Mary Bailey

Mary, Lady Bailey, (née Westenra; 1 December 1890 – 29 July 1960) was an Anglo-Irish aviator. She was known as one of the finest aviatrices of her time, who '"personally guided a plane from England to the nether tip of South Africa and back" (Time, 28 January 1930). Early life The daughter of Derrick Westenra, 5th Baron Rossmore, of Rossmore Castle, County Monaghan and his wife, Mittie (née Naylor). Lady Bailey spent most of her childhood in Ireland where she was home schooled until she ran away in 1906. Adventurous from a young age, she apparently bought a motorbike in her youth and was gaining a reputation for speeding in cars by 1914. Aviation During the First World War, Mary volunteered as an aviation mechanic and served in Britain and France, associated with the Royal Flying Corps.