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5 Beatrice “Tilly” Shilling:
A War-Winning Invention
Without Beatrice “Tilly” Shilling, World electrical engineering. She received
War II might have had a different her master’s degree in mechanical
ending. She was born in 1909 in engineering a year later. She started
Hampshire, England, to a middle- racing motorcycles. In 1936, she
class family. She bought a motorcycle began working for the Royal Aircraft
at age 14. She learned to take it Establishment (RAE).
apart and put it back together. At 15, At the beginning of World War II
she decided to become an engineer.
(1939–1945), the British Spitfire and 106
Shilling left school at 17 A British
to study under Margaret Spitfire. Speed in miles per hour
Partridge. Partridge (171 km/hr) Shilling achieved
owned an electrical on her motorcycle at the
engineering Beatrice Brooklands motor track
company and “Tilly” Shilling. Hurricane fighter planes had serious in England
cofounded the technical issues. Unlike Germany’s • She was awarded the
planes, these British fighter planes
Women’s Engineering Brooklands Gold Star in
could not go upside down without 1934.
Society (WES). With her
causing the engine to shut down. • Her motorcycle was a 500cc
help, Shilling became Norton International that
one of the first women In 1940, Shilling invented a fix for she adjusted for maximum
to attend the engineering this problem. It was called the RAE speed.
program at the University restrictor. It was easy to install. • She waited to marry her
of Manchester. Many experts believe the British husband, George, until he
would have lost the war without it. earned his own Brooklands
In 1932, Shilling got Gold Star. That happened
Shilling worked for the RAE until
her bachelor’s in 1938.
1969. She died in 1990.
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