A shortage of pilots and the need to supply aircraft from factories to squadrons prompted the British Air Ministry to employ trained women air pilots. The introduction of women had started before the outbreak of war, but ‘manpower’ was becoming so short that they started to recruit women for training.
Pauline Gower
Pauline Gower was an experienced commercial air pilot who ran pleasure flights before the war. When war broke out, all civilian flying was banned and Pauline took the opportunity to use her connections and made contact with the Director-General of Civil Aviation. She suggested that the newly formed ATA use women to ferry planes. Despite some resistance, Pauline Gower was put in charge of the development and asked to recruit eight suitably qualified women. By the beginning of 1940 the female section of the ATA had been born. Pauline Gower was aware of the scrutiny and resentment that her female colleagues would be observed. She ensured the highest competencies and demanded constant professionalism amongst her team. The number of female pilots employed by the ATA rose to over 165 by the end of the war.
Diana Barton Walker
Diana Barton Walker was a wealthy young socialite looking for some excitement when she learnt to fly an aeroplane after just six hours of training. She gave up her rich lifestyle to join the ATA and by the time she had reached 22 years of age had delivered over 200 Spitfires and other aircraft to squadrons throughout the country. After the war, Diana Barton Walker continued to break the mould for female aviators and in 1963 became the first British woman to break the sound barrier.
Amy Johnson
Amy Johnson developed an early determination to become a competent female in the male dominated field of aviation. Taking her hobby for flying a step further, she became the first British trained woman ground engineer and for a time was the only one in the world. In the 1930’s Amy pursued her objective and despite several setbacks, set of in a Gypsy Moth from Croydon, London. Amy Johnson arrived in Darwin 19 days and 11,000 miles later as the first woman to fly solo to Australia. Amy joined the ATA and the group of women who ferried aircraft from factories to airbases. However, her flying and her life was tragically cut short when her plane crashed into the Thames Estuary in January 1941 and she was drowned.
Women played many roles during the war, on land and sea but it is the role in the air where they defied the scorn of their male colleagues. Female aviators have proved themselves worthy on many counts - their technical knowledge, their experience, aviation skills and courage.
Sources:
Women In Military Aviation in World War Two
British Air Transport Auxiliary
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