ATA Books & Resources
Spitfire Girl, My Life in the Sky
Jackie Moggridge
The inspiring memoir of the remarkable ATA pilot and pioneer, Jackie Moggridge.
Jackie was just nineteen at the outbreak of the Second World War. Determined to do her bit, she joined the Air Transport Auxiliary in 1942. Ferrying aircraft from factory to frontline was dangerous work, but there was also fun, friendship and even love in the air.
From her first flight at fifteen to smuggling Spitfires into Burma, Jackie describes the trials and tribulations, successes and frustrations of her life in the sky.
Order from Amazon here.
Pauline Gower, Pioneering Leader of the Spitfire Women
Alison Hill
Pauline Gower was the leader of the ATA women pilots during the Second World War. After gaining her pilot's licence at 20, she set up the first female joyriding business in 1931 with engineer Dorothy Spicer and took up 33,000 passengers, clocking up more than 2,000 hours overall.
Pauline went on to command the inaugural women's section of the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) and achieved equal pay for her women pilots. She enabled them to fly 'Anything to Anywhere', including Tiger Moths, Hurricanes, Wellingtons and – their firm favourite – the Spitfire. Read her story here.
Brief Glory
E. C. Cheeseman
This is the first, and perhaps freshest, record of the ATA during WWII. Written and published in 1946 it captures the rapid rise of the ATA as the demand for aircraft to be moved to and from the frontline ballooned.
It shows the foresight of Gerald d'Erlanger who set the framework up at the beginning of the war, and it descibes the ingenuity needed to make the early ferry pools function. This account explains how the ATA selected its aircrew (men and women), how the ATA ferry pools were established and how the task moved to the Continent at the end of the war.
An excellent read for those looking to gain a broad understanding of the ATA. Currently out of publication but plenty of second hand copies available online.
Lettice Curtis,
Forgotten Pilots
First published in 1971 the books describes the four years of ATA service by First Officer Lettice Curtis. After graduating from Oxford with Mathematics Lettice had learnt to fly before the war. However she was soon asked to join the ATA as the 'ferry' demand grew. Her dedicated and analytical approach to flying was soon recognised. The reward was that in 1943 she was the first pilot selected to fly a 4-engined bomber (Halifax). She went on to fly Lancasters and B-17s, as well as the pilot favourites such as Spitfires, Hurricanes and Mosquitos.
By the end of the war, Lettice Curtis had delivered 90 different types of aircraft. This makes her one of the most experienced woman pilots this country has ever trained.
Diana Barnato Walker
Spreading My Wings
Diana Barnato Walker MBE was the daughter of a racing diver and grand daughter of a co-founder of the De Beers mining company. She had a privileged lifestyle before the war, yet was keen to join the ATA and do her bit for the war effort.
This autobiography charts the highs and the lows in this career and how she went on to fly faster than the speed of sound after the war.
First published in 1994
Alison King,
Golden Wings
This is an engaging story of the important role that the woman pilots of the ATA performed in WWII. The courage and efficiency with which they performed their chosen tasks were vital to the success of operational units from the early days of the Battle of Britain to D-Day and right up to VE Day.
Alison King, herself a pre-war pilot and then ATA operations officer, provides skillful portraits of pilots on and off duty. She accurately portrays their eagerness to fly, their determination to take an equal share of the duties and to live up to the exacting standards required of them.
First published in 1956. Available secondhand.
