R. I. P. Lettice Curtis

[Crabby Appleton]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/10991463/Lettice-Curtis-obituary.html

Lettice Curtis, who has died aged 99, was arguably the most remarkable woman pilot of the Second World War, flying a wide range of military combat aircraft with the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) and being the first woman to qualify to fly a four-engine bomber.

She had qualified as a commercial pilot in April 1938, and was working for the Ordnance Survey when, in June 1940, she was approached by the ATA. There was an urgent need for more pilots to ferry aircraft and, with most men joining the RAF, it was decided to form a Women’s Pool to bolster the number of pilots. Lettice Curtis was among the first to join .

With a small group of other young women, she began by flying light training and communications aircraft at Hatfield. She soon graduated to more advanced trainers and also the twin-engined Oxford. ATA pilots often flew alone and with no navigation aids — they had to rely almost entirely on map reading as they ferried aircraft from factories and airfields to RAF units around the United Kingdom. Weather conditions were often difficult.

more...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/10991463/Lettice-Curtis-obituary.html

[whistler162]

1. The Smithsonian had, may still have,

a exhibit for the WASP's, the U.S.'s version of the ATA.

Also http://www.radiodiaries.org/the-wasps-women-pilots-of-wwii/ is a interesting interview with some of the woman of the WASP's.

[littlemissmartypants]

2. Kicking. Thank you. nt

[Uncle Joe]

3. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Crabby Appleton.