Margaret LITTLEWOOD

LITTLEWOOD, Margaret Frances
1916 - 2012
Marg Littlewood took her last flight early in the morning of February 5th, 2012 in her 96th year. Margaret was born March 28, 1916, the only child of Stanley and Phoebe Littlewood. She is survived by two cousins, Norman Smith, Toronto and Lillian Miller, Ottawa. Marg will be missed by her "family" of friends in Edmonton.
Marg had an unusual career - early during W.W.II she was a flying instructor working out of Barker Field, Downsview, Ontario. In 1942, Civilian Flying Schools were closed because of gas rationing. Marg applied for a flying job at all ten Air Observer Schools across Canada - nine "no thanks" were received, however a phone call from #2 A.O.S. Manager W.R. "Wop" May, offered her the job of Link Training Instructor - during 1943/44; she logged over 1,200 hours of instruction time on the Link Trainer, both in Edmonton and at the R.A.F. Ferry Command Centre in Dorval, Quebec.
After the War she completed her Public Transport, Commercial and Senior Commercial Pilot Licence training - all the licences possible for a Pilot in Canada and one of only three other women pilots. "The Ninety- Nines, International Organization of Women Pilots" awarded her the Amelia Earhart Medal in 1976 for being the first (and only) woman to do advanced flying training. In 1982, Marg was given an "Honorary Life Membership" by the Western Canada Aviation Museum in Winnipeg. With over 1,000 hours of flying time in her logbooks, Marg retired from flying in 1954 and went on to a long career with the Ministry of Transport in Edmonton and in 1980 was honoured with a medal from the Government of Canada for long and efficient service. Her last seven years were spent at Canterbury Court where she met new friends playing Bingo.
At Marg's request, there will be no service, but a memorial tea will be held at Canterbury at a later date. Donations in Marg's memory may be made to any Aviation Museum in Canada.
To send condolences, visit
www.parkmemorial.com