Rosemary Rees facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rosemary Rees
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| Born | 23 September 1901 Brompton, London
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| Died | 8 March 1994 Little Bocombe
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| Nationality | British |
| Other names | Rosemary, Lady du Cros |
| Occupation | pilot |
| Employer | Air Transport Auxiliary |
| Known for | One of the first women in the ATA |
| Spouse(s) | Philip Du Cros |
| Parent(s) | John Rees (civil servant) |
| Relatives | Richard Rees |
Rosemary Rees was a brave British pilot. She was part of the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) during World War II. This group helped deliver planes where they were needed. Rosemary was a leader at the Hamble base, which became an all-women ATA group in 1941. She was one of the first women to join this important service.
Contents
Early Life and Dreams
Rosemary Theresa Rees was born in London on September 23, 1901. Her parents were Sir John Rees and Mary Catherine Rees. Her older brother, Richard Rees, became a diplomat and writer.
When she was young, Rosemary loved to dance. She went to ballet school in Chelsea. Later, she traveled the world performing in shows. She danced in places like Sri Lanka, China, and America.
Soaring into the Skies
Rosemary found a new passion when she returned to the United Kingdom. She started learning to fly. In 1933, after only seven hours of lessons, she flew a plane by herself!
She loved flying so much that she bought her own airplane. Rosemary flew her Miles Hawk plane to air-rallies across Europe. By 1938, she had her instructor's license. She had already flown for over 600 hours before joining the ATA.
Joining the ATA: A Special Group
Rosemary joined the ATA on New Year's Day in 1940. She was one of the first eight women pilots in the ATA. This special group included Joan Hughes, Margaret Cunnison, Mona Friedlander, Gabrielle Patterson, Marion Wilberforce, Margaret Fairweather, and Winifred Crossley Fair. Their leader was Pauline Gower.
In September 1941, Rosemary became a deputy leader at the all-women pilot base in Hamble-on-Solent. She stayed with the ATA until November 1945.
Flying Many Different Planes
By the end of the war, Rosemary was one of only 11 women who had flown large, four-engine bomber planes. She had flown an amazing 91 different types of aircraft! This shows how skilled and brave she was.
After the war, in 1946, Rosemary started her own company. It was called Sky Taxi, and it offered charter flights. Rosemary Rees was also one of the few ATA pilots to receive a special award called the MBE. This award recognized her important service.
Life After Her Flying Career
On November 3, 1950, Rosemary married Sir Philip Harvey Du Cros. She became known as Rosemary, Lady du Cros. They moved to Parkham, Devon. There, she became involved in local community decisions. She even became the chairman of the Bideford area Conservative Association.
Remembering a True Pioneer
Rosemary Rees passed away on March 8, 1994, at the age of 92.
Her legacy lives on. A bus company in Hatfield named eight of its buses after the first eight women ATA pilots, including Rosemary.
In 2008, 14 years after her death, the remaining women and men who served in the ATA received a special award. The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, honored them for their service.
In December 2020, six of Rosemary Rees's pilot logbooks were sold at an auction. These books recorded all her flights from 1933 to 1947. They sold for much more than expected, showing how important her story is. The logbooks were sold with her flying helmet, gloves, and old photos.
