February 24, 2008
Female Spitfire pilot recognized
A woman pilot who was among those who flew replacement fighters to RAF bases during World War II has spoken of her joy at the recognition for her work.The need for pilots was desperate back then:Margaret Frost, 87, is one of 15 women and 100 men who are to have a special merit award for serving in the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA).
The parson's daughter from Bwlchllan, near Lampeter, west Wales, flew Spitfires, Hurricanes, Mustangs.
Ms Frost won her wings in 1938, after just 15 hours in the air, only five of them solo.A few years later, they were knocking on her door. From the BBC.She was rejected by the ATA when she volunteered after war broke out because she was just under the 5ft 4in (1.62m) height requirement and was considered too inexperienced.
Posted by David on February 24, 2008 10:38 PM
What a wonderful story and life; this is the stuff that should be a biography and a flick of greatness! Those heros of WWII were male and female and all gave their all. What heroism and what lives! We forget the debt we owe tham. Just imagine our nation if it were bombed every day and every night and the coast was on guard waiting for the onslaught of Hitler's forces from across the channel. Goring needed to destroy the English will to fight by destroying the Brits on the ground and the air. He could not, and the invasion of Britain dod not happen.
Posted by: Donald Wolberg on February 25, 2008 10:32 PM
They also served, indeed. I once met a guy who, after flying Sunderland flying boats on U-Boat patrol for a couple of years, then ferried B-24 Liberators across the Atlantic. Doing it in one hop was apparently just possible - provided you were willing to fly with no crew, no radio and your fingers crossed.
Posted by: Alan Little on March 2, 2008 6:15 AM
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