Beinhorn, Elly |
| PILOT (GERMANY) |
|
BORN 30 May 1907, Hannover, Niedersachsen - DIED 28 Nov 2007, Ottobrunn, Bayern GRAVE LOCATION Berlin: Waldfriedhof Dahlem, Hüttenweg 47, Steglitz-Zehlendorf (Feld 015-715 (Abt. 11- 4a) (ashes)) |
|
Elly Beinhorn's interest in aviation was roused after she attended a lecture by the aviator Hermann Köhl. She used an inheritance to take flying lessons. In 1931 she joined a scientic expedition to West Africa, but a crash-landing ended the journey. In 1932 she became the first woman to fly around the world solo. She made further trips to Africa, Panama, Mexico and the USA. There she met Amelia Earhart in 1934. When she returned by ship to Germany in 1935 she was a celebrity. In 1935 she congratuled the winner of the Czechoslovakian Grand Prix, Bernd Rosemeyer. They danced together that night and oin 1936 they married. In November 1937 their son Bernd was born but in January, 1938 her husband was killed during an attempt to break the world speed record. She received condoleances from many nazis including Hitler himself but she wanted a non political funeral. They ignored her wishes and nazis held speeches at his gravesite. In 1941 she married Dr. Karl Wittman and with him she had a daughter, Stephanie. She continued flying until 1979. Later in life she lived in Ottobrunn, Bavaria. She died in 2007, aged 100, and was buried beside Bernd Rosemeyer. Family • Husband: Rosemeyer, Bernd (1936-1938) Related persons • was pupil of Udet, Ernst |
| Images |
 The grave of Bernd Rosemeyer and Elly Beinhorn at Waldfriedhof Dahlem, Berlin. Picture by Androom (18 Aug 2010) |
