13 Facts About Gabrielle Patterson

Gabrielle Ruth Millicent Patterson was a British aviator who worked for the Air Transport Auxiliary.

Gabrielle Patterson was born in Maida Vale in London on 6 July 1905.

Gabrielle Patterson became company secretary at her mother's family firm.

Gabrielle Patterson was not tall but she was well off so she was able to gain a pilots licence and subsequently an instructors licence in 1931 in time for a flying event at Reading with other women pilots including Amy Johnson.

Gabrielle Patterson did not court publicity but she did in time attract attention.

Gabrielle Patterson earned a 'B' licence and began working as a commercial pilot for Silvertown Lubricants Ltd.

Gabrielle Patterson was already well known as leader of the National Women's Air Reserve as part of which she had taught fellow ATA pilot Margot Gore to fly and trained her as a flight instructor.

Gabrielle Patterson was the first woman flying instructor and she had several years experience as an instructor before she joined.

Gabrielle Patterson became one of the ATA's first eight pilots alongside Joan Hughes, Margaret Cunnison, Mona Friedlander, Rosemary Rees, Marion Wilberforce, Margaret Fairweather, and Winifred Crossley Fair, under the command of Pauline Gower.

Gabrielle Patterson had a range of over twenty aircraft that she could fly although her short height was noted as a restriction on her abilities.

Gabrielle Patterson devoted a lot of time and energy toward the project and created its initial publicity materials.

Gabrielle Patterson taught flying at aero clubs until she had to stop for medical reasons following which she took a degree at Manchester University from 1954 to 1956.

Gabrielle Patterson died of cancer on 31 October 1968 and her ashes were released over White Waltham Airfield.