Helen Richey (1909-1947). In 1934 this McKeesport native became the 1st woman to pilot a commercial airliner. Discriminated against because she was a woman, she resigned within a year and went on to become the 1st woman licensed instructor by the Civil Aeronautics Authority; & in WWII, the commandant of the American wing, British Air Transport Auxiliary; member of the Women's Airforce Service Pilots; & Major by the war's end.