Ann Maria Bocciarelli

Bocciarelli was of Italian descent and was born in Kimberley in 1897.^[1][2] She was the daughter of the sculptor, Achille Bocciarelli.^[1]

In 1913, Bocciarelli was one of 10 citizen flight trainees sponsored by the Union of South Africa to train with the Paterson Aviation Syndicate.^[3] Like other pilots in the school, she trained on Compton-Paterson biplane.^[4] She earned her pilot's license in 1913, making her the first woman on the African continent to become a licensed aviator.^[3]

Eventually, she and her family returned to Italy.^[2]