Maryse Hilsz

Maryse Hilsz (7 March 1903 – 30 January 1946) was a French aviator known for high altitude and endurance flights. She served with the French Resistance during World War II and died in an air crash in 1946.[1]

Marie-Antoinette "Maryse" Hilsz
Born	7 March 1903 Levallois-Perret
Died	30 January 1946 outside Bourg-en-Bresse
Nationality	French

Life

Maryse Hilsz with her Mauboussin M.122 in 1935

In 1933 she shared the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale "Woman of the Year Award" with Amelia Earhart,[2] and was the winner of the Harmon Trophy[3] the same year. She had only been flying since 1930,[1] having saved the tuition fee for the aviation license by doing entertainment stunts including parachute jump and standing on the wings of a flying plane.[1]

She established a new women's altitude record of 14,309 m (46,946 ft) on June 23, 1936.[4] In 1936 she won the Hélène Boucher Cup flying a Breguet 270 Series.[5]

Hilsz enlisted in the French Air Force after World War II. She and three other crew members died in an air crash at Bourg-en-Bresse on 30 January 1946.[6]

Notable flights

Date	Record
September 9, 1931	Completed long distance flight of Paris - Saigon - Paris
August 19, 1932	Set new women's altitude record at 10,000 m (33,000 ft)
April 28, 1934	Flight between Paris - Tokyo - Paris over 30,000 km (19,000 mi) distance in a Breguet.
June 17, 1934	Set new women's altitude record at 11,800 m (38,700 ft)
June 23, 1936	Set new women's altitude record at 14,309 m (46,946 ft)[4] in a Potez 50.
December 23, 1937	Set new Paris - Saigon time of four days

References

1. "Monash". Ctie.monash.edu.au. Retrieved 2014-02-06.
2. Elgen M. Long; Marie K. Long (15 January 2000). Amelia Earhart: The Mystery Solved. Simon and Schuster. pp. 49. ISBN 978-0-7432-0217-6.
3. "Post and Settle Win Flying Prizes". New York Times. April 22, 1934.
4. "Éphérémides". L'Aérophile: 11. June 1946.
5. Flying Magazine. April 1936. p. 244. ISSN 0015-4806.
6. "Nos deuils". L'Aérophile: 65. March 1946.