Canadian Aviatrix #33 – Edith Freeman (1914- 2006)

Edith’s early life hasn’t been sourced yet, but it looks like she was born around 1914 in Russia to David and Anna Freeman. The family may not have been in Canada by the 1921 census, but Edith had three siblings – Hillel, Jennie and Louis.

By April 1933, the family had moved to Montreal and Edith begun flying lessons, with the ambition to get the women’s Canadian altitude record one day. In August, even though she only had six hours of solo flying, she set that record – flying at 16,300 feet during the fifth air pageant at St Hubert Airport. After her flight, she addressed the crowd and said she intended to fly even higher.

On 12 October 1933, Edith passed her flying test and received her PPL, making her the 33rd female pilot in Canada. She was 19 years old.

Photo: The Montreal Star (February 20, 1960)

On 6 December 1936, Edith married Stanley Harry Linetsky (a salesman).

The couple had two children and Edith was active in various parents’ associations, organizing social events and fundraising.

Edith died in 2006, aged 93.

Note: Edith was listed with an asterisk in No Place for a Lady – meaning the author hadn’t been able to find her. I just had her name and the date of her PPL.