Last Female ATA Pilot

[MikeC]

Very sad to hear that Eleanor Wadsworth, Britain's last surviving female ATA pilot, died recently at Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, aged 103.  Blue Skies ma'am.  https://www.bpha.org.uk/international-womens-day-britains-last-surviving-female-pilot-of-wwii/

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/buryfreepress-uk/obituary.aspx?n=eleanor-wadsworth&pid=197359902&fhid=32750

 

As an aside, if you read the first link, you'll note that her retirement home was in Airfield Road.  This refers to Rougham, also known as Bury St Edmunds, wartime home to the 94th BG and still an active, albeit smaller, airfield today.

Edited January 2, 2021 by MikeC

[Alain Gadbois]

Thank you for sharing!

The first article was very interesting. 

 

Alain

[mozart]

Thanks for that Mike, a fascinating lady, it would have been a real pleasure to meet and chat with her. 

[LSP_Matt]

So sad to hear.

 

I still have the DVD Ferry Pilot. i suspect it might be elsewhere on the web by now. I found the ATA fascinating and some of the women's stories amazing. Some real courage and skill.

 

My LSP review here

 

Matty

[mozart]

I have Lettice Curtis’s autobiography; sadly it was so badly written, lacking in engagement and so disjointed that I never finished it. When you think of the lives these ladies (and of course gentlemen) lived it’s hard to see how she could have penned such a bland account! 

[Phartycr0c]

Sad news. ATA were pivotal support structure for the RAF. Wonderful people.RIP and Blue skies. 

[MikeC]

19 hours ago, mozart said:

I have Lettice Curtis’s autobiography; sadly it was so badly written, lacking in engagement and so disjointed that I never finished it. When you think of the lives these ladies (and of course gentlemen) lived it’s hard to see how she could have penned such a bland account! 

 

Max, you may want to try Spreading my Wings by Diana Barnato Walker.  I found that a very interesting and engaging read.

[mozart]

50 minutes ago, MikeC said:

Max, you may want to try Spreading my Wings by Diana Barnato Walker.  I found that a very interesting and engaging read.

Thanks Mike, I'll look out for that one.  I read a really good book about the ATA about 20 years ago, on loan and I didn't make a note of the title.....I think it may have been "Fly and Deliver" by Hugh Bergel, so I've ordered it anyway!

[Pete Roberts]

4 hours ago, MikeC said:

 

Max, you may want to try Spreading my Wings by Diana Barnato Walker.  I found that a very interesting and engaging read.

 

Second that - a great read. The ATA were an amazing group of people who did a wonderful job, and have received very little recognition for their work.

 

Thanks for posting this.

[Landrotten Highlander]

A bit late perhaps, but here's a link to a Guardian article.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jan/10/raf-spitfire-woman-eleanor-wadsworth-dies-at-103

 

I knew about the work of the ATA and admire these people's courage flying unarmed aircraft with minimum training to the front line, risking their lives on a daily basis - often flying in weather 'normal' pilots considered unflyable.  I am painting a variety of pilots in 1:32 with a view of grouping them together as if looking at aircraft/airshow etc (the first one can be seen in my Finnish Caudron build) and am now in the process of converting one pilot - a male British Air Force officer - into a female officer to honour their commitment.

[Landrotten Highlander]

1 minute ago, MARU5137 said:

what about these  figures Landrotten Highlander. Female  pilot figures.

 

https://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?/topic/55688-pilot-and-crews-figures-by-reedoak/page/50/

 

 

funnily enough, I already have the walking female jet pilot - she will also be included in the little diorama.  However, the pilot I am converting has the WWII uniform of ATA, so will require little work (just add some female features at the upper front and lower rear + a more suitable hairdo).