I was just made aware by the excellent podcast "Stuff You Should Know" that one Ernestine Clarke "was an American bareback rider and trapeze artist descended from many generations of circus performers" (don't get any ideas, fellas). Later in life, she moved to England and joined the Women's Royal Naval Service, supporting the war effort by working as a " M/T driver, pig-keeper, parachute packing officer and safety equipment officer on air stations." Right on, sister.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1367641/Ernestine-Clarke.html