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A Spitfire Girl: One of the World's Greatest Female ATA Ferry Pilots Tells Her Story
We visualise dashing and daring young men as the epitome of the pilots of the Second World War, yet amongst that elite corps was one person who flew no less than 400 Spitfires and seventy-six different types of aircraft and that person was Mary Wilkins.
Her story is one of the most remarkable and endearing of the war, as this young woman, serving as a ferry pilot with the Air Transport Auxiliary, transported aircraft for the RAF, including fast fighter planes and huge four-engine bombers. On one occasion Mary delivered a Wellington bomber to an airfield, and as she climbed out of the aircraft the RAF ground crew ran over to her and demanded to know where the pilot was! Mary said simply: I am the pilot! Unconvinced the men searched the aircraft before they realised a young woman had indeed flown the bomber all by herself.
After the war she accepted a secondment to the RAF, being chosen as one of the first pilots, and one of only three women, to take the controls of the new Meteor fast jet. By 1950 the farmer's daughter from Oxfordshire with a natural instinct to fly became Europe's first female air commandant.
In this authorised biography the woman who says she kept in the background during her ATA years and left all the glamour of publicity to her colleagues, finally reveals all about her action-packed career which spans almost a century of aviation, and her love for the skies which, even in her nineties, never falters.
She says: I am passionate for anything fast and furious. I always have been since the age of three and I always knew I would fly. The day I stepped into a Spitfire was a complete joy and it was the most natural thing in the world for me.
Her story is one of the most remarkable and endearing of the war, as this young woman, serving as a ferry pilot with the Air Transport Auxiliary, transported aircraft for the RAF, including fast fighter planes and huge four-engine bombers. On one occasion Mary delivered a Wellington bomber to an airfield, and as she climbed out of the aircraft the RAF ground crew ran over to her and demanded to know where the pilot was! Mary said simply: I am the pilot! Unconvinced the men searched the aircraft before they realised a young woman had indeed flown the bomber all by herself.
After the war she accepted a secondment to the RAF, being chosen as one of the first pilots, and one of only three women, to take the controls of the new Meteor fast jet. By 1950 the farmer's daughter from Oxfordshire with a natural instinct to fly became Europe's first female air commandant.
In this authorised biography the woman who says she kept in the background during her ATA years and left all the glamour of publicity to her colleagues, finally reveals all about her action-packed career which spans almost a century of aviation, and her love for the skies which, even in her nineties, never falters.
She says: I am passionate for anything fast and furious. I always have been since the age of three and I always knew I would fly. The day I stepped into a Spitfire was a complete joy and it was the most natural thing in the world for me.
230 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2016
48 people are currently reading
276 people want to read
About the author
Mary Ellis
1 book1 followerWhen MaryWilkins was 11, her father paid for her to have a joy ride in a biplane at a travelling circus. Mary decided she wanted to learn to fly and when she was 16 she started having lessons.Mary successfully gained a private pilot's licence and flew for pleasure up until the start of the Second World War in 1939, when all civilian flying was banned.
In October 1941, she joined the Air Transport Auxiliary, and was posted to a pool of women flyers based in Hamble in Hampshire. Over the course of the war she flew over 1,000 planes of 76 different types, including Harvards, Hurricanes, Spitfires and Wellington bombers. Some of her flights were to relocate planes from Royal Air Force airfields to the frontline, and others were to ferry new planes from factories to airfields.
After the war the Air Transport Auxiliary was disbanded. However, Ellis was seconded to the Royal Air Force and continued to ferry aircraft. She was one of the first women to fly the Gloster Meteor, Britain's first jet fighter. She later moved to the Isle of Wight.
In 1950, she became the manager of Sandown Airport, and Europe's first female air commandant.] Ellis managed Sandown for twenty years, during which time she also founded the Isle of Wight Aero Club. A former ATA colleague, Vera Strodl, was hired by Ellis as the chief flying instructor.
In 1960 she married fellow pilot, Don Ellis. He died in 2009
In 2016, Ellis published her autobiography: A Spitfire Girl: The World's Greatest Female ATA Ferry Pilots Tells Her Story.
Adapted from Mary's Wikipedia page.
In October 1941, she joined the Air Transport Auxiliary, and was posted to a pool of women flyers based in Hamble in Hampshire. Over the course of the war she flew over 1,000 planes of 76 different types, including Harvards, Hurricanes, Spitfires and Wellington bombers. Some of her flights were to relocate planes from Royal Air Force airfields to the frontline, and others were to ferry new planes from factories to airfields.
