16 Facts About Elly Beinhorn

Elly Beinhorn was a pioneering German female aircraft pilot.

Elly Beinhorn was born in Hannover, Germany on 30 May 1907.

Elly Beinhorn soon made her solo flight in a small Klemm KL-20.

Elly Beinhorn subsequently returned to the crash site to recover parts of the plane.

Elly Beinhorn found Moye Stephens, another pilot, in Bushire, who helped her fix the Klemm.

Elly Beinhorn accompanied them on part of their flight, including the trip to Mount Everest.

Elly Beinhorn's plane was dismantled and shipped to New Zealand, then Panama where it was reassembled.

Elly Beinhorn continued to write articles and sell photographs of her travels to raise funds.

On 29 September 1935 Elly Beinhorn attended the Czechoslovakian Grand Prix, in Brno, Czechoslovakia, at the invitation of Auto Union.

Elly Beinhorn congratulated the winner, Bernd Rosemeyer, who seemed smitten with her.

Elly Beinhorn received condolences from prominent Nazis, including Adolf Hitler, but requested a simple, non-political funeral ceremony.

Some accounts suggest that Elly Beinhorn walked off in protest at the Nazis claiming Bernd as their own and taking over what was a personal occasion.

In 1941 Elly Beinhorn married Dr Karl Wittman and they had a daughter, Stephanie.

Elly Beinhorn soon moved to Switzerland to continue flying planes.

Elly Beinhorn married Countess Michaela von Castell-Ruedenhausen, who died 8 August 2011, and they have two children.

Elly Beinhorn died on 28 November 2007, at the age of 100.