Jackie Moggridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jackie Moggridge
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| Born |
Dolores Theresa Sorour
1 March 1922 Pretoria, South Africa
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| Died | 7 January 2004 (aged 81) |
| Known for | First woman airline captain |
Jackie Moggridge (born Dolores Theresa Sorour; 1 March 1922 – 7 January 2004) was an amazing pilot. She was the first woman to make a parachute jump in South Africa. Later, she became the first woman airline captain to fly regular passenger planes. Jackie was a true pioneer in aviation!
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Early Life and First Flights
Jackie Moggridge was born Dolores Theresa Sorour in Pretoria, South Africa. She chose the name Jackie after a sports hero, Jackie Rissik. She started flying when she was just fifteen years old. She quickly earned her first pilot's licence.
When she was seventeen, Jackie made history. She became the first woman to do a parachute jump in South Africa. In 1938, she moved to the United Kingdom. She wanted to get a more advanced pilot's licence there.
Flying During World War II
When World War II began, many women wanted to help with the war effort. Jackie joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF). She worked at a radar station in Rye.
In July 1940, Jackie joined the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA). The ATA was a special group of pilots. They flew planes from factories to airfields during the war. Jackie was the youngest female pilot in the ATA at that time. She flew over 1,500 different aircraft. She handled 83 different types of planes!
In 1945, Jackie Moggridge received a special award. It was called the King's Commendation for Valuable Services in the Air. This award recognized her important work during the war.
Life After the War
After the war, in 1945, Jackie married Reginald Moggridge. He was an army officer and engineer. They lived in Taunton, England, and had two daughters. Jackie enjoyed local theatre groups, but she still loved to fly.
In 1949, she joined the Women's RAF Volunteer Reserve (WRAFVR). This was a part of the Royal Air Force for women. In 1953, she earned her official RAF wings. She was one of the first five women ever to get them. Because of her flying and acting, she was interviewed on a radio show in 1950.
Jackie continued her flying career in the 1950s. She got her commercial pilot's licence. This allowed her to fly planes for money. She even flew Spitfire planes from Cyprus to Burma for the Indian Air Force.
In 1957, she worked for a company called LEC Refrigeration. She co-piloted planes carrying demonstration fridges. They flew 15,000 miles to show these fridges to customers in South Africa.
Becoming an Airline Captain
In 1958, Jackie applied to be a pilot for Channel Airways. This airline was based at Southend Airport. She didn't mention that she was a woman in her application. When she got an interview, her amazing flying experience helped her get the job.
Jackie Moggridge made history again. She became the first British woman Airline Captain. She flew passengers on regular, scheduled flights. She often flew routes to the Isle of Wight, Jersey, and Guernsey.
Awards and Lasting Impact
Jackie received several awards for her service. For her work during the war, she got the King's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air. In 1953, she was given the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal. This was a special honor.
In 1959, Jackie received the Jean Lennox Bird Trophy. This award was for helping women in aviation. She said she hoped that one day, a woman being an airline captain would be very common.
Jackie also created the Jackie Moggridge Cup. This award goes to a British woman pilot who achieves excellent flying qualifications. In 2021, a new award was created in her memory. The RAF Jackie Moggridge Spitfire Award inspires girls to fly. Princess Anne presented this award at Cranwell College. It goes to an engineer or aircrew graduate who shows great potential.
Jackie Moggridge wrote a book about her life. It was first published in 1957. It has been republished as Spitfire Girl – My Life in the Sky. Her daughter, Candy Adkins, gives talks in schools. She shares Jackie's story to make sure pioneering women are remembered. She also hopes to inspire more girls to get into aviation.
First Five Women to Gain RAF Wings
Jackie Moggridge was part of a special group of women. She, along with Jean Bird, Benedetta Willis, Freydis Leaf, and Joan Hughes, were the first five women to earn their RAF wings in the early 1950s. It was a long time before another woman, Julie Ann Gibson, gained RAF wings in 1991.
