026-07-22 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "Woman Aviator Breaks Record in Miami Test; Helen MacCloskey Makes 166.7 Miles an Hour in Light Plane". The Miami News. 1935-01-15. p. 1. Retrieved 2026-07-22 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "Three Women Fliers Win Air Commerce Bureau Jobs". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 1935-09-23. p. 7. Retrieved 2026-07-22 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "Blanche Noyes Appointed Air-Marking Pilot by Bureau of Air Commerce". Air Commerce Bulletin. 8 (2): 71. August 15, 1936.
  17. ↑ "N. C. Air Trails Marked by Girl; Helen MacCloskey, Lost in Caroline Five Years Ago, Returns". Ledger-Star. 1936-10-29. p. 16. Retrieved 2026-07-22 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ Ganson, Barbara (2026-07-29). Lady Daredevils: American Women and Early Aviation. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 978-0-252-04882-1.
  19. ↑ Rickman, Sarah Byrn (2008). Nancy Love and the WASP Ferry Pilots of World War II. University of North Texas Press. p. 36. ISBN 978-1-57441-241-3.
  20. 1 2 "Helen Rough, Ex-Air Racer, Calls on Georgia's Civil Patrol". The Atlanta Constitution. 1942-04-21. p. 2. Retrieved 2026-07-22 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ Morris, Sue; Butko, Brian. "Breaking Barriers and Soaring Into History: Pittsburgh's 'Three Helens' During the Golden Age of Aviation". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  22. 1 2 3 "Helen M. Rough, 67, Pioneer in Aviation". The Washington Post. 1977-03-01. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  23. ↑ "MacCloskey-Rough Wedding". American Aviation. 1 (1): 18. June 1, 1937.
  24. ↑ "Helen MacCloskey, Ace Flier, to Wed". Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. 1937-05-23. p. 16. Retrieved 2026-07-22 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ↑ "William Howard Rough (obituary)". The Daily Progress. 2024-06-08. pp. A12. Retrieved 2026-07-22 – via Newspapers.com.
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