McNabb, Betty Wood.

Medical officer, pilot.

Betty Wood McNabb was born on August 5, 1909, in Spring Lake, Michigan, and graduated from high school in Albany, Georgia. She moved to Panama City, Florida, to attend the Florida State College for Women, earning a B.A. in History in 1930. She earned her M.A. in History from the University of California, and pursued doctoral studies in North Carolina, but withdrew due to illness. She returned to Albany to teach school and met Harold E. McNabb, and they married on June 9, 1934.

The McNabbs served in World War II efforts, and later moved to New York. On October 12, 1944, Betty McNabb enlisted in the military, and became a WAC Private by December, assigned to Camp Butner, North Carolina. By 1945, she was a Sergeant, and returned to Albany to work at Albany Putney Hospital as a Medical Records Specialist. In 1951 she began pilot lessons, and soon bought her own plane, and joined a women's flying group. She joined the Civil Air Patrol, and was a Major by 1958.

She attended the Air War College, and was the first female officer to receive a diploma in 1964. In 1969, the McNabbs moved back to Panama City, and she was a pilot for the Coast Guard Auxiliary from 1969 to 1991. Deteriorating vision finally caused her to hang up her wings at the age of 82. She later died on December 20, 1996.

From the description of Betty Wood McNabb collection, 1950-1996. (Florida State University). WorldCat record id: 50683075