At the young age of 104, Vicki Herrel can look back on an interesting and full life with some remarkable chapters of American aviation history. She helped build military aircraft as a teenager during World War II, joined the Navy’s WAVES and transported troops across the United States before getting into a civilian aviation career that ultimately earned her a half-million-mile pin.
Somewhere in the maze that is her amazing life, she managed to become engaged to three men at the same time, while turning them all down. A resident of Colorado, Herrell had a lifetime full of experiences that took her from the aircraft factory to the skies with the Navy.
Aviation is a Common Theme
Herrell’s interest in airplanes started long before she entered military service. “I’ve always had an intense interest in aviation,” Herrell told CBS Colorado.
This fascination led to a meeting with one of history’s most relevant aviators of all time, Amelia Earhart. They chatted for a few minutes and got some lifelong wisdom. When World War II broke out, she became part of the industry herself. At the age of 17, she moved to Ohio and became something called “Rose the Riveter”, she said. Herrell worked in this profession, helping to manufacture fuselages for the P-61 aircraft.
The Northrop P-61 Black Widow was the first operational U.S. warplane that was discovered as a night fighter and was the first style of aircraft to use radar. Soon, her contributions to aviation would go past the factory floors.
Building to Flying: A Wild Switch Up
Herrell later enlisted in the Navy as a WAVE, or member of Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service, a wartime program that brought women into naval service.
Her interest in aviation followed her into uniform. According to CBS Colorado, Herrell served with the Naval Transport Service as a flight attendant, helping move military personnel across the United States.
“I was a flight attendant in the Naval Transport Service,” Herrell told the outlet. “So, I was a flight attendant (transporting) troops coast to coast.”
This remarkable progression was a common theme in her life. She began the war riveting together aircraft fuselages in a factory and then was flying on planes to move the troops. To some, this would be a complete life, and they would have had enough aviation. Not for Herrell, this was just the beginning of an illustrious career involving her love of the sky.
Half a Million Miles and Three Engagement Rings
After leaving the Navy, she became a flight attendant for Trans World Airlines, or TWA. She flew for years with the airline and racked up more than enough miles to get something called the half-million-mile pin. This civilian flying career comes with somewhat of a less-than-usual love life as well.
At one point, she was engaged to three men, all over the United States. “I was engaged to three men at the same time: New York, Kansas City and Phoenix,” Herrell told CBS Colorado. “I didn’t marry any of them. I returned all the rings.”
Marriage wasn’t high on her priority list, as she wanted to enjoy a career in the skies she loved so much.
“I enjoyed my career so much as a flight attendant; I had no desire to get married,” she said. “And I think that attracts men more.”
That attitude did eventually change, as she ended her career when she got married and began a new chapter of life, one that was centered around being a mother.
Variety is the Spice of Life
More than eight decades after the start of her aviation career, Herrell is still focused on staying active. While, according to her own accounts, she needs help walking, she understands the realities of being 104 and the importance of continuing to move and get the blood flowing.
In the last few years, she has been able to meet some famous footballers. When she turned 100, she had her picture taken with NFL great Payton Manning. Her advice for longevity isn’t complicated and doesn’t require thousands of dollars or weird equipment.
“Just have a great interest in everything that’s going on,” Herrell told CBS Colorado.
Herrell’s story spans more than a century and much of it has been tied to the same fascination she had as a young woman. She riveted P-61 fuselages and transported troops during World War II, then transitioned into having over half a million miles in the civilian aviation sector. The world of flight has transformed before her very eyes. At her age, the advice is simple, and anyone can follow it.
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