She began motor racing in 1936 while studying engineering at University College London .
After the war, Cowell faced deep internal struggles with her gender identity. In the early 1950s, she began her transition:
Before her transition, Cowell lived a life defined by adrenaline and mechanical skill:
Trans people in history 🏳️⚧️🌟 Roberta Cowell, a ... - Facebook
In 1944, her plane was shot down over Germany. She survived five months in a prisoner-of-war camp before being liberated by the Soviet army. A Historic Transition
The story of (1918–2011) is one of the most remarkable accounts of a trans pioneer. She was a World War II fighter pilot and racing driver who became the first known British trans woman to undergo gender-affirming surgery in 1951. A Life of High-Speed Adventure