On this date, in 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright accomplished the world’s first powered aircraft flights. Such an auspicious anniversary also seems fitting for NVAHOF to announce our 2024 inductee. Margaret “Peg” Nickerson Crockett (1924–2022) was a pivotal figure in the development of aviation in Southern Nevada.
In 1938, Margaret “Peg” Nickerson’s family came to Las Vegas from Pasadena, California, and her architect father began creating southern Nevada’s first guest ranch. The ranch provided seclusion, swimming, and horseback riding for many among Hollywood’s elite, including Alfred Hitchcock, Rosalind Russell, Irene Dunne, and Dean Jagger. The proximity of the Hidden Well Ranch was a boon to nearby Alamo Airport, owned and operated by George Crockett. Peg Nickerson was soon lured to the skies. She took flying lessons at Alamo, paying for them by working at the airport, and soloed in 1942. As WWII raged in the early 1940s, a teenage Peg, now a licensed pilot, participated in the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS). These women transported military aircraft from factories to military depots and bases, a critical role as male pilots were drafted and sent overseas.
Peg and George were married after the war in 1948, and that same year, they sold their field to Clark County to become today’s Harry Reid International Airport. The couple continued to operate Alamo Airways as the airport grew, serving general and corporate aviation. Through their efforts, Alamo Airways grew to not only offer complete service to the private pilot, but also rental cars, a restaurant and lounge, and lodging at a 22-room motel. During this time, Peg was an active member of the Las Vegas Chapter of the International Organization of Women Pilots, more popularly known as The Ninety-Nines. Their dedication to aviation extended beyond business; they were integral to the local aviation community, hosting events and supporting initiatives that promoted the industry’s growth.
George Crockett died in 1990 and was himself a 2011 hall of fame inductee. Mrs. Crockett subsequently donated a large collection of Alamo Airways photos and artifacts to Clark County, which became the foundation of the Howard W. Cannon Aviation Museum.
For her soaring spirit, pioneering the role of women in aviation through her own achievements, and dedication to preserving the Crocketts’ and Nevada’s aviation legacy, Peg Crockett has earned her place in the Nevada Aerospace Hall of Fame.