Marion Alice Orr

Marion Alice (Powell) Orr, CM (25 June 1918 – 4 April 1995) was a pioneering Canadian aviator who was the first woman to run a flying school. She served with the Air Transport Auxiliary during World War II and was awarded the Order of Canada in 1986.

Early life
Marion Alice Powell was born in Toronto, Ontario. On 5 January 1940 she obtained her private pilot's license after working to pay for her flying lessons. She then worked as an aircraft inspector at de Havilland Canada, and qualified for her commercial license two years afterwards. She was the second woman in Canada to qualify as an air traffic control assistant. In 1942 she married D.K. "Deke" Orr. He helped her gain her instructors license in 1942. The marriage was brief and the couple separated later that year, although Marion Orr, as she was now known, would keep her married surname.

World War II
After being told about the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) by Violet Milstead, she applied, was tested in Montreal and was admitted to the ATA. Orr and Milstead moved to England in the summer of 1942. Orr's first flight for the ATA was on 2 June 1943. Although Orr flew many types and marks of aircraft, her favourite was the Spitfire, which she considered "the most beautiful plane ever built." Her primary role in the ATA was ferrying planes to and from factories, squadrons and various units. She was honourably discharged from the ATA with the rank of second officer in 1944 with 700 logged hours.

Post-war career, life and honours
Orr started her own flying school in 1949. It opened for business, though she was forced to close and relocate to Maple, Ontario where she had to get permission from the Prime Minister to open her own airfield, Maple Airport.

She was awarded the Ninety-Nines Inc. Medallion in 1976 in recognition of her outstanding achievements in the field of aviation. In 1981 Orr was named a member of Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame. During her career she flew over 21,000 hours, 17,000 hours as an instructor on single and twin-engine aircraft, on wheels, skis and floats, and helicopters. She also taught around 5000 people to fly. As one of Canada's most distinguished pilots, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 1993.

Marion Orr continued to fly until her deteriorating health saw her license revoked in 1994. She died in 1995 in an automobile accident.