After the war the Air Transport Auxiliary was disbanded. However, Ellis was seconded to the Royal Air Force and continued to ferry aircraft. She was one of the first women to fly the Gloster Meteor, Britain's first jet fighter. She later moved to the Isle of Wight.
In 1950, she became the manager of Sandown Airport, and Europe's first female air commandant.] Ellis managed Sandown for twenty years, during which time she also founded the Isle of Wight Aero Club. A former ATA colleague, Vera Strodl, was hired by Ellis as the chief flying instructor.
In 1960 she married fellow pilot, Don Ellis. He died in 2009
In 2016, Ellis published her autobiography: A Spitfire Girl: The World's Greatest Female ATA Ferry Pilots Tells Her Story.
Adapted from Mary's Wikipedia page.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
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July 30, 2018Another book to add to my ever growing list thanks to the L.A. Times (July 28, 2018). Below is an obituary of Mary Ellis, an incredible woman and dauntless World War II pilot. She was one of the last surviving female pilots of Britain's Air Transport Auxiliary during the war:
http://enewspaper.latimes.com/infinit...
http://enewspaper.latimes.com/infinit...
March 12, 2019
This should have been a great book but I couldn’t stay engaged due to the writing style. It leaps all over the place - one minute it’s 1945 and then in the next paragraph something important is happening in 1939 - and there is no narrative flow. I might try again later, because I’m sure there is a great story buried in the clunky prose, but for the moment this one will have to go on the DNF shelf.
September 3, 2017
Excellent discription, especially when Mary made her very first flight and the first time inside the spitfire cockpit, it felt like I was in control and flying the plane myself, just an amazing story from this woman who was clearly born to fly from day one. Don't think any other words I express with do justice to this incredible woman.
May 20, 2021
I love the story of the ATA pilots particularly the amazing women but the way the book was written was a bit frustrating. 5 ⭐️ for Mary though.
February 24, 2017
The matter of war never goes away. When you think of war what comes to your mind? Men flying planes to their destination to bomb their target. That's the only word we heard through history was how the men bravely fought heroically, but what about the unknown heroine. We heard about the women taking over the men's position in the factory's and building ships, working as engineers, to name a few. How many know about women Ferry Pilots flying aircrafts to their needed destinations for the ATA during war time?
This is a story about a brave woman that was born in Oxfordshire and grew up always yearning to fly like the birds in the sky. She finally got her chance to fly like a “bird” at Whitney Airfield. Her name is Mary Wilkins. As you read forward, Mary Ellis (Wilkins) relives her life as a young child and her desire to reach the sky and about the other women that had historically achieved greatness in flying. From the first women flyer to the women that had worked and accomplished the rights for women. those that flew militant aircraft fighters, also the women that Mary knew and had lost in a harrowing event. Mary's story of flying takes us through the good times flying aircrafts from her first Spitfire which was her favorite, it gave her pleasures flying high than any other plane.
Mary supplies photographs of time long ago when she was the happiest standing with flying colleagues, and tells about her hit and miss of flying from the first time she enters the cockpit to the time she hangs up her propellers. Her life story was the need for flying so was it such a shock) that she thrived for speed, which is why she got into car racing, which shouldn't be a surprise. I'm not going to reveal anymore about Mary's life adventures, so if you enjoy the thrill of speed and soaring in the air I would recommend you read this book of this woman who really had lived.
This is a story about a brave woman that was born in Oxfordshire and grew up always yearning to fly like the birds in the sky. She finally got her chance to fly like a “bird” at Whitney Airfield. Her name is Mary Wilkins. As you read forward, Mary Ellis (Wilkins) relives her life as a young child and her desire to reach the sky and about the other women that had historically achieved greatness in flying. From the first women flyer to the women that had worked and accomplished the rights for women. those that flew militant aircraft fighters, also the women that Mary knew and had lost in a harrowing event. Mary's story of flying takes us through the good times flying aircrafts from her first Spitfire which was her favorite, it gave her pleasures flying high than any other plane.
Mary supplies photographs of time long ago when she was the happiest standing with flying colleagues, and tells about her hit and miss of flying from the first time she enters the cockpit to the time she hangs up her propellers. Her life story was the need for flying so was it such a shock) that she thrived for speed, which is why she got into car racing, which shouldn't be a surprise. I'm not going to reveal anymore about Mary's life adventures, so if you enjoy the thrill of speed and soaring in the air I would recommend you read this book of this woman who really had lived.
