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Product Description
Product Description
The daughter of a millionaire racing driver, Woolf Barnato and granddaughter of Barney Barnato who co-founded the De Beers mining company, by 1936 Diana had had enough of her affluent, chaperoned existence and sought excitement in flying, soloing at Brooklands after only six hours' training. She has followed her own instincts ever since. Joining the Air Transport Auxilliary in 1941 to help ferry aircraft to squadrons and bases throughout the country, she flew scores of different aircraft - fighters, bombers and trainers - in all kinds of conditions and without radio. She lost many friends, a fiance and a husband before 1945 but continued to fly. In 1962 she was awarded the Jean Lennox Bird Trophy for notable achievement in aviation and then - her greatest moment - in 1963 flew a Lightening though the sound barrier becoming "the fastest woman in the world". She was awarded the MBE in 1965. Her memoirs offer adventure, anecdotes and famous names and is the story of a special woman who, now in her 80s, continues to live life to the full from her home in Surrey.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Having read this book, I had the great priviledge of meeting Diana Banarto Walker. The sparkling and sometimes mischievous wit contained in this, to my taste, well-written book, was totally evident in meeting this grand lady. This is a story that delicately blends humour, determination, tragedy and triumph. It's well worth a read by anyone, but, if like me you have a passion for things aeronautical, then it's a must!
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Delightful and modest reminiscences of Diana Barnato one of approximately 150 women who flew aeroplanes in the ATA during the Second World War. Brief biographical info of her youth and later life, however the bulk of this book refers to the ATA.
Excellent resource for all those interested in this undersung
department.
Excellent resource for all those interested in this undersung
department.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The late Diana Barnato Walker tells a story of a priviliged young girl, brought up in a broken home amongst amazing wealth, who still got stuck in and made a massive contribution to the war effort.
She had the means to escape to America to sit out the war in peace and comfort, but decided to stay and do her bit.
While the person might not be typical, the job she did, delivering aircraft throughout Britain during the war is typical of the hundreds of ATS girls like her, and is worth reading for that alone. The added value is her personal story as the grand-daughter of the owner of the Kimberly diamond mine, the daughter of one of the Bentley Boys who won Le Mans three years in succession, with very influential friends and who mixed with some of the best known fighter pilots of the day.
This is a woman who survived cancer, and went on to be the fastest woman on earth flying and piloting a Lightning at supersonic speeds.
We are seeing girls just like her now in Afganistan, risking all to make their own little contribution, and we should not forget that girls like Diana Barnato Walker paved the way for them.
She had the means to escape to America to sit out the war in peace and comfort, but decided to stay and do her bit.
While the person might not be typical, the job she did, delivering aircraft throughout Britain during the war is typical of the hundreds of ATS girls like her, and is worth reading for that alone. The added value is her personal story as the grand-daughter of the owner of the Kimberly diamond mine, the daughter of one of the Bentley Boys who won Le Mans three years in succession, with very influential friends and who mixed with some of the best known fighter pilots of the day.
This is a woman who survived cancer, and went on to be the fastest woman on earth flying and piloting a Lightning at supersonic speeds.
We are seeing girls just like her now in Afganistan, risking all to make their own little contribution, and we should not forget that girls like Diana Barnato Walker paved the way for them.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Human Interest and History
Diana Barnato Walker has created a lovely mix of historical fact and personal anecdote which makes this an excellent read. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Luscombelady
SPREADING MY WINGS
I wish I could have met this remarkable and brave lady whose obvious charm is on every page. Her account of the AIR TRANSPORT AUXILIARY during WWII leaves you wanting more. Read more
Published on 24 Jan 2010 by Juliana Penn
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