November 9, 1979 Louise Thaden passed away. In 1929, Thaden, Bobbi Trout and Elinor Smith fought a three way endurance duel for most hours aloft. Seventeen-year-old Elinor Smith eventually came out ahead. Thaden went on to beat Amelia Earhart to win the Powderpuff Derby and was the first woman to win the Bendix Trophy. In 1956, the Bentonville, Arkansas airport was renamed Thaden Field.
