Originally, the ATA excluded many female pilots who applied because of gender. Prominent British aviatrix, Pauline Gower, protested this insanity. By 1940, she was “given permission” to form the Women’s Section of the ATA. Eight women were selected: Winifred Crossley, Margaret Cunnison, Margaret Fairweather, Mona Friedlander, Joan Hughes, Gabrielle Patterson, Rosemary Rees, and Marion Wilberforce.
Pauline Gower formed the World War II Air Transport Auxiliary Women’s Section. (National Portrait Gallery London)
ATA Commandant Pauline Gower in World War II waves from the cockpit of a De Havilland Tiger Moth, a single-engine biplane. (The Imperial War Museum)
They were based at the Hatfield Air Base in England. This select World War II corps of female pilots flew newly manufactured aircraft from factories to Royal Air Force (RAF) military airfields. All the women were experienced pilots before their selection into this elite civilian flying corps. Their purpose was to free-up RAF male pilots for air battle. Some ATA women even flew air ambulances. Most ferried aircraft to RAF airfields across the United Kingdom. Their motto was Aetheeris avidi, Latin for “Eager for the Air.”
Initially, they were only allowed to ferry smaller aircraft as the De Havilland Tiger Moth. They were paid 20% less than male ferry pilots. The stellar female pilots came through the winter without losing one plane and without one accident. In May, 1940, as their high performance was obvious, Gower was “given permission” yet again to expand the ATA women flyers. Famed British aviator, Amy Johnson, and two women pilots for the Polish Air Force, Jadwiga Pilsudska and Anna Leska, who had escaped the German invasion of their country, joined.
Nicknamed “Atta Girls,” said with admiration by many in the RAF, the women performed well under very difficult and dangerous combat condition on the airfields and in the air. For example, ATA Diana Barnato Walker flew 80 types of aircraft and delivered 260 Spitfire
5+ minute CBS look at the women who delivered the Spitfires. (Cut and paste into your brower if the link does not take you to the video.
The British ATA-Air Transport Auxiliary Women’s Section made significant contributions to the Allied success in World War II. (Wikicommons)
In 1942, Jacqueline Cochran recruited 25 American women to join her in the ATA, even though America was not yet officially in World War II. One of them was American Helen Richey. Helen felt compelled to help Britain fight Germany. She had nearly 2,000 hours of flight time, a commercial pilot license, an instructor rating, and flight instructor experience with the U.S. Army Air Corps. It was a no-brainer that Helen was accepted in the ATA. Helen left immediately for England. After a short orientation, Helen began transporting aircraft throughout England for the Royal Air Force. Richey was one of the first women to climb into a Hawker Hurricane, a single-seat fighter. In no time, Helen was flying the faster and more powerful fighter, the Spitfire. Helen wrote home about the exhilaration she felt flying the Spitfire.
Helen Richey in 1929 set many records for women in aviation. (Wikipedia)
In 1942, famed war correspondent, Ernie Pyle, wrote about Helen Richey in two of his stories. Pyle wrote, “Helen is 33 now and as engaging as ever. She wears a dark blue uniform with slacks for flying and skirt for street wear. She looks very snazzy in her outfit. Their job is a dangerous one. The fatality rate in ferry service is higher proportionally than in the RAF.” Then, with America in the war in April 1943, Helen returned to the United States to join Jackie Cochran at Avenger Field in Texas. Helen became a WASP
Women of the ATA were billeted in combat areas under constant threat from German bombers. Finally, in June, 1943, the British Parliament decreed that women ferry pilots receive equal pay for equal work with their male counterparts. A revolutionary concept for the time.
Although most ATA members were from the United Kingdom, others in the Women’s section came from America, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, New Zealand, Poland, South Africa, and The Netherlands. During the war, the ATA flew 415,000 hours and delivered more than 309,000 aircraft of 147 types, including Spitfires, Hawker Hurricanes, Mosquitoes, Mustangs, Lancaster bombers, Halifaxes, Fairey Swordfish and Barracudas, and Flying Fortresses.
The ATA Women’s section grew to over 165 aviators. Tragically, toward the end of World War II, ATA women pilots were asked to ferry planes into more dangerous areas as the Allies advanced on Germany. Fifteen died in aviation loses. ATA Women’s Section was disbanded in November, 1945, two months after the end of World War II. The famous British slogan used during the toughest times in World War II of “Stay Calm and Carry On!” was certainly true of these trailblazing ATA women. These brave aviators were recognized in 2008 by Women in Aviation International in their Pioneer Hall of Fame.
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