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Spitfires: The American Women Who Flew in the Face of Danger During World War II
"Lively and entertaining . . . Those fearlessly determined female pilots are the professional forebears of the women who would slowly break down barriers in the U.S. military in the decades that followed . . . And what forebears those women were." -The Washington Post
“A soaring narrative.”-Keith O'Brien, New York Times bestselling author of Fly Girls
The heart-pounding true story of the daring American women who piloted the most dangerous aircraft of World War II through the treacherous skies of Britain.
They were crop dusters and debutantes, college girls and performers in flying circuses-all of them trained as pilots. Because they were women, they were denied the opportunity to fly for their country when the United States entered the Second World War. But Great Britain, desperately fighting for survival, would let anyone-even Americans, even women-transport warplanes. Thus, twenty-five daring young aviators bolted for England in 1942, becoming the first American women to command military aircraft.
In a faraway land, these “spitfires” lived like women decades ahead of their time. Risking their lives in one of the deadliest jobs of the war, they ferried new, barely tested fighters and bombers to air bases and returned shot-up wrecks for repair, never knowing what might go wrong until they were high in the sky. Many ferry pilots died in crashes or made spectacular saves. It was exciting, often terrifying work. The pilots broke new ground off duty as well, shocking their hosts with thoroughly modern behavior.
With cinematic sweep, Becky Aikman follows the stories of nine of the women who served, drawing on unpublished diaries, letters, and records, along with her own interviews, to bring these forgotten heroines fully to life. Spitfires is a vivid, richly detailed account of war, ambition, and a group of remarkable women whose lives were as unconventional as their dreams.
“A soaring narrative.”-Keith O'Brien, New York Times bestselling author of Fly Girls
The heart-pounding true story of the daring American women who piloted the most dangerous aircraft of World War II through the treacherous skies of Britain.
They were crop dusters and debutantes, college girls and performers in flying circuses-all of them trained as pilots. Because they were women, they were denied the opportunity to fly for their country when the United States entered the Second World War. But Great Britain, desperately fighting for survival, would let anyone-even Americans, even women-transport warplanes. Thus, twenty-five daring young aviators bolted for England in 1942, becoming the first American women to command military aircraft.
In a faraway land, these “spitfires” lived like women decades ahead of their time. Risking their lives in one of the deadliest jobs of the war, they ferried new, barely tested fighters and bombers to air bases and returned shot-up wrecks for repair, never knowing what might go wrong until they were high in the sky. Many ferry pilots died in crashes or made spectacular saves. It was exciting, often terrifying work. The pilots broke new ground off duty as well, shocking their hosts with thoroughly modern behavior.
With cinematic sweep, Becky Aikman follows the stories of nine of the women who served, drawing on unpublished diaries, letters, and records, along with her own interviews, to bring these forgotten heroines fully to life. Spitfires is a vivid, richly detailed account of war, ambition, and a group of remarkable women whose lives were as unconventional as their dreams.
358 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 6, 2025
350 people are currently reading
13375 people want to read
About the author
Becky Aikman
5 books80 followersAuthor of Off the Cliff: How the Making of Thelma & Louise Drove Hollywood to the Edge. She also wrote Saturday Night Widows: The Adventures of Six Friends Remaking Their Lives. Becky was a journalist for Business Week and Newsday. She lives in Brooklyn.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 180 reviews
March 15, 2025
There is a wonderful movement right now in history where more books are being published that focus on women's stories. I am always up to read about someone or something which has generally been overlooked. The one issue I have noticed is that some authors will forget to make their subjects human. A tendency towards heroine worship leads to bland books that strip the humanity from people who were complicated and often do not fit neatly into contemporary narratives. Luckily, Becky Aikman does not fall into this trap with her exceptional Spitfires.
The book focuses on American women pilots who ferried aircraft in England at the beginning of World War II. The job was obviously dangerous and these women had to go to England because the U.S. was not allowing women to be pilots in the war effort. Aikman makes two decisions here which make the book such an easy and enjoyable read. First, she doesn't get caught in the minutiae of the war and the planes. She keeps her descriptions short, sweet and gets back to the truly important part of the narrative, the women themselves.
As mentioned, Aikman presents these women as the complex humans they are with warts and all. One is a closeted lesbian whose singular focus makes her hard to engage with. Another is a relentless social climber who refuses to connect with her fellow pilots. One is the quintessential partyer who spends as much time at the bar as she does flying. All of them are also driven at a time when their options were few and their ambition made them stand out for both good and bad. Aikman masterfully juggles many different characters but doesn't overwhelm the reader. It is a delicate balancing act, but she nails