The Legend of Ethel Dare

Ethel “Ethel Dare” Gilmore Johnson became the most famous wing walker in the country. In 1917, she answered an advertisement for a woman willing to jump off the wing of a plane, leading her to perform in the world-renowned Barnum and Bailey Circus.

Ethel was up to the challenge and took the name Ethel Dare, a name that perfectly suited her. According to reports, she seemed entirely fearless, looking death in the eye every time she performed. Her outrageous stunts often took the spectators' breath away.

There was significant controversy regarding her true identity, with several people claiming to be the "real" Ethel Dare. Over her career, she was known by various names, including Ethel Mann Dare, Ethel Gilmore Harris, or Lady Anomar. Married three times, she frequently performed under different monikers throughout her legendary career.

A Career of Firsts

Ethel was the first person to jump from one speeding plane to another, a feat she successfully completed 30 times. Her list of daring achievements includes:

• Performed death-defying jumps into Lake Michigan in Illinois.
• Famously "washed her hair" while standing on the wing of a plane in flight.
• Completed over 500 parachute jumps and served as a test pilot for new parachute designs.

At a state fair in Nashville, Ethel completed two of the most perfect balloon drops ever recorded. Local newspapers reported that her performance was the greatest stunt ever witnessed.

The Queen of the Air

Today, wing walking is a professional display, but in 1920, it was almost beyond belief. Most spectators had never even seen an airplane before, let alone a woman walking on its wings. While some critics of the era argued that such dangerous stunts should be illegal, suggesting women belonged in the kitchen rather than the cockpit, Ethel Dare defied every social norm.

Billed as the "1920 Aerial Sensation," the "Queen of the Air," and the "Flying Witch," Ethel Dare (born Ethel Gilmore) remains the first woman to change planes in mid-air. Petite and fearless, she transitioned from her early days as a flying trapeze performer with the Barnum and Bailey Circus to become one of aviation's most enduring pioneers.