Benedetta Willis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Benedetta Willis
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Benedetta Willis with a Hurricane
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| Born | 25 January 1914 Famagusta, Cyprus
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| Died | December 2008 (aged 94) |
| Known for | RAF pilot |
Benedetta Willis (born Benedetta Day; 25 January 1914 – December 2008) was a brave and pioneering pilot. She was one of the very first women to earn her pilot's "wings" in the Royal Air Force (RAF). This was a huge achievement for women in aviation!
Contents
Her Early Life and Flying Dreams
Benedetta Day was born in 1914 in Famagusta, a city in Cyprus. When she was ten years old, she moved to the United Kingdom. She loved flying her whole life. This interest led her to join the Insurance Flying Club in London.
It was there that she met Charles Henry Willis, who was a flying instructor. They got married in 1938 and soon started their family. They even bought their own airplane! Before becoming a full-time pilot, Benedetta worked as an assistant for an architect.
Flying During World War II
When World War II began, Benedetta's husband joined the military. He encouraged her to join the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA). The ATA was a special group of civilian pilots. They flew many different types of aircraft for the military. Their job was to move planes from factories to airfields. They also flew planes that had been repaired back to active service.
Benedetta joined the ATA on September 1, 1941, as a First Officer. She flew many planes, including her first Spitfire in 1942. She left the ATA on August 3, 1943, because she was expecting a baby. Benedetta went on to have four children in total.
Earning Her RAF Wings
After the war, Benedetta continued her flying career. In 1949, she joined the Women's RAF Volunteer Reserve (WRAFVR). Here, she trained to become a fully qualified RAF pilot.
On August 18, 1953, Benedetta Willis was awarded the RAF pilot's flying badge. This badge is often called "Wings." It showed that she was a skilled and official RAF pilot. This was a very important moment for women in the RAF.
Later Life
Benedetta and her husband, Charles, later retired to Bembridge on the Isle of Wight. Charles Willis passed away in 1990. Benedetta Willis lived until 2008, leaving behind a legacy as a true aviation pioneer.
The First Five Women RAF Pilots
Benedetta Willis was part of a very special group of women. She, along with Jean Bird, Jackie Moggridge, Freydis Leaf, and Joan Hughes, were the first five women to become qualified pilots for the RAF.
All five of these amazing women earned their "Wings" in the early 1950s. They were all officers in the WRAFVR. After them, it took almost 40 years for another woman, Julie Ann Gibson, to qualify as a regular RAF officer pilot in 1991. These women truly paved the way for future female pilots in the Royal Air Force.
