Mary Calcaño facts for kids

María Asunción Calcaño Ruiz, known as Mary Calcaño or Mary Keeler, was a brave Venezuelan woman who made history. Born in 1906, she became the very first Venezuelan woman to earn a pilot's license! She got her license, No. 73,550, in the United States on November 13, 1939, after training at Roosevelt Field in Long Island. Just over a year later, on December 6, 1940, she received her Venezuelan pilot's license.

Early Life and Dream to Fly

María Asunción Calcaño was born on August 15, 1906, in Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela. Her parents were José Antonio Calcaño Sánchez and María Ruiz. From a young age, Mary had a big dream: she wanted to fly!

To follow her dream, she started working for John Stubbins Co. This company sold Piper planes in Caracas. Mary worked hard as a translator, a salesperson, and even managed advertising for the company.

Becoming a Pilot

Her company saw her passion and sent her to the United States to learn how to fly. She trained at Roosevelt Field, a famous airport on Long Island. In November 1939, she achieved her dream, earning her pilot's license from the United States Civil Aeronautics Authority.

When she returned to Venezuela, she received her official Venezuelan Private Pilot Certificate on December 6, 1940. This important document was signed by Colonel Isaías Medina Angarita, who was the Minister of War and Navy at the time. He later became the President of Venezuela.

Adventures in the Sky

Mary Calcaño wasn't just a pilot; she was an adventurer! On February 22, 1940, she flew her own plane from Barcelona to her hometown of Ciudad Bolívar. Her mechanic and copilot, Antonio Reyes, joined her on this exciting journey.

During World War II, Mary used her flying skills to help. She worked for the U.S. Air Force, flying important aircraft parts from factories in Seattle all the way to Britain. In 1941, she made history again by becoming the first female pilot to land at the Air Force base in Dayton, Ohio.

Building Venezuelan Aviation

After the war ended, Mary continued her passion for aviation. She bought her own plane and returned to Caracas. In 1946, she started something new and exciting: Ala Venezolana, which means "Venezuelan Wing." This was the very first club for civil pilots in Venezuela!

Her dedication didn't stop there. In 1959, Mary Calcaño, along with five male pilots, founded Venezuela's first private school for civil aviation. This school helped many new pilots learn to fly and contributed greatly to aviation in her country.

Later Life and Legacy

Mary later married an American man named Frank Keeler and had a son. After her marriage, she became known as Mary Keeler. She passed away on November 17, 1992, in Caracas, leaving behind an amazing legacy. Mary Calcaño will always be remembered as a pioneer who opened the skies for women in Venezuela and beyond.