MBE, FRAeS. She was an English aviatrix and horse rider, the first British woman to break the sound barrier. She became interested in aircraft and at age 20, she decided to become a pilot. Her initial training was in Tiger Moths at the Brooklands Flying Club, the aerodrome being located within the famous motor racing circuit in Surrey. Soon after the outbreak of World War II Diana volunteered to become a Red Cross nurse. In 1940 she was serving as a nurse in France before the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk and later drove ambulances in London during the Blitz. In 1941, after seving as a nursing auxiliary with the British expeditionary force, which had been driven from France by the German invasion the year before, she passed rigorous tests and became a member of what The Times of London dercribed in 2005 as "the pluckiest sisterhood in military history" the women's arm of the Air Transport Auxiliary. In 1942, three weeks after meeting fighter ace Sqd Ldr Humphery Gilbert, they became engaged, but he was killed a few days later in a flying accident. Two years later in 1944, Barnato married another pilot, Wing Commander Derek Walker and was docked three months pay when they each flew a Spitfire to Brussels for a 'jolly'. Soon after war's end, Derek Walker was also killed in a flying accident. In 1963, at the age of 45, she briefly held the world air speed record for women when she piloted a two seat R.A.F. Lightning T-4 jet, clocked at 1,262 mph. She died in hospital of pneumonia, aged 90 years.
MBE, FRAeS. She was an English aviatrix and horse rider, the first British woman to break the sound barrier. She became interested in aircraft and at age 20, she decided to become a pilot. Her initial training was in Tiger Moths at the Brooklands Flying Club, the aerodrome being located within the famous motor racing circuit in Surrey. Soon after the outbreak of World War II Diana volunteered to become a Red Cross nurse. In 1940 she was serving as a nurse in France before the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk and later drove ambulances in London during the Blitz. In 1941, after seving as a nursing auxiliary with the British expeditionary force, which had been driven from France by the German invasion the year before, she passed rigorous tests and became a member of what The Times of London dercribed in 2005 as "the pluckiest sisterhood in military history" the women's arm of the Air Transport Auxiliary. In 1942, three weeks after meeting fighter ace Sqd Ldr Humphery Gilbert, they became engaged, but he was killed a few days later in a flying accident. Two years later in 1944, Barnato married another pilot, Wing Commander Derek Walker and was docked three months pay when they each flew a Spitfire to Brussels for a 'jolly'. Soon after war's end, Derek Walker was also killed in a flying accident. In 1963, at the age of 45, she briefly held the world air speed record for women when she piloted a two seat R.A.F. Lightning T-4 jet, clocked at 1,262 mph. She died in hospital of pneumonia, aged 90 years.
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