Nicholson Family 1939

 Wonderful photo of the Nicholson clan from 1939. Parents, Francis and Frances in front. Mike's father, David, center back. Next to him is Mary Webb. She was the first licensed woman pilot in NC.

 During World War II American women were barred from any type of combat duty, so Mary joined a group of women pilots who would ferry planes for the British Air Transport Auxiliary. In May of 1943 she was flying when her plane developed engine problems. She made an emergency landing in a farm field, but was unable to avoid hitting a farm building. Mary Nicholson was the only American woman in the ATA-RAF to die in World War II.

Frank Nicholson was one of the original Piedmont Airlines pilots and his son Tommy is also a commercial pilot. 

Piedmont was based in Winston-Salem. It was bought out by USAir in 1989. 

Art by James Arthur

I wanted to post this because it's hilarious and smart. James A. is such an inventive kid. He is very much like his father was at his age.