Margot Duhalde Sotomayor navigated over 900 aircraft across European skies during World War II while serving with the Air Transport Auxiliary. Born in Río Bueno in 1920, she transcended the limitations placed upon women in aviation, eventually securing her place as the first female military pilot and air traffic controller in the history of Chile.
Wartime Service and Aerial Transit
Initial flight training occurred at the Air Club of Chile in Santiago. Following the outbreak of World War II, Duhalde traveled by ship to Liverpool, England, in April 1941. Despite initial challenges, including a brief detention in London on suspicion of espionage, she secured a position within the Air Transport Auxiliary. Her duties involved the delivery of various single and twin-engine British and American aircraft to combat zones across France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Over four years, she managed 70 different aircraft types, achieving the rank of first officer.
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In 1945, she joined the French Air Force as a combat pilot, based in Meknes, Morocco. By 1946, she conducted a demonstration tour of French aircraft across Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. Upon returning to her home country in 1947, she faced gender-based employment barriers at the national airline, LAN. She spent two years as a private pilot before establishing a flight school, where she worked as an instructor. Later, she served as an air traffic controller for the Chilean Air Force until the age of 81.
Recognition and Legacy
Duhalde received significant recognition for her contributions to military aviation throughout her life. France appointed her a Knight of the Legion of Honour in 1946 and later elevated her to Commander of the Legion of Honour in 2006. In 2009, she was awarded the Veteran's Badge by British ambassador Howard Drake in Santiago. She remained the last living Chilean veteran of the second global conflict until her death in Santiago on 5 February 2018.
Fast facts
- Born: 1920, Río Bueno, Chile
- Died: 5 February 2018, Santiago, Chile
- Military Rank: Colonel
- Primary Occupations: Aircraft pilot, military personnel
- Key Recognition: Commander of the Legion of Honour (2006)
- Early Recognition: Knight of the Legion of Honour (1946)
- Language: Spanish
Questions readers ask
What was the Air Transport Auxiliary?
It was an organization responsible for transporting aircraft from factories or bases to combat zones during the war.
Did she serve as an air traffic controller?
Yes, she was the first female air traffic controller in Chile and performed this role for the air force until she was 81 years old.
Achievements
- Commander of the Legion of Honour — 2006
- Knight of the Legion of Honour — 1946
- Worked as aircraft pilot and military personnel
