Born: 9 October 1895, United Kingdom
Died: 26 February 1967
Country most active: United Kingdom
Also known as: NA
The following bio was written by Emma Rosen, author of On This Day She Made History: 366 Days With Women Who Shaped the World and This Day In Human Ingenuity & Discovery: 366 Days of Scientific Milestones with Women in the Spotlight, and has been republished with permission.
Frances Beatrice Bradfield was a notable aeronautical engineer who contributed significantly to aviation during her career. She held the OBE (Order of the British Empire) and was recognized as a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (FRAeS). Bradfield’s work primarily took place at the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE), particularly at RAE Farnborough, where she led the Wind Tunnels Section. Born in Leicester in 1895, she graduated from Newnham College, Cambridge, in 1917 with a BA degree in Mathematics.
Her aeronautical research, focused on wind tunnel experimentation, commenced around 1919. Despite lacking an engineering degree, Bradfield played a crucial role in facilitating communication within RAE’s research departments. She was instrumental in wind tunnel research and published numerous research papers throughout her career. Her contributions were recognized when she became the Head of Wind Tunnels during the 1930s, a position she held until the end of World War II.
Bradfield’s legacy extends to her inclusion as one of the two female Associate Fellows of the Royal Aeronautical Society conducting vital work at RAE Farnborough in 1941. Her pioneering work paved the way for future female engineers in the field.