During World War II, women wanted to work and become part of the war effort and they were not allowed in combat. A group of women, young, brave, and courageous, took to the skies and became known as the ‘Spitfire Sisters’ or ‘Attagirls.’ They were unsung heroes, but who were they and what did they do?
The Air Transport Auxillary
The London Mint Office notes that in 1939, the Air Transport Auxillary (ATA) was formed initially to transport mail and supplies. The British civilian organization was called in to help the Royal Air Force (RAF) with ferrying aircraft. This relieved male personnel for duty during battle. In 1940, the ATA took over all missions for ferrying aircraft to and from the factories and out to the squadrons to be used in combat. By 1944, there were 16 ferry pools across the UK.
The first eight ‘Attagirls’
On November 14, 1939, Commander Pauline Gower was given the task of organizing the women’s section of the ATA, who were now allowing women to fly the much-needed ferry flights. The No 5 Ferry Pilots Pool was created on January 1, 1940. These women were Winifred Crossley Fair, Gabrielle Patterson, Margaret Fairweather, Marion Wilberforce, Rosemary Rees, Mona Friedlander, Margaret Cunnison, and Joan Hughes. They flew de Havilland Tiger Moths and were nicknamed ‘Attagirls’, and they proved themselves in a world that still thought women could not become pilots.
In high demand
Demand was high for ferry pilots, so the ATA decided to train their female pilots. Many were just 17 and 18 years old, brave and fearless. During World War II, there were 168 female pilots (compared to over 700 male pilots), and recruits came from as far away as the US, Canada, South America, New Zealand, and Australia.
They received three months’ training and then were stationed at the airfields. These young women flew cross-country alone without a radio on sorties for up to 12 hours. It could be dangerous when flying damaged aircraft and they could be shot down by the enemy. Navigation in bad weather was difficult and they could find themselves easily off course.
Breaking down barriers
In June 1940, the No.5 Pool expanded and allowed their pilots to fly other types of aircraft and to move to other ferry pools. The female pilots were now allowed to fly any aircraft that was used by the RAF and the Fleet Air Arm. In 1941, they would fly the Hawker Hurricane and the Supermarine Spitfire. Later would come the Lancaster and Wellington Bombers and the de Havilland Mosquitoes. Between September 1939 and November 1945, the ATA had flown 130 aircraft types on 309,011 missions. The ATA fairly paid the women the same as the male pilots, which was remarkable for the time. It was an essential job that men thought was too difficult for women to do.
Daily life
The hours were long, and the flying was demanding, but they also knew how to have fun. The pilots would work twelve days on and have two days off. When they were assigned a new aircraft, the only instruction they had was the ‘Ferry Pilot Notes’ which came with the aircraft. The female pilots liked their uniforms and the surprise they would see on people’s faces when they got out of the aircraft. In their spare time, they would swim, play bridge or backgammon at their base, and a day off meant a first-class train ticket to London.
Pioneers of their time
Of the original eight female pilots, Joan Hughes was one of the first female test pilots, Margaret Cunnison was Scotland’s first instructor, Rosemary Rees rose to second in command in her pool. Marion Wilberforce became deputy commander, Margaret Fairweather was the first woman to fly a Supermarine Spitfire, and Winifred Crossley Fair was the first woman to fly a Hawker Hurricane. Other notable women of the ATA were Jaqueline Cochrane, who became a racing pilot and was the first woman to break the sound barrier in 1953 and set up Women Airforce Service Pilots in the US and aviation pioneer Amy Johnson, who was the first woman to fly solo from London to Australia. Sadly, 173 ATA personnel died whilst on duty.
“They were soldiers fighting in a struggle just as completely as if they had been engaged on the battlefront.” – Lord Beaverbrook at the closing ceremony of the ATA, when the war ended.