One of Britain's Top Women Pilots Tells Her Remarkable Story From Pre-War Flying

Early Life and Flying Career

Hughes was born in Harrow, London, England, in 1914. Her father was a doctor and her mother was a nurse. Hughes had a passion for flying from a young age. She began flying at the age of 16 and quickly became proficient in the air. In 1934, she became the first woman to fly solo across the English Channel. This was a significant accomplishment, as it had only been done by a few men at that time.

In 1936, Hughes flew from England to Australia. This was a 10,000-mile journey that took her over four months to complete. Hughes was the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia, and her journey inspired many people around the world.