When the Civil Air Guard was established in 1938, Ethel joined
immediately and was also an early recruit to the ATA, joining in June
1940. She started flying Tiger Moths and Magisters in convoy
across the UK, and quickly progressed to twin engine aircraft. By
summer 1944 she was qualified to fly four-engine aircraft, although
that took two attempts as the training record shows she had
difficulty initially with the Stirling.
Her husband John had sadly been killed in an accident on active
duty in 1941. During her duties Ethel met and American ATA pilot
Edwin Ballard, and they married in July 1942. In November that
year the couple travelled to America on the Queen Elisabeth.
From 1934 to 1945, Ethel was part of No. 6 Ferry Pilot Pool based
in Ratcliffe, Leicestershire. She was one of only eleven ATA women
cleared to fly four engine aircraft.
She had a very successful career but remained high spirited
throughout, with some disciplinary issues. in June 1942 she was
considered a 'good steady pilot, handling the larger types of aircraft
excellently'. However, she was actually demoted to Second Officer
(for three months) in August 1942, for landing a Mustang in
dangerously bad weather conditions. She was suspended again for
a week in February 1943 for taking off in a Spitfire with the hood
open. Her instructor said she was 'a very high spirited of#cer who
#nds discipline somewhat irksome, and as a result is subject to
occasional outbreaks. However, if handled with a little extra
understanding & consideration these outbreaks are at no time
serious or to the detriment of her work. As a pilot her keenness and
desire to get work done are exceptional'.