Marion Orr
Encyclopedia
Marion Alice Orr, CM
(25 June 1918 - 4 April 1995) was a pioneering Canadian
aviator
who was the first woman to run a flying school. She served with the Air Transport Auxiliary
during World War II
and was awarded the Order of Canada
in 1986.
, and qualified for her commercial license two years afterwards. She was the second woman in Canada to qualify as an air traffic control assistant. In 1942 she married D.K. "Deke" Orr. He helped her gain her instructors license in 1942. The marriage was brief and the couple separated later that year, although Marion Orr, as she was now known, would keep her married surname.
(ATA) by Violet Milstead, she applied, was tested in Montreal
and was admitted to the ATA. Orr and Milstead moved to England in the summer of 1942. Orr's first flight for the ATA was on June 2, 1943. Although Orr flew many types and marks of aircraft, her favourite was the Spitfire
, which she considered "the most beautiful plane ever built." Her primary role in the ATA was the transportation of planes across the Atlantic. She was honourably discharged from the ATA with the rank of second officer in 1944 with 700 logged hours.
where she had to get permission from the Prime Minister to open her own airfield, Maple Airport
.
She was awarded the Ninety-Nines Inc. Medallion in 1976 in recognition of her outstanding achievements in the field of aviation. In 1981 Orr was named a member of Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame
. During her career she flew over 21,000 hours, 17,000 hours as an instructor on single and twin-engine aircraft, on wheels, skis and floats, and helicopters. She also taught around 5000 people to fly. As one of Canada's most distinguished pilots, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada
in 1993.
Marion Orr continued to fly until her deteriorating health saw her license revoked in 1994. She died in 1995 in an automobile accident.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(25 June 1918 - 4 April 1995) was a pioneering Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
aviator
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
who was the first woman to run a flying school. She served with the Air Transport Auxiliary
Air Transport Auxiliary
The Air Transport Auxiliary was a British World War II civilian organisation that ferried new, repaired and damaged military aircraft between UK factories, assembly plants, transatlantic delivery points, Maintenance Units , scrap yards, and active service squadrons and airfields—but not to...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and was awarded the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in 1986.
Early life
Marion Alice Powell was born in Toronto, Ontario. On January 5, 1940 she obtained her private pilot's license after working to pay for her flying lessons. She then worked as an aircraft inspector at de Havilland CanadaDe Havilland Canada
The de Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd. company was an aircraft manufacturer with facilities based in what is now the Downsview area of Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
, and qualified for her commercial license two years afterwards. She was the second woman in Canada to qualify as an air traffic control assistant. In 1942 she married D.K. "Deke" Orr. He helped her gain her instructors license in 1942. The marriage was brief and the couple separated later that year, although Marion Orr, as she was now known, would keep her married surname.
World War II
After being told about the Air Transport AuxiliaryAir Transport Auxiliary
The Air Transport Auxiliary was a British World War II civilian organisation that ferried new, repaired and damaged military aircraft between UK factories, assembly plants, transatlantic delivery points, Maintenance Units , scrap yards, and active service squadrons and airfields—but not to...
(ATA) by Violet Milstead, she applied, was tested in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and was admitted to the ATA. Orr and Milstead moved to England in the summer of 1942. Orr's first flight for the ATA was on June 2, 1943. Although Orr flew many types and marks of aircraft, her favourite was the Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
, which she considered "the most beautiful plane ever built." Her primary role in the ATA was the transportation of planes across the Atlantic. She was honourably discharged from the ATA with the rank of second officer in 1944 with 700 logged hours.
Post-war career, life and honours
Orr started her own flying school in 1949. It opened for business, though she was forced to close and relocate to Maple, OntarioMaple, Ontario
Maple is a high-growth suburban community northwest of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, part of the city of Vaughan in York Region.-Geography:The west branch of the Don River rises to the northwest and flows 1 km west of Maple. Several creeks are to the east and the Black Creek begins slightly west...
where she had to get permission from the Prime Minister to open her own airfield, Maple Airport
Maple Airport
Maple Airport was a small airfield in the Township of Vaughan in York Region, Ontario, that was open from 1955 until 1987. The airport, established by Marion Alice Orr, one of Canada's first women pilots, consisted of two runways in an X pattern; and...
.
She was awarded the Ninety-Nines Inc. Medallion in 1976 in recognition of her outstanding achievements in the field of aviation. In 1981 Orr was named a member of Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame
Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame
Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame, based in the Reynolds-Alberta Museum in Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada, commemorates and honours those whose accomplishments in aviation contributed so much to Canada's development as a nation...
. During her career she flew over 21,000 hours, 17,000 hours as an instructor on single and twin-engine aircraft, on wheels, skis and floats, and helicopters. She also taught around 5000 people to fly. As one of Canada's most distinguished pilots, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in 1993.
Marion Orr continued to fly until her deteriorating health saw her license revoked in 1994. She died in 1995 in an automobile accident.