On this day in 1980, Molly Reilly died. She was the first female Canadian pilot to reach the rank of captain, fly in the Arctic and become a Canadian corporate pilot. Let's learn more about this trailblazing woman :) 🧵1/10 - ThreadSky

cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social • 216 days ago

On this day in 1980, Molly Reilly died.
She was the first female Canadian pilot to reach the rank of captain, fly in the Arctic and become a Canadian corporate pilot.
Let's learn more about this trailblazing woman :)

🧵1/10

Comments

robibey.bsky.social•215 days ago

I was fortunate to meet Molly in the late '60s. Thank you for telling her story 😀

cathyburrellauthor.bsky.social•215 days ago

So glad I managed to find you here, Craig! It’s like a big networking event…and you’re hoping to find a friendly face with an ‘I Love Canada’ lapel pin…

cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social•216 days ago

Molly Reilly was born on Feb. 25, 1922 in Lindsay, Ontario, one of eight children. After she graduated high school, Molly started to take flying lessons from Violet Milstead, another fascinating Canadian pilot.
When the Second World War began, Molly wanted to join up.

🧵2/10

cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social•216 days ago

She applied to join the RCAF to complete her pilot certification but was rejected because she was a woman. In 1941, she joined the RCAF as a photographer in the newly-created Women's Division.
She served in the RCAF as a non-commissioned officer until 1946.

🧵3/10

cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social•216 days ago

After the war, Molly earned her private pilot's licence. She also gained her commercial flight licence.
In 1957, she competed in the Webster Trophy aviation race, finishing only three-tenths of a point behind the first place winner.

🧵4/10

cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social•216 days ago

Molly then earned her instructor's certificate and became a flight instructor at the Leavens Brothers Flying School in Toronto. She continued to upgrade her skills and ratings as a pilot at the same time, including getting her seaplane qualification.

🧵5/10

cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social•216 days ago

In 1954, she was hired as the chief flying instructor and charter pilot for Canadian Aircraft Renters. Three years later, she was promoted to full-time charter pilot with Southern Provincial Airlines, making her the first Canadian female pilot to become a captain.

🧵6/10

cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social•216 days ago

In her work with Southern Provincial Airlines, she also became the first woman to fly professionally to the Arctic. For years, she flew extensively into the Arctic, dealing with poor visibility, few navigational aids and extreme weather.

🧵7/10

chaviva.bsky.social•216 days ago

She looks enough like Emily Watson that if there's a film about her life, Watson should play her!

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply