Life Story

Joan was born in North Wembley in August 1916. Little is known of

her childhood, but she was employed as a typist in the Air Ministry

prior to the war, winning an award for her short-hand skills in 1936.

The 1939 Register records her as a Civil Servant – Shorthand

Typist and she was living in Chancery Lane, Westminster.

Joan obtained her RAeC licence on 29

March 1937 at Eastbourne

Flying Club, in a DH 60 Gypsy I. She joined the ATA in December

1941 when she was 25, and stayed with them until December 1945.

Her first flight was on 18thJanuary 1942 when she had 61 hours

flight time – 28 solo hours and 33 dual. Initially she flew taxi aircraft

and the delivered trainers. She posted to No 6 FPP at Radcliffe,

Leicestershire on 24

February 1943. From here she delivered 13

spitfires in the following month, plus trainers and light aircraft so she

was kept busy. In April 1943 she attendee t he Advanced Flying

Training School and qualified to fly Class 3 aircraft – light twin

engine. She then qualified for Class-4 heavy twin engine aircraft

such as Wellingtons. Finally in April 1944 she qualified for Class 4+

advanced twin and in May and June 1944 flew her first Mosquito

and Grumman Hellcat respectively.

In September of 1944 an ATC cadet started flying with Joan and his

recollections help us build up a picture of her life. Geoff flew with

Joan 77 times, over half of those in Mosquitos. As Joan was only 5

ft 3, Joan sometimes had difficulties as the planes were designed

for bigger pilots. To combat this, Joan had a collection of cushions