The Spitfire Sisters of the Air Transport Auxiliary
Jackie Moggridge sits at the controls of a Spitfire fighter plane in September 1944. This photo is sometimes misidentified as Maureen Dunlop. Colourized by jecinci colorizations.
These unsung heroes of World War II, the ‘Attagirls’, were responsible for ferrying new fighter and bomber planes to their bases, as well as flying transport aircraft and some air ambulances.
In total, 15 of ‘The Spitfire Sisters’ were killed while flying for the ATA, including legendary pioneering aviator Amy Johnson who was the first female pilot to die in ATA service and Mary Nicholson the sole American female ATA pilot killed.
For more information regarding the female pilots of the ATA head over to A Fleeting Peace.
This is lovely to see my mother Jackie Moggridge is the first picture and in two more she was No. 15 Ferry Pool Hamble she joined in 1940 and flew planes during the war and 500 spitfires in her lifetime. She was awarded the Kings Commendation for valuable services in the Air, The Queens Coronation Medal and became the first Woman Airline Captain to fly passengers on Scheduled flights for which she was awarded the Jean Lennox Bird Trophy for furthering the cause of women in aviation. Her last flight was age 74 when she was to fly spitfire ML507 50 years to the day she had taken it in the ATA to a New Zealand Pilot for D day.