Peake, Felicity (1913–2002)

views updated

Peake, Felicity (1913–2002)

English aviator and military leader. Name variations: Dame Felicity Peake; Felicity Hanbury. Born Felicity Hyde Watts, May 1, 1913, in Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire, England; died Nov 2, 2002; dau. of Colonel Humphrey Watts; Jock Hanbury (pilot), 1935 (killed Oct 3, 1939); m. Sir Harald Peake, 1952 (died 1978); children: 1 son.

Air commodore, joined Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF, 1939); became 2nd in command at Biggin Hill (May 1940), the most heavily attacked RAF base during Battle of Britain; became the 1st woman in the war to be appointed MBE (military, 1941) and the WAAF's 1st public relations officer; became staff officer at Bomber Command headquarters (1943); served as director of Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF, 1946–49) and 1st director of Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF, 1949–50). Appointed DBE (1949).

See also memoir, Pure Chance (1993).