11 Feb Spirit of Iris

Iris Cummings Critchell embodies the phrase, coined by Louis Pasteur, “life favors the prepared mind”.  After hearing of her marvelous adventures and stores throughout the years, I felt like her American story needed to be shared.  It is a story of inspiration and preparation for life. Yet, many people have never heard this story and it should be told.  The documentary follows a trail blazing woman, who not only swam in the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany and was in one of the earliest groups of women to ferry planes for the Air Transport Command in World War II.  She has continued flying, teaching and inspiring minds to be prepared for whatever life brings to them. Iris is almost 95 years young.  She still swims daily; maintains a current pilot’s license and instructor rating and has given many historical presentations.

The story of Iris exemplifies the pioneering stories of the first women who flew on behalf of the US Military during WWII…and the colorful lives that they led and contributions they made afterwards.