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Topic starter
04/08/2021 6:41 pm
The last Spitfire pilot.
Mary Ellis (nee Wilkins), pilot, born 2 February 1917; died 24 July 2018
Air Transport Auxiliary in WW2 Britain.
Overall during World War II there were 166 women pilots, one in eight of all ATA pilots, and they volunteered from Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the United States, the Netherlands and Poland.
During the war the ATA flew 415,000 hours and delivered more than 309,000 aircraft of 147 types, including Spitfires, Hawker Hurricanes, Mosquitoes, Mustangs, Lancasters, Halifaxes, Fairey Swordfish, Fairey Barracudas and Fortresses. Many flew aircraft over the north Atlantic from Canada to Britain. A total of 174 pilots, women as well as men, were killed flying for the ATA in the wartime years. Total taxi hours amounted to 179,325.
As non-operational delivery flights, the aircraft guns were not loaded.
Mary Ellis
04/08/2021 9:39 pm
David, thank you for this post. I have always been interested in WW2, especially the aircraft. I have several diecast airplane models and one plastic airplane model I built from that era. I even have a couple of Spitfires.
Ed Davis
Inverness, Illinois, USA
David Green and David Green reacted
04/08/2021 10:08 pm
What a great story, what a crazy time back then.
David Vandermeer
Corinth, Texas
David Green and David Green reacted
05/08/2021 7:30 am
What a life she lived! Grande Dame for sure. Still sharp as a tack (in the video) at age 101.
David Green and David Green reacted