Unsung heroes of WWII: Women of the Air Transport Auxiliary
The women of the Air Transport Auxiliary in World War II are an often overlooked but crucial group. Read on to meet these inspiring pilots.
Image: Pilot Diana Barnato Walker, a member of the Air Transport Auxiliary, climbing into the cockpit of a Spitfire | Public Domain
During World War II, there were plenty of separate groups that had their own specific roles to play. One of these groups were the women from the Air Transport Auxiliary. Although the ATA’s tasks were originally intended to be different, they ended up being vital when it came to transporting aircraft to those who needed them most.
Join us here at Sky HISTORY as we examine the role of the women of the Air Transport Auxiliary in further detail.
What was the Air Transport Auxiliary?
Established at the beginning of the Second World War, the Air Transport Auxiliary – or the ATA, was a civilian organisation in Britain tasked with ferrying military aircraft from various locations to where they were needed.
Crucial to the war effort, they worked tirelessly to ensure that the Royal Air Force was equipped and ready to go when the call came. The group transported both new and newly repaired aircraft, often taking them from assembly plants and factories. The aircraft were then ferried between locations such as maintenance units, active airfields and service squadrons, scrapyards and transatlantic delivery points. The only places that the ATA did not deliver aircraft to were naval aircraft carriers.
The ATA was initially set up to be a transportation service for medical supplies, mail and personnel. This changed however, when the RAF’s significant needs became clear. All ferrying responsibilities were taken on by the ATA by 1st August 1941, allowing the previous ferrying pilots to take on combat roles.
Women in the Air Transport Auxiliary
A women’s division of the ATA began to come together in November 1939. This was when Commander Pauline Gower was tasked with forming the women’s section. On New Year's Day 1940, eight women were accepted into the women’s division and by the end of the war, around 160 women had been employed in the ATA.
The initial eight members were:
- Gabrielle Patterson
- Joan Hughes
- Margaret Cunnison
- Margaret Fairweather
- Marion Wilberforce
- Mona Friedlander
- Rosemary Rees
- Winifred Crossley Fair
At first, the women were only able to fly the Tiger Moth biplane. They were also paid 20% less than the men, but this isn’t too surprising, as it was common practice at the time. This eventually changed due to Pauline Gower’s influence. The women went on to fly any kind of aircraft, such as Spitfires, Hurricanes and even heavy bombers like Flying Fortresses. The women also received equal pay thanks to Gower, which was a major step in the right direction for women’s equality.
The duties of the women in the ATA
The primary duty of the ATA was, as mentioned, ferrying aircraft. They would also service and repair aircraft and move them between airbases as and when needed. On occasion, the ATA would also fly air ambulance missions, wherein medical supplies and injured personnel would be transported. Other transportation missions were also undertaken by the ATA and the women’s division, such as ferrying service personnel when road or rail transportation wasn’t viable.
Notable women in the ATA
All of the women in the ATA are notable and should be commended for their service and bravery. That being said, some women excelled and have become known for their various feats while in the ATA. Some notable female members include:
- Amy Johnson: World-famous with numerous records broken, including first woman to fly solo from England to Australia.
- Freydis Sharland: One of the first five women to earn RAF pilot wings. Flew 38 different plane types and had over 600 hours of flight time.
- Lettuce Curtis: First woman qualified to fly four-engine bomber planes.
- Mary Ellis: Flew 76 different kinds of aircraft, including more than 400 Spitfires. First female airport commandant in Europe.
- Pauline Gower: Head of the women’s division of the ATA. Lobbied relentlessly for women to be accepted and was a driving force for pay equality amongst female pilots.
These are just a few notable members of the ATA women’s section. It’s important to remember how revolutionary the women's division was. Because of this, and because of their hard work and sacrifice (many died in accidents), every single woman involved should be remembered for their service.
Want to stay up to date on all sorts of historical topics? Then be sure to subscribe to the Sky HISTORY newsletter! By doing so, you’ll get exclusive access to all the latest news, videos and articles.
