1. Pauline Mary de Peauly Gower Fahie was a British pilot and writer who established the women's branch of the Air Transport Auxiliary during the Second World War.
16 Facts About Pauline Gower
1. 2.
Pauline Mary de Peauly Gower was born on 22 July 1910 to Dorothy Susie Eleanor and Sir Robert Gower, MP.
3.
Pauline Gower had an older sister, named Dorothy Vaughan after their mother and they grew up at Sandown Court in Tunbridge Wells.
4.
Pauline Gower was educated at Beechwood Sacred Heart School, which was run by Mother Ashton-Case, a cousin of her mother.
5.
Pauline Gower was a strong student and excelled at music and sport.
6.
Pauline Gower first flew with Alan Cobham and was fascinated by flying.
7.
Pauline Gower met Dorothy Spicer at the London Aeroplane Club at Stag Lane Aerodrome and they became friends.
8.
Pauline Gower wrote for Girl's Own Paper and Chatterbox and published a collection of poetry, Piffling Poems for Pilots, in 1934.
9.
Pauline Gower chaired a meeting on "The History of British Airships", where Mr M Langley championed the airboat and Hon.
10.
In 1936, Pauline Gower was the first woman to be awarded the Air Ministry's Second Class Navigator's Licence.
11.
Pauline Gower was appointed as the head of the women's branch, and commenced the selection and testing of women pilots, the first eight being appointed by the ATA on 1 January 1940.
12.
In 1941, Pauline Gower's portrait was created by Ethel Leontine Gabain as part of a series commissioned by the War Artists Advisory Committee, it is held by the Imperial War Museum.
13.
Pauline Gower received the MBE for her services in 1942 In time Pauline Gower was able to argue that women in the ATA should be allowed to fly any type of aircraft.
14.
The British Library holds a recording of Pauline Gower talking about her flying experiences over Kent during a night flight as well as her opinions of women being pilots.
15.
Pauline Gower died on 2 March 1947 at her home, 2 The Vale, Chelsea, after giving birth to twin sons, Paul and Michael, who survived.
16.
Pauline Gower was buried on 7 March 1947 at the Kent and Sussex Crematorium and Cemetery in Tunbridge Wells.