Spitfire Women of World War II
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'Thrilling!I love this kind of book.' Times 'Some of the Air Transport Auxiliary's female pilots may have objected to being called "tough" simply because they were women -- but they were as tough as nails all the same, as this superb account makes clear. They flew unarmed, without instruments, in atrocious weather, and hardly paused to grieve when their comrades started crashing into hillsides. At long last these magnificent women have the tribute they deserve.' Sir Ranulph Fiennes 'Impeccably researched and written!and absorbing.' Times 'Books of the Year' 'The strength of Whittell's book is as a collection of stories of unusual young women living colourful loves and doing skilled, resourceful, brave and risky work, which cost sixteen of them their lives.' TLS '[a] most engaging book![with] intensely human stories. Whittell tells the story with suspense, perfect context and technical detail. It is quite impossible to read Whittell's book without emotional engagement!one is all but overwhelmed by the sense of utter admiration. And of gratitude, indeed.' Times 'An eye--opening and at times very moving illustration of the courage and sacrifice of women who deserve to be remembered alongside their more celebrated male counterparts.' Literary Review 'The breadth of Whittell's research leaps of the page in telling encounters with the now--aged survivors' The Scotsman 'Extraordinary stories of women who had little fear and minimal concern for the enormous step they were taking in banging "Good grief, it's a girl!" condescension on the head.' Good Housekeeping 'Giles Whittell's affectionate book reads like a Boy's Own adventure turned on its head!and uncovers some exceptional tales.' Financial Times 'A stirring story, well told.' Tablet
The Times
'Thrilling...I love this kind of book.'
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rebuttal!,
By Lulu 70 (London, UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Spitfire Women of World War II (Hardcover)
No idea what these bad reviews are about - I found the book absolutely fascinating, well-researched and engagingly written. Nothing can take away from the sheer guts these women had, and the book inadvertently gives a vivid picture of just how much death permeated everyday life during the War: colleagues, friends, loved ones - and one's self, of course - could cease to exist at any moment, frequently quite horribly. It very eloquently shows women living under such terrific strain while behaving with almost incomprehensible bravery in fulfilling their own missions.
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Page-turner of a read and fascinating,
By Art (Southampton, UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Spitfire Women of World War II (Paperback)
By coincidence I'd just read Diana Barnato Walker's autobiography when I came across this book. Very much enjoyed the additional insights from other pilots and also it helped that the author was also able to put things in historical context. I found the book a real "page-turner" and full of amusing stories and gossip.
I enjoyed reading it even more than I did DBW's own account and also Jeffrey Quill's and Alex Henshaw's biographies which I also read in the past few months.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Guts and detemination,
By
This review is from: Spitfire Women of World War II (Paperback)
This is not a technical book about flying, but a piece of social history about a small group of women who were determined to utilise their flying skills, both for the personal experience it gave them and to assist the war effort. The battles with authority and prejudice represented the social attitudes of the time. The ferry pilots flew without radios and other aids and had only a brief period to learn a new aircraft from notes they nwere given for each aircraft. The women pilots were not taught how to fly on instruments, a particular hazard when flying in bad weather. Although some it appears were taught on an ad hoc basis by male pilots who were had the opportunity to assist them. They were a singular group of women, some insular and some forceful, all brave, a number lost their lives. They flew missions on practically a daily basis, including taking aircraft in poor condition to be broken up. A situation that proved highly dangerous on occasion and called for a high level of skill when things went wrong. All of them wanted to fly a Spitfire, and some undoubtedly would have made good operational pilots. Although this was never considered.
I would have liked a bit more of the politics of the situation in the Air Minstry as background. But still a fascinating piece of war and social history.
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