Marie Marvingt
1914 Painting by Friant showing Marvingt air ambulance . The development of air ambulances was one of the most important advances in military medicine in the 20th Century. Image from: David Lam.
Marvingt was born in 1875. She raised her siblings (when her mom died). She mastered 4 languages and became a superior sportswomen and pilot. During WW-1 Marie fought along side the French infantry at the front; disguised as a man. She was a Red Cross surgical nurse and invented the first air plane ambulance services in 1912. A service that continues to grow and evolve today.
Marie at the controls of her Deperdussin in 1912
Image from: The Collection of Jean-Pierre Lauwers
"She was awarded a gold medal from the French Academy of Sports for being excellent "in all sports." All! Swimming, skiing, bicycling, flying, ballooning, mountain climbing, ice skating, canoeing, and more. She outshot an entire army division in riflery. She piloted a balloon across the North Sea--many people had died trying that trick".
-Rosalie Maggio & Marcel Cordier
Fétes d'Aviation, NANCY-JARVILLE, 7 et 8 1912
16. - Mademoiselle Marvingt sur monoplan Deperdussin
Image from: Collection of Jean-Pierre Lauwers
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Marie Marvingt 1920, Image from: Bettmann/CORBIS
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"Marvingt spent the rest of her life advocating aerial ambulance service. She co-founded an organization called The Friends of Aviation Medicine. She lectured tirelessly on behalf of such service. She formed an air ambulance service in Morocco. She created training courses for aerial nurses. She wrote and directed documentaries on the use of aerial ambulances." John H. Lienhard
Marie Marvingt, who was nicknamed the Fiancee Of Danger. Image from: © National Aviation Museum/Corbis