February 9, 2019
Wow! This is a book that made me wish I could stay home from work and finish it end-to-end. These girls were amazing! Most of them were not even as old as I am now when they volunteered. Some of the accounts in here make me so proud to be a woman. I laughed at some parts and sobbed at others. Of course, they had their detractors - mostly senile old men who wanted no part of creating an "All Female" ferry and delivery contingent. These old farts were too blind to see the obvious advantages; I'm thinking they'd never heard the term "the more the merrier!" I like that the girls continued in their efforts in spite of all the contrary, opinionated judgements that were aimed at them. They "did their bit." as the saying went back then. I especially liked Mary's relation of the Wellington Bomber she delivered to its base airfield. The R.A.F. guys couldn't - indeed, wouldn't - believe that she was the pilot! Even sent in a search party to find the "real" pilot! I also agree with her about the long and full life that she led. I am saddened to learn that she died in July of 2018. She struck me as the kind of person who would still be going if she were able. 101 years old is nothing to be sneezed at though. I only wish I could have met her. Hopefully, she's once again back in the air with all her friends.
January 28, 2019
Oh, Wow! We should all be so lucky as to live a life as full as this lady's. Farmer's daughter, 1930's flyer, WWII Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) pilot, aerodrome commandant, auto rally driver etc, etc. The list just never seemed to end. She was, to all intents & purposes, fearless. Reveling in a challenge; she never balked at what life or circumstances threw at her. I am so happy to have discovered this book. There are also a number of TV documentaries dedicated to her and the other female ATA pilots. There is also a clip on YouTube showing her taking flight again in a "training" Spitfire on February 2nd, 2017; her 100th birthday! So unbelievable. Sadly, she died in July 2018 but with no regrets I'm sure.
Another reason I am so happy to have read this is the accounting of all the aircraft types she & her fellow pilots ferried. The list is incredible; from Gypsy Moth biplanes all the way up to four engined "heavies" like the Lancaster, Stirling and Halifax bombers. Even some B-17 Flying Fortresses & B-24 Liberators thrown in. I have learned and remembered so much from the accounts in this book.
We should all thank Mary and her colleagues, male or female, for the parts they played way back then!
Another reason I am so happy to have read this is the accounting of all the aircraft types she & her fellow pilots ferried. The list is incredible; from Gypsy Moth biplanes all the way up to four engined "heavies" like the Lancaster, Stirling and Halifax bombers. Even some B-17 Flying Fortresses & B-24 Liberators thrown in. I have learned and remembered so much from the accounts in this book.
We should all thank Mary and her colleagues, male or female, for the parts they played way back then!
August 16, 2025
Be it delivering over 76 different types of aircraft in WW2, becoming a champion rally driver in the 1950’s, or running the Isle of Wight airport, Mary Ellis lived a truly extraordinary life. All these achievements at a time of scarcely believable sexism in comparison to today’s society. You wonder what she would have achieved without such barriers if born today. I found the descriptions of the deaths of her husband, most friends and almost all former colleagues moving, an inevitability when you live to 101 I suppose. Missing a 5 star as the writing does tend to ramble, jump around in time, repeat itself sometimes and so many random commas.
September 24, 2018
A berry heat touching story of exceptional lady pilots.
I have heard of women pilots during WWII but to read the facts of these women to be able to just jump into an airplane that she never saw before and professionally fly it is so astonishing as most people, man or women now days wouldn't even think it possible. Thank you for this wonderful book of your endeavors. God bless you. ct
I have heard of women pilots during WWII but to read the facts of these women to be able to just jump into an airplane that she never saw before and professionally fly it is so astonishing as most people, man or women now days wouldn't even think it possible. Thank you for this wonderful book of your endeavors. God bless you. ct
December 20, 2020
An amazing story of skill and bravery from one of the 166 female ATA pilots who could hop out of a Spitfire and into a Wellington, armed only with one side of A6 worth of pilots’ notes. A remarkable story, well worth reading.
November 7, 2017
I am a great fan of anything WW2 related and found the story inspirational.
However there were lots of mistakes in this manuscript that tainted the pleasure of reading it a little!
However there were lots of mistakes in this manuscript that tainted the pleasure of reading it a little!
October 31, 2018
I loved this book, what an inspirational lady, who along with her colleagues carried out a role in war time that we should all be grateful for. Thank you all.
March 6, 2019
Inspirational
Mary Ellis writes from the heart, and her story is all the more inspired for it. Interesting, informative and, above all, enjoyable.
Mary Ellis writes from the heart, and her story is all the more inspired for it. Interesting, informative and, above all, enjoyable.
January 4, 2021
An inspirational memoir of a power, incredible woman who should be well renowned the world over.
Read her story and bring her history to life through her own words ❤️
Read her story and bring her history to life through her own words ❤️
February 2, 2021
Mary was clearly a brave and interesting person - my fault is with the rambling structure of the book, which made for repetitive reading.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews