Elsie MacGill — the world’s first female aeronautical engineer — was born on this day in 1905. MacGill’s pioneering work to perfect the Hawker Hurricane, a fighter plane that helped ensure the Allies’ air dominance during World War II, earned her the title “Queen of the Hurricanes.”
Born in Vancouver, Canada, MacGill was the first woman in North America, and likely the world, to graduate with a Masters Degree in aeronautical engineering in 1929. Shortly before her Masters graduation, MacGill contracted polio and ended up completing her final exams while still in the hospital. Her loss of mobility ended her dreams of becoming a pilot, and doctors told her she would need to use a wheelchair for the rest of her life. She refused to believe it and taught herself to walk with two canes. She didn’t give up flight entirely: for the rest of her career, she rode along on every test flight of any plane she helped design.
MacGill went on to get her doctorate at MIT, and in 1938, she became the first woman elected to corporate membership in the Engineering Institute of Canada. The same year, she was hired as the Chief Aeronautical Engineer at Canadian Car and Foundry, the first time in the world a woman held a chief engineering position. MacGill’s position there expanded dramatically when the company was selected to build Hurricane fighters for the Royal Air Force: the factory’s staff jumped from 500 to 4,500. MacGill was responsible for streamlining the manufacturing process as well as designing solutions to make the Hurricane operational in the winter.
MacGill’s role in the war effort made her famous: dozens of articles about the female engineer appeared all over North America. She even appeared in her own comic book, “Queen of the Hurricanes: Elsie MacGill”. By the time production ended in 1943, CC&F had manufactured over 1,400 Hurricanes. The aircraft was particularly renowned during the Battle of Britain where it accounted for 60% of the Royal Air Force’s victories in the battle. After the war, MacGill worked for many years on behalf of women’s rights in Canada and was honored for her dedication to the cause with the Order of Canada in 1971. She once said, “I have received many engineering awards, but I hope I will also be remembered as an advocate for the rights of women and children.”
For an excellent book about more women heroes of WWII, we highly recommend “Women Heroes of World War II: 32 Stories of Espionage, Sabotage, Resistance, and Rescue,” for ages 13 and up, at https://www.amightygirl.com/women-heroes-of-world-war-ii
For children’s books about trailblazing women engineers and girls who love to invent, visit our blog post “30 Books About Mighty Girls and Women in Engineering,” at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=35594
To introduce kids to five pioneering women in engineering — plus a variety of engineering projects they can try at home – we recommend “Gutsy Girls Go for Science: Engineers” for ages 8 to 11 at https://www.amightygirl.com/gutsy-girls-engineers
For more books for children and teens about girls who love science, math, and engineering, check out our blog post, “Ignite Her Curiosity: Books to Inspire Science-Loving Mighty Girls,” at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=13914
And for toys and kits to encourage your Mighty Girl’s interest in invention and building, visit our blog post, “Building Her Dreams: 60 Building Toys for Mighty Girls” at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=10430
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Have a healthy, positive and impactful life.
Peter Prichard CMF
-WEBSITE/BLOG – https://havepositiveimpact.com/
-AUTHOR – the International #1 Amazon Bestseller and Readers’ Favorite 5 Star Award Recipient – “Have a Positive Impact During Uncertain Times” –
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1732793808 Readers Favorite 5 Star Review stated, “If you want to make a difference in the world,
but don’t know where to start, or want to make a difference in your own life, but don’t know how, this book was written for you.”