Cresco -- Capt. Ellen E. Church, who spent 21 months in the European theater of war as a member of the air evacuation transport medical squadron has arrived here for a visit with her mother, Mrs Isabela Church, and her brother, Frank. Captain Church was in service in Africa before being transferred to Europe where she was in England, Sicily, France and Belgium
Since Arriving in the States she took special training in the flight nurses class of the aviation medicine at Randolph field, San Antonio, Tex., and was graduated recently. At the conclusion of her visit she will report back to Randolph field for further assignment.
Source: The Courier, Waterloo IA - January 28, 1945
Army Nurse Will Speak to Altrusa Club
Capt. Ellen Church of the United States army nurse corps will address Altrusa club at its 6 p.m. meeting Wednesday at Younkers tearoom. Captain Church, formerly of Cresco, Ia, was the world's first airline stewardess.
Captain Church will appear through the courtesy of United Air Lines, Inc. In 1942 Captain Church, then director of nurses for the Children's hospital in Louisville, Ky, entered the army nurses corps and since that time has served in the African, Tunisian, Sicilian, Italian and Normandy campaigns.
On her present tour, she is telling of the work of "women with wings" on the airlines and in the armed services, emphasizing the need for more army and navy nurses.
The meeting will be open to members and their guests.
Source: The Des Moines Tribune, May 15, 1945 (photo included)
The Stewardesses -- Then and Now
If you didn't dig those berets, you have to favor those capes worn by the world's first airline stewardesses in 1930, bringing glamour of a sort to the Boeing 80A tri-motor airlines service United Airlines' Chicago-San Francisco route. Ellen Church Marshall, the first stewardess, stands at left in the doorway.
Source: The Shreveport Journal, November 22, 1968 (photo included)
CRESCO AIRPORT TO BE DEDICATED JULY 13 AS ELLEN CHURCH FIELD
The second Sunday of July, Cresco, Iowa will dedicate its airport to honor a pioneer of commercial aviation and native of Cresco, Ellen Church. Events on July 13 include dedication ceremonies with Ann Pellegrino of Story City as guest speaker and static displays, parachute jumps and an aerobatics display.
Source: Lime Springs Herald, July 3, 1975
