Judge — June 8, 1918 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "A Pilot's License" This cartoon by Forrest Corydon Crooks depicts a pilot showing his license to a woman near an aircraft. The satire likely references early aviation's rapid expansion and the novelty of pilot licensing requirements in the early 20th century. The joke appears to be about romantic or social implications: a pilot displays his credentials as if it were an impressive qualification for courting or impressing a woman—treating his professional license as a social asset. The woman's apparent interest in the airplane (or the pilot) suggests aviation's glamorous appeal during this era. The humor relies on the juxtaposition of technical certification with romantic aspiration, mocking either pretentious pilots or women's supposed fascination with them.