A 2,976 km flight from Le Bourget to Yurino, Russia, completed in 30 hours and 30 minutes in 1931, established Maryse Bastié as a prominent French aviator. Over the following two decades, she secured multiple international records for female pilots, transitioned into military service, and participated in the French resistance before dying in a crash in 1952.
Early Career and Aviation Beginnings
Born Marie-Louise Bombec in Limoges in 1898, she faced early hardships after her father died when she was eleven. Following a failed marriage and the death of a young child, her professional life changed after marrying Louis Bastié, a World War I pilot. She learned to fly and performed aerobatics to finance her aviation goals. In 1927, she purchased a Caudron C.109 aircraft, marking a shift toward long-distance flight.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Record-Setting Flights
Throughout the 1930s, Bastié set international female records in duration, distance, and solo flight. Notably, on 30 December 1936, she crossed the South Atlantic in 12 hours and 5 minutes flying a Caudron 635 Simoun. These achievements led to the Harmon Trophy in 1931. In 1935, she established a flying school at Orly Airport. By 1937, she documented her experiences in the book Ailes ouvertes: carnet d'une aviatrice.
Military Service and Resistance
During World War II, Bastié served in the French Air Force, ultimately achieving the rank of captain and logging over 3,000 flight hours. In September 1939, she was requisitioned alongside pilots Maryse Hilsz, Claire Roman, and Paulette Bray-Bouquet to ferry aircraft to the front lines. Her later career included work for the French DGA Flight Test Centre from 1951 until 1952.
Legacy and Awards
Bastié received the Order of the Red Star in 1931 and was appointed a Knight of the Legion of Honour that same year, later upgraded to commander in 1947 for her resistance activities and wartime service. She also held the Resistance Medal and the Knight of the Order of the Southern Cross. Following her death in a 1952 takeoff crash in Bron, she was buried at Montparnasse Cemetery in Paris.
Fast facts
- Born: 1898, Limoges
- Died: 1952, Bron
- Military Rank: Captain
- Key Aircraft: Caudron C.109, Caudron 635 Simoun
- Burial Site: Montparnasse Cemetery, Paris
- Commander of the Legion of Honour: 1947
Questions readers ask
What record did Bastié set in 1936?
She completed a solo crossing of the South Atlantic in 12 hours and 5 minutes.
Did Bastié serve in the military?
Yes, she served in the French Air Force as a captain and was a resistance fighter.
Achievements
- Commander of the Legion of Honour — 1947
- Knight of the National Order of Merit
- Affiliated with French DGA Flight Test Centre
- Worked as aircraft pilot and French resistance fighter
.jpg)