Who was Nancy Ellis-Leebold? (and why write a book about her)

This is what Nancy looked like in 1954.


Photograph sourced from:
'National Library of Australia' http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn5015462

SOME OF HER FIRSTS:
1950 - First female Australian pilot licensed to fly heavy aircraft (more than 12,500lb);
1952 - First female Chief Flying Instructor at Dubbo Aero Club;
1954 - First Australian (and First Overseas member) to win the 99s (International Women Pilots) Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship; also awarded by the 99s the Silver Anniversary Award (as it was in their 25th Anniversary of this Scholarship);

(year uncertain but most likely 1959) - First female Australian pilot to fly a jet aircraft (T33A in USA);
1967/8 - First female President of Australian Institute of Navigators.
These are but a few - more to come with confirmation of research.


 WHY WRITE A BIOGRAPHY ABOUT HER?

In 2007 I discovered a quote by the famous Australian aviator, Nancy Bird-Walton. 

In 1965, Nancy Bird, when writing about the History of the Australian Women Pilots' Association, wrote "Nancy Ellis Leebold, the President at this time (1955), was the most highly qualified and active flying woman in Australia". Nancy Leebold was the President of the Australian Women Pilots' Association for the period 1955/6.

Quote by NBW (as cited in AWPA Blue Book, p3, 1984) -

Australian Women Pilots’ Association, 1984, Australian Women Pilots’ Association Blue Book, AWPA, Adelaide
I have decided to write a biography about this pilot but my research clearly shows that there are differences of opinion as to what she did and when. One book published stated that she was awarded an OBE. By viewing the London Gazettes I have discovered this to be incorrect, but she was awarded an MBE. Similar, but not quite the same.

So I want to get the record straight for her and the key will be to finding her logbooks.

I have been very lucky to track down some of the Ellis family line. One group are still very much in Adelaide (where Nancy was born) and proudly display her MBE, Coronation Medal and her last logbook (from 1959 to 1971) - go to https://wadders007.wordpress.com/tag/nancy-leebold/  But the first four logbooks have so far eluded me.

I feel it vital that I find them.


It is for this reason that I have started the blog - perhaps someone out there knows where they are. Any or all information that you can supply to help with writing this book will be greatly appreciated.

I will also be writing about how my research is going in this blog, as I have had some fantastic help and input from various people and some things I have just tripped over.

You can contact me, Cathy, at nancyellisleebold@gmail.com