American swimmer and aviator (died 2025)

Iris Cummings

Iris Cummings, also known by her married name Iris Critchell, was an American aviator and competition swimmer who represented the United States at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany. S. national 200-meter breaststroke champion from 1936 to 1939, she was accepted into the University of Southern California's first Civilian Pilot Training Program in 1939. After graduation, she worked as a flight instructor prior to being selected to serve her country during World War II as a member of the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS) and Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs).

Born

1920

December 21

Died

2025

Era

1920s

Country

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About

Iris, in brief

Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Life timeline

Key dates

1920 Born
2025 Died

Also on December 21

What else happened on this day, through history

69 The Roman Senate declares Vespasian emperor of Rome, the last in the Year of the Four Emperors.
1124 Pope Honorius II is consecrated, having been elected after the controversial dethroning of Pope-Elect Celestine II.
1140 After a siege of several weeks, the city of Weinsberg and its castle surrender to Conrad III of Germany.
1237 The city of Ryazan is sacked by the Mongol army of Batu Khan.

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The world in 1920

When Iris arrived

april 15 Two security guards are murdered during a robbery in South Braintree, Massachusetts. Anarchists Sacco and Vanzetti would be convicted of and executed for the crime, amid much controversy.
april 23 The Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) is founded in Ankara. The assembly denounces the government of Sultan Mehmed VI and announces the preparation of a temporary constitution.
april 25 At the San Remo conference, the principal Allied Powers of World War I adopt a resolution to determine the allocation of Class "A" League of Nations mandates for administration of the former Ottoman-ruled lands of the Middle East.
april 26 Ice hockey makes its Olympic debut at the Antwerp Games with center Frank Fredrickson scoring seven goals in Canada's 12–1 drubbing of Sweden in the gold medal match.

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Same-day contemporaries

Also born on December 21

Benedict Arnold 1615–1801 Rhode Island colonial governor (died 1678) Benjamin Disraeli 1804–1881 English journalist and politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (born 1804) Frank Patrick 1885–1960 Canadian ice hockey player and coach (died 1960) Frank Zappa 1940–1993 American singer-songwriter, guitarist, composer and producer (died 1993) Irakli Alasania 1973– Georgian colonel and politician, Georgian Minister of Defense Jan Łukasiewicz 1878–1956 Polish-Irish mathematician and philosopher (died 1956) Jane Fonda 1937– American actress and activist Jeffrey Katzenberg 1950– American screenwriter and producer, co-founded DreamWorks Animation Leopold von Ranke 1795–1886 German historian, author, and academic (died 1886)

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Same-year contemporaries

Also born in 1920

Abe Lenstra 1920–1985 Dutch footballer (died 1985) Alf Ramsey 1920–1999 English footballer and manager (born 1920) Baidyanath Misra 1920– Indian economist (died 2019) Barbara Howard 1920–2017 Canadian sprinter and educator (born 1920) Christy Ring 1920–1979 Irish hurler (born 1920) Daniel Petrie 1920–2004 Canadian director and producer (born 1920) Eileen Farrell 1920–2002 American soprano and educator (died 2002) Elaine Morgan 1920–2013 Welsh writer (born 1920) Elliot Richardson 1920–1999 American lawyer and politician, 69th United States Attorney General (born 1920)

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More to explore

Iris's birthday December 21 Iris's zodiac Sagittarius When Iris arrived 1920