The ATA's ( Air Transport Auxiliary ) contribution was vital in delivering new planes from the factory to the front line as well as collecting and returning damaged planes to maintenance units.
It was a hugely complex exercise in logistics and planning.
At one point it was referred to as the "Foreign Legion of the air" due to the great many nationalities involved.
And quite a few of the pilots and flight engineers who ferried the aircraft were women.
In a sense they were test Pilot's often required to deliver brand new planes that had never flown before direct from the factory. In some instances a new type of plane they had never seen before using a handbook called - Ferry Pilots Notes, as guidance through the hazards.
Even though they only operated around the UK (until D-Day) hazards still existed, barrage balloons tricky weather conditions usually without radio and fully functioning navigational instruments, and unarmed.
173 ATA's lost their lives including the pioneering aviator Amy Johnson.
Captions for photos below.
Allied women pilots of the Air Transport Auxiliary service. Their job done, four female ATA pilots (three Americans and one Polish) leaving an airfield near Maidenhead, 19 March 1943. They are from left to right: Roberta Sandoz of Washington; Kay Van Doozer from Los Angeles; Jadwiga Piłsudska from Warsaw; and Mary Hooper from Los Angeles.
Creator Trievnor J (Plt Off)
Royal Air Force official photographer
Production date 1943-03-19
© IWM CH 8945
Mary Ellis standing of front of one of her beloved Spitfires about to be delivered to the Front Line.
She had her first flying lesson in 1938, and flew for pleasure until 1941 when she heard a BBC radio appeal for women pilots to join the auxiliary service so service pilots could be released for combat duty.
The largest aircraft she flew solo was the Wellington bomber. She successfully delivered many aircraft with just a map, a compass and a stopwatch.....Incredible.
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