The Amazing Lady Icarus’s Rise and Fall

Little did anyone know that this country girl would become one of the most famous women in the world. Against her family’s wishes, she followed her love for sports. A brave soul, she embraced challenges with open arms. The struggles she endured in her early years shaped her into the person she became. Her life was one of intense purpose. She stands out as one of the few Irishwomen who made a lasting mark in the history of aviation.

When she was one, Mary found herself sitting on the kitchen floor surrounded by a pool of blood. Sitting next to her lifeless mother. It wasn’t the start of a television crime series but the start of an adventurous aviator’s life in rural Ireland.

Kate Doolin, an attractive and tall brunette, came from a respected farming family. While at work, Kate crossed paths with a captivating man named Jackie Pierce.

After accepting a position as a housekeeper for her uncle, she tied the knot with Jackie in Dublin. Their daughter, Sophie Mary Peirce-Evans, known as Mary, was born on November 10^th 1896.

Yet only a year later, the unimaginable happened.

Distraught neighbours rushed to Mary’s aid, lifting her from the kitchen floor. Beside her lay her lifeless mother, attacked earlier that day. And who by? None other than Mary’s father, Jackie. He’d bludgeoned her to death with a sturdy stick as his weapon of choice.

The courts found Jackie guilty (albeit insane) during the murder trial. His daughter went to live with her grandfather in Newcastle West. Here, her two single aunts raised her in a rather strict manner.

Mary’s natural talent and love for sports were evident from a young age. But certain relatives discouraged her from pursuing these interests.

Despite this, Mary found herself in Dublin. It was here where she found the freedom to indulge in her passion for hockey and tennis. She excelled in both sports. World War I brought her to England and France, serving as a dispatch rider for two years.

Without hesitation, she rode her motorcycle across the roads of England and France. She delivered crucial messages between headquarters and military units. All to serve the allied cause.

When moved to Scotland, her notoriety as a ‘disruptive influence’ had spread far and wide. She embarked on her new life in England under the name Sophie Mary Eliott-Lynn. The idea of Mary’s ‘unladylike’ lifestyle horrified her aunts. They worried that it could leave a bad impression on Mary’s young cousins. So Mary’s aunts decided to write a letter to their mother to express their concerns.

‘For Mercy’s sake, Lily, don’t let Sophie get hold of the girls.’

But that wouldn’t stop Mary. Her life was always filled with excitement. Yes, there was never a dull moment…

The Rise of Lady Icarus

Moving from Scotland to London in 1922, it was evident that sports had a strong grip on Mary. She achieved a world record in the high Jump. And made history as the first female javelin champion in Britain. The records she set for shot put and discus in Ireland remained unbeaten until the 1960s.

Between 1925 and 1929, Mary rose to fame as the most renowned Irishwoman in the world. Her initial flying classes ignited a deep love for aviation. It led her to channel her pioneering spirit towards the skies.

Although Amelia Earhart captivated the world with her remarkable feats since 1922. Yet people in Britain were not yet ready to accept the liberation of women.

Mary battled against prejudice and ignorance in search of a ground-breaking milestone. She became the first woman in Britain or Ireland to get her commercial pilot’s licence.

To earn this license, Mary had to show her ability to control an airplane before a panel of sceptical men. As soon as she soared into the sky, her achievements followed behind. Lady Heath, as she later became known, broke records everywhere she went.

Not only as a woman but as a skilled aviator.

The Records She Broke

Mary achieved record-breaking altitudes in a small airplane. And she earned the distinction of being the first woman to get a mechanic’s licence in America.

American newspapers adored her, dubbing her as the ‘Britain’s Lady Lindy’. In honour of Charles Lindbergh. Her adventures grabbed headlines across the world.

Her first marriage was an unhappy one. Determined to pursue her passion for flying, she wasted no time in searching for a new husband. She was looking for a man who would support her until she could support herself.

Determined, she compiled a list of the most affluent British bachelors. She was hoping to find a partner who would not only provide stability but also share her dreams. Well, it’s one way to find a partner.

When she chose to marry Sir James Heath, who was 45 years older than her, on October 11^th 1927, she became Lady Heath. At that time, she had already achieved several altitude records for small airplanes. As well as for a heavy Shorts seaplane.

Mary made a grand entrance by landing in the middle of a football match. She was the first woman to a public parachute jump from a plane. And in 1927, she made history as the first female pilot to win an open race.

She wanted to become the first to pilot a small open-cockpit airplane from Cape Town to London.

Her journey started in January 1928. But it extended beyond her initial estimate of a few weeks, it took her three months to finish. Finally, on May 17^th, her Avro Avian biplane landed in England. Although she encountered a few bumps along the way.

The Bumps in the Sky

After flying for 9,000 miles, Mary approached the excited crowd. Dressed in high heels, silk stockings, a pleated skirt, a fur coat, and a stylish cloche hat. Mary was resolute in her goal to make a living as a pilot.

She offered thrilling rides at air shows and often flew back to Ireland. There large crowds awaited her arrival to admire the airplane and pay for a chance to fly with her. If they could afford it, of course.

She convinced many nervous young men to join her on flights. Transitioning her charm into lobbying, she landed a job as a commercial pilot with KLM. It allowed her to showcase her determination and talent.

Despite facing criticism from the press, Mary soared as a first officer for a brief period. Yet her public image took a nosedive as the media turned against her.

Still, she managed to achieve yet another remarkable feat. She became the first woman to pilot a commercial airplane.

Wounded by the poor reception in Europe, Mary seized an opportunity to lecture in America. It was during this time she crossed paths with Amelia Earhart. She had completed her historic transatlantic flight. Mary extended an invitation to Amelia, inviting her to take flight in the Avro Avian airplane.

Mary’s airplane impressed Amelia, leading her to buy the biplane and bring it back to America.

Back in July 1929, Mary wrote an intriguing article titled, ‘Is Flying Safe?’ At that time, aviation had gained immense popularity worldwide.

In Britain, aspiring pilots had to undergo at least 10 hours of instruction. As a result, countless people took to the skies each year. Each one embraced the exhilarating journey of becoming a pilot.

Mary believed in the significance of skilled pilots and stringent construction standards. It was in early 1928, in Britain, where an impressive 45,000 flights had taken place without an accident.

But not long after that article, Mary found herself in trouble.

The Crash

On August 29^th 1929, Mary crashed her plane. While practising a dead-stick landing, her plane crashed into a roof. The crash left Mary with a fractured skull, broken nose, and internal injuries. Newspapers speculated that she would not survive. Yet she did, but the accident marked the end of her piloting career.

Unfortunately, her second marriage also came to an end as she divorced Lord Heath in 1930. She returned to Dublin and embarked on a remarkable journey.

With unwavering determination, she established her own private aviation company. Not stopping there, she established the Irish Junior Aero Club. There, she imparted her knowledge and skills to aspiring young pilots.

This laid the foundation for the iconic national airline, Aer Lingus.

Yet it all came to a sudden end. On May 9^th, 1939, Mary passed away at the age of only 42. Her death was a result of a head injury sustained from a fall on a tram. It’s thought an old blood clot played a role in causing the fall.

In an instant, one of the great female aviators was gone.

The Amazing Lady Icarus’s Rise and Fall

Lady Icarus, Mary Heath, left a lasting mark on the aviation industry.

Her life was one filled with daring escapades and ground-breaking accomplishments. It was a journey of brilliance and misfortune. Yet she pursued her dreams with unwavering passion. Nothing hindered her progress.

She blazed a trail in the aviation industry. She inspired female pilots across the world. We cannot overlook her instrumental role in establishing the Irish aviation industry.

Today there is still admiration for her, reigniting curiosity about her remarkable life.

Her achievements in aviation warrant her place among the esteemed figures of aviation. We should celebrate this undeniably courageous, tenacious and resourceful woman. Her name belongs in the pantheon of legendary names from those early days of aviation.

In her life, she lived.

“[A] woman’s place is in the home, but failing that, the aerodrome.”
– Lady Mary Heath.

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