Dagny Berger facts for kids
Dagny Berger (born Hansen) was a super cool pioneer! She was Norway's very first woman to become a pilot. She got her pilot's license from the Royal Aero Club of the United Kingdom in September 1927.
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Early Life and Interests
Dagny Hansen was born on September 16, 1903. Her hometown was Asker, Norway. In 1910, her family bought a farm called Berger Gård. Because of this, her last name changed from Hansen to Berger. After finishing school, Dagny worked as a housemaid. This was a common job for young women back then.
A Love for Cars
Dagny loved speed and adventure! In 1923, she was one of the first women in Norway to get a driving license. She even joined car races in Finland. Her first car was a small two-seater Willys Overland. Driving was expensive, so she found ways to earn money. She sold books and watches. Later, she worked in a shop that sold fruit and cigars in Stabekk.
Becoming a Pilot
Dagny read about amazing female pilots from other countries. This made her dream of flying herself!
Learning to Fly
In the spring of 1927, she tried to join a military flying school. But they didn't accept women. So, in June, she went to England instead. She trained at the De Havilland flying school near London. There, she learned to fly a special plane called the DH60 Moth. Just a few months later, on September 27, she earned her pilot's certificate! It was certificate number 8160 from the Royal Aero Club.
Life After Flying
After becoming a pilot, Dagny returned to Norway. She hoped to start her own business. She wanted to offer sightseeing and passenger flights. But at that time, not many people in Norway were interested in flying for fun.
New Adventures
From 1929, Dagny worked as a governess. This meant she helped teach and care for children. She traveled to many exciting places like Montreal, New York, Paris, and Nice. In 1933, she came back to Norway. She worked in a restaurant for a while. Then, she opened her own travel agency. This business closed in 1949.
Dagny Berger passed away on May 10, 1950. She was 46 years old. Today, a street in Bærum, Norway, is named after her. It's called Dagny Bergersvei, honoring her memory.
