26-07-2018, 11:50 AM
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WW2 Spitfire pilot Mary Ellis dies, aged 101
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-44962253
Mary Ellis, then Mary Wilkins, joined the ATA in 1941 after hearing an advertisement for women pilots on BBC radio.
She said at the time they were known as the "Glamour Girls", adding: "There were plenty of escorts around."
She said she had flown "about 1,000 aeroplanes" during the war, before moving to the Isle of Wight in 1950 to take charge of Sandown Airport.
ATA secretary John Webster described Mrs Ellis as an "amazing" person.
There aren't many "Spitfire Women" left .....
26-07-2018, 12:54 PM
5
Re: WW2 Spitfire pilot Mary Ellis dies, aged 101
Originally Posted by Cinderella
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They took a huge risk delivering aircraft as they were unarmed and had no escort planes. An unsung hero no more.
In total, 15 female pilots were killed while flying for ATA, among them flying legend Amy Johnson who died in 1941 after being forced to bail out over the Thames Estuary because of bad weather.
26-07-2018, 01:35 PM
7
Re: WW2 Spitfire pilot Mary Ellis dies, aged 101
In her biography, she recalls this unbelievable anecdote. Mary delivered a Wellington bomber to an airfield, and as she climbed out of the aircraft the RAF ground crew ran over to her and demanded to know where the pilot was! Mary said simply: ‘I am the pilot!’ Unconvinced the men searched the aircraft before they realized a young woman had indeed flown the bomber all by herself.
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