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Spitfire Girl
'We had returned to a different world. We had taken off in peace at nine-thirty and landed in war at noon.'
Jackie Moggridge was just nineteen when World War Two broke out. Determined to do her bit, she joined the Air Transport Auxiliary. Ferrying aircraft from factory to frontline was dangerous work, but there was also fun, friendship and even love in the air. At last the world was opening up to women... or at least it seemed to be.
From her first flight at fifteen to smuggling Spitfires into Burma, Jackie describes the trials and tribulations, successes and frustrations of her life in the sky.
Jackie Moggridge was just nineteen when World War Two broke out. Determined to do her bit, she joined the Air Transport Auxiliary. Ferrying aircraft from factory to frontline was dangerous work, but there was also fun, friendship and even love in the air. At last the world was opening up to women... or at least it seemed to be.
From her first flight at fifteen to smuggling Spitfires into Burma, Jackie describes the trials and tribulations, successes and frustrations of her life in the sky.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1957
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
January 3, 2016
A remarkable woman, and Spitfire Girl is thoroughly engaging.
December 29, 2014
Dolores Theresa Sorour was born in Pretoria South Africa where she gained her “A” flying license as a very young girl. She chose the name “Jackie” for herself after her hockey-playing heroine Jackie Rissik. At age 17 she was the first woman to do a parachute jump in South Africa.
The author tells about going to England in 1938 to obtain her “B” flying license at the Witney Flying Club in Oxford. At the outbreak of War in September 1939, she was grounded along with all flying cub.
Moggridge tells about joining the WAAF and was based in Rye at a radar Station. At the end of July 1940 the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) was formed and she was one of the first to obtain a transfer to ATA as a pilot. Jackie was stationed at the Hatfield Ferry Pool and was one of the youngest female pilots.
When the ATA closed down at the end of the War in 1945 she married Reg Moggridge, an Army Captain in Taunton, Devon. The airlines reverted to the pre-war prejudices against women pilots. She raised a family until early in the 1950’s when she obtained her Commercial pilots license.
The author tells about obtaining a job in 1954 to ferry surplus Spitfires from Cypress to the Burmese Air Force in Rangoon, Burma. She flew surplus fighter jet to the Indian Air Force. She was the only female pilot and was definitely flying into danger. You must read the book to learn of her adventures. Her two fellow pilots on this contract job were Mike Townsend and Charles Lamerton. They wrote a biography of Jackie, telling in-depth about this adventure. Jackie does not cover this event in much detail. The name of the biography is “A Woman Pilot”.
In 1958 she became the first woman Captain for Channel Airways. She describes this part of her life in a great deal of detail. She died in 2004. Jackie describes the trails and difficulties, success and frustration of her life in the sky in an easy to read manner with lots of humor. If you are interested in the women of early aviation or World War II, you will enjoy this book. I read this as an audio book downloaded from Audible. Jilly Bond narrated the book.
The author tells about going to England in 1938 to obtain her “B” flying license at the Witney Flying Club in Oxford. At the outbreak of War in September 1939, she was grounded along with all flying cub.
Moggridge tells about joining the WAAF and was based in Rye at a radar Station. At the end of July 1940 the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) was formed and she was one of the first to obtain a transfer to ATA as a pilot. Jackie was stationed at the Hatfield Ferry Pool and was one of the youngest female pilots.
When the ATA closed down at the end of the War in 1945 she married Reg Moggridge, an Army Captain in Taunton, Devon. The airlines reverted to the pre-war prejudices against women pilots. She raised a family until early in the 1950’s when she obtained her Commercial pilots license.
The author tells about obtaining a job in 1954 to ferry surplus Spitfires from Cypress to the Burmese Air Force in Rangoon, Burma. She flew surplus fighter jet to the Indian Air Force. She was the only female pilot and was definitely flying into danger. You must read the book to learn of her adventures. Her two fellow pilots on this contract job were Mike Townsend and Charles Lamerton. They wrote a biography of Jackie, telling in-depth about this adventure. Jackie does not cover this event in much detail. The name of the biography is “A Woman Pilot”.
In 1958 she became the first woman Captain for Channel Airways. She describes this part of her life in a great deal of detail. She died in 2004. Jackie describes the trails and difficulties, success and frustration of her life in the sky in an easy to read manner with lots of humor. If you are interested in the women of early aviation or World War II, you will enjoy this book. I read this as an audio book downloaded from Audible. Jilly Bond narrated the book.
August 6, 2014
A really wonderful book about a pioneering woman.
March 13, 2019
This autobiography of renowned and pioneering aviatrix Jackie Moggridge, first published in 1957, takes from her first flight at the age of 15, through escapades such as: being the first woman in South Africa to make a parachute jump; being an aircraft ferry pilot during the Second World War; smuggling spitfires from the new state of Israel to Burma in the early ‘50s, past hostile Arab state territory.
It is a compelling read from beginning to end. The writing is crisp and clear, and amazingly honest and forthright. She talks about overcoming the racial prejudices inherited from her South African upbringing, as well as having to confront her own low-level anti-Semitic opinions when flying with Israelis. She has very astute observations of the English class system, and is never shy about pointing out the frustrating misogyny that she faced time and time again throughout her career.
However, the core of the book is about the joy of flying, and how much satisfaction it gave her on a professional and personal level.
The way she evokes the sense of being part of the military during the Second World War is a tremendous resource, and her recounting of her experiences flying spitfires halfway around the world through extremely difficult conditions after the War is particularly exciting—I am certain that I shall raid her experiences to give my own fiction writing a sense of verisimilitude.
It is a compelling read from beginning to end. The writing is crisp and clear, and amazingly honest and forthright. She talks about overcoming the racial prejudices inherited from her South African upbringing, as well as having to confront her own low-level anti-Semitic opinions when flying with Israelis. She has very astute observations of the English class system, and is never shy about pointing out the frustrating misogyny that she faced time and time again throughout her career.
However, the core of the book is about the joy of flying, and how much satisfaction it gave her on a professional and personal level.
The way she evokes the sense of being part of the military during the Second World War is a tremendous resource, and her recounting of her experiences flying spitfires halfway around the world through extremely difficult conditions after the War is particularly exciting—I am certain that I shall raid her experiences to give my own fiction writing a sense of verisimilitude.
December 27, 2017
I listened to an audiobook of this, and it was interesting. I didn't know that women were flying planes during World War II to transport them to where they were needed. Toward the end of the book I got tired of the plethora of similes.
May 3, 2018
I enjoyed reading the biography of Jackie Moggridge and her experiences as a pilot during and after World War II. There were numerous interesting experiences shared and I learned a lot of about the experience of women as they became the first pilots in the United Kingdom.
I would recommend this book to teens and adults who wish to know more about flying, women's history, and 'classic' airplanes (do they call them classics like they do with cars?).
I would recommend this book to teens and adults who wish to know more about flying, women's history, and 'classic' airplanes (do they call them classics like they do with cars?).
September 30, 2018
I found this an engaging easy book to read. I haven’t read much about ATA so it was good to learn about them. I would like to have read about a few more of her trips to Rangoon & the delivery of aircraft through the war.
February 15, 2021
Spitfire Girl by Jackie Moggridge is the memoir of one brave British girl who upon the outbreak of World War II decided that she wanted to do her part to help out in the war effort. She was just nineteen at that time but had discovered a love of flying since age fifteen and so decided to try joining the Air Transport Auxiliary to ferry warplanes from the factories to the front to free up men to be fighter pilots and bomber pilots. At last the world was opening up to women... or at least it seemed to be. Like many of her sister pilots around the world she used and improved her skills and had visions of exciting work after the war and continuing to fly. For most women that didn't work out as the growing commercial airlines would not hire women or minorities to pilot passenger flights regardless of all of the flight hours they had accumulated helping their country in the military during the war. The author, however, was able to continue working flying and delivering surplus warplanes to countries that bought them, sometimes in violation of laws on sales of war materials. From her first flight at fifteen to smuggling Spitfires into Burma after the war, Jackie describes the trials and tribulations, successes and frustrations of her life in the sky.
July 25, 2020
Spitfire Girl: My Life in the Sky
by Jackie Moggridge
This book records a particularly remarkable piece of British history: almost as important as the suffragette movement in allowing women to become equal to men.
I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir and the manner in which JM recalls her experiences by writing in a no-nonsense way and being quite lyrical in places.
She also manages to portray the quiet determination, which many women of her time displayed, in wishing to become equal to men. It came at an important time in the British history of the Second World War when many men were absent overseas and women were able to show at last that they could indeed do what the men usually did.
What a remarkable woman to have done all she did: ferrying all types of aircraft to so many places in wartime and after.
This is a must-read for anyone interested in the struggles and determination women undertook to dispel the notions that women couldn’t rise to the same heights as men in the aviation sector.
by Jackie Moggridge
This book records a particularly remarkable piece of British history: almost as important as the suffragette movement in allowing women to become equal to men.
I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir and the manner in which JM recalls her experiences by writing in a no-nonsense way and being quite lyrical in places.
She also manages to portray the quiet determination, which many women of her time displayed, in wishing to become equal to men. It came at an important time in the British history of the Second World War when many men were absent overseas and women were able to show at last that they could indeed do what the men usually did.
What a remarkable woman to have done all she did: ferrying all types of aircraft to so many places in wartime and after.
This is a must-read for anyone interested in the struggles and determination women undertook to dispel the notions that women couldn’t rise to the same heights as men in the aviation sector.
November 23, 2023
Engrossing, interesting and a great insight into the female pilots working during WW2. Also into the way women were not allowed to continue to use their skills and experience in peacetime. A record of the times she lived in. Also a woman who put flying before her marriage and family. Something that is now accepted but innovative during her lifetime. She was a most attractive and talented woman but always wanted to be "different", the centre of attention, "special", separate from "the pack" - without this drive she may not have achieved what she did. A very strong woman and undoubtedly a brilliant pilot, intuitive and gifted, a pioneer in a man's world. Today's female pilots and astronauts no doubt owe a lot to Jackie Moggridge's passion, courage and tenacity. Only 4 stars because the style of writing frequently sounded unmusical and the vocabulary jarring, as in unexpected choices.
April 9, 2021
An autobiography by Jackie Moggridge whose primary love was flying. During the second World War she was able to join the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) where she ferried more aircraft than any other ATA pilot. After the war
Well written, she brings out her love of being in the air. More information on the logistics and the aircraft types would have been nice, but it is still an entertaining read.
Well written, she brings out her love of being in the air. More information on the logistics and the aircraft types would have been nice, but it is still an entertaining read.
June 4, 2020
This book was quite interesting at the beginning but I got fed up with it towards the end. I thought it was admirable Jackie Moggridge flew Spitfires in a male dominated world but she seemed dismissive of mundane things such as family life. That’s what put me off her has a person particularly when her husband was very supportive of her continuing to fly after the war.
November 19, 2024
A pleasure to read. Well written book that I didn't want to put down. Jackie Moggridge is a pioneer of aviation for women and I am glad she recorded her stories. I wish she had continued to write on about her later years as they seemed like they were no less fascinating than the earlier years. Would recommend this book thoroughly.
October 8, 2019
Nice and Fun read
I really enjoyed reading this book it was interesting with some funny stories
I think the women of the ATA are owed a big thank you for what they did during the war.
I really enjoyed reading this book it was interesting with some funny stories
I think the women of the ATA are owed a big thank you for what they did during the war.
May 22, 2017
Such an inspirational story ... I am in awe of Jackie Moggridge.
November 14, 2017
A great pilot
Well written with an easy reading style. Jackie told her story without the masses of technical jargon that it would have been so easily used to fill the book.
Well written with an easy reading style. Jackie told her story without the masses of technical jargon that it would have been so easily used to fill the book.
June 23, 2018
A fascinating read
January 22, 2019
Jackie was a gal with a lot of spunk. Her memoir was a easy read. I just wish it hadn't ended with her Burma trip.
July 6, 2019
I love love this story. It’s very well told. Jackie’s story about flying is amazing. Pre- During and Post War. I highly recommend this book.
September 17, 2019
You'll be flying in the cockpit with Jackie Moggridge of the (surprisingly interesting) Air Transport Auxiliary in WW2. She was a peerless pioneer.
February 29, 2020
Good read
Very entertaining, well written memoir by one the early ATA pilots who went on to have an amazing career as a pilot.
Very entertaining, well written memoir by one the early ATA pilots who went on to have an amazing career as a pilot.
May 1, 2021
An audio Biography not bad sketchy in places
May 16, 2021
This was one of those books the cover of which attracts your attention at the library. It could probably be described as an early 'feminist' book. It takes you to a past era easily and enjoyably.
June 5, 2022
Found this book fascinating 😊
September 19, 2022
Amazing autobiography of one of the most celebrated female pilots of WWII. Although she never flew combat missions, she delivered more aircraft between factories and airfields than any other pilot, male of female, during the war. The injustice of how difficult it was for her to get a job flying after the end of hostilities is infuriating and her resilience and determination to keep flying regardless of the odds stacked against her is remarkable.
Once of the best books I've read this eyar.
Once of the best books I've read this eyar.
January 5, 2026
Another amazing woman who was a pilot 👩✈️ before it was even possible. She flew all over the world and her husband stayed home.
April 12, 2015
[Audiobook version]
It's no secret that I'm slightly obsessed with female pilots in general, and with the ATA specifically, so I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. Sadly, it didn't live up to my expectations. I was most interested in Jackie's backstory of how she learnt to fly, as well as her time in the ATA, but I didn't think there were enough details or anecdotes from this section of her life. Over half the book was devoted to this one job she had in the 1950s -- delivering spitfires to Burma -- and it just went on and on and on.
Also -- and this is purely a criticism of the audiobook -- Jilly Bond is... not a great narrator. The accents were really awkward, and she made every man sound like Fezzik from The Princess Bride. I had this vision of Jackie surrounded by hulking great dim-witted trolls who could barely string two words together, when I'm sure in reality the men in her life were perfectly competent and nice people.
It's no secret that I'm slightly obsessed with female pilots in general, and with the ATA specifically, so I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. Sadly, it didn't live up to my expectations. I was most interested in Jackie's backstory of how she learnt to fly, as well as her time in the ATA, but I didn't think there were enough details or anecdotes from this section of her life. Over half the book was devoted to this one job she had in the 1950s -- delivering spitfires to Burma -- and it just went on and on and on.
Also -- and this is purely a criticism of the audiobook -- Jilly Bond is... not a great narrator. The accents were really awkward, and she made every man sound like Fezzik from The Princess Bride. I had this vision of Jackie surrounded by hulking great dim-witted trolls who could barely string two words together, when I'm sure in reality the men in her life were perfectly competent and nice people.
March 16, 2015
An amazing book by an inspirational woman.
Jackie came to England from South Africa in 1939 to further her flying experience and decided to stay and 'do her bit' when war broke out.
The book chronicles her early flying lessons in South Africa, her wartime service in the WAAF and then ATA and also a few flying adventures afterwards.
It saddens me that as soon as the war ended and they were no longer needed, women were pushed back into the kitchen and mostly stayed there for quite a few decades. Thank goodness for pioneers, such as the female Ata pilots who refused to be pigeonholed.
Although Jackie died in 2004, she was an amazingly courageous woman and her legacy lives on.
Jackie came to England from South Africa in 1939 to further her flying experience and decided to stay and 'do her bit' when war broke out.
The book chronicles her early flying lessons in South Africa, her wartime service in the WAAF and then ATA and also a few flying adventures afterwards.
It saddens me that as soon as the war ended and they were no longer needed, women were pushed back into the kitchen and mostly stayed there for quite a few decades. Thank goodness for pioneers, such as the female Ata pilots who refused to be pigeonholed.
Although Jackie died in 2004, she was an amazingly courageous woman and her legacy lives on.
December 21, 2016
Amazing story of determination and grace.
It seems ridiculous now that a female pilot's voice might make passengers scared, but is a graphic indication of the prejudice Jackie experienced. I really enjoyed this aspect of the story as much as the amazing flying. What an amazing woman.
It seems ridiculous now that a female pilot's voice might make passengers scared, but is a graphic indication of the prejudice Jackie experienced. I really enjoyed this aspect of the story as much as the amazing flying. What an amazing woman.
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August 28, 2014review to come, but if you enjoyed Code Name Verity, then I recommend that you read this biography.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews