ATA’s first 8 women pilots joined on 1st January 1940. By 15 January they had uniforms and flying suits and could be paraded at their Hatfield base for a press call. It was a lovely sunny day. In some of the photos the shadows of the photographers can be seen.
The ladies were all hugely experienced. Here are brief biographies of these special women.
Winifred Crossley
Born 1906, pre-war stunt pilot, first ATA woman to fly a fighter (a Hurricane) on 19 July 1941 at Hatfield. Served until November 1945.
Margaret Cunnison
Born 1914, flew light types only. Left ATA March 1943.
The Hon. Margaret Fairweather
Born 1901, joined ATA with over 1,000 flying hours, flew her first fighter at Hatfield in July 1941 and was the first ATA woman to fly a Spitfire. She was known to be rather aloof and is said to have been known as “Cold Front”. Married to Flight Captain Douglas Fairweather, who was killed in April 1944, for months before Margaret was killed in after an engine failure in a Proctor III.
Mona Friedlander
Born 1914, a qualified flying instructor with a commercial pilot licence. Flew 32 different types of aircraft with ATA, including the De Havilland Mosquito and Wellington bombers. Left ATA February 1943.
Joan Hughes
An Essex girl, Joan was the youngest of the first eight, born in 1918. She learned to fly at Romford, going solo aged 15. One of only 11 women to fly 4-engined bombers. Joan served until November 1945. After the war worked as a flying instructor at White Waltham and Booker. Joan flew the replica Demoiselle for the film “Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines” and also flew for “The Blue Max”.
Gabrielle Patterson
Born 1905, Britain’s first woman flying instructor, flew 30 different types of aircraft with ATA, including the De Havilland Mosquito and Wellington bombers. Left ATA March 1943.
Rosemary Rees
Born 1901, one-time ballet dancer (not the classical kind!), had over 600 flying hours when she joined ATA. Flew 91 different types. One of only ATA 11 women to fly 4-engined bombers. Became second in command of the all-women Ferry Pool at Hamble. Served until November 1945 and in 1946 started her own air charter firm called Sky Taxi.
Marion Wilberforce
Born 1902. In the 1930s farmed in Essex and owned a De Havilland Hornet Moth. For tax purposes this was classified as an ‘agricultural implement’ which she used to transport poultry and Dexter cattle, when she wasn’t touring in Europe. In ATA she flew 47 different aircraft types, including 4-engined bombers. When the all-women Ferry Pool at Hamble opened in 1941 she was the Deputy Commanding Officer and in 1940 she became Commanding Officer of the all-women Ferry Pool at Cosford. Left ATA August 1945, but continued to fly a 1937 Hornet Moth until the age of 80. Our archive contains a French newspaper article recording that in her 60s she stopped at Darois, near Dijon, to refuel on her way to Cannes. In perfect French she told the paper “Cet avion remplace ma bicyclette”. She died in December 1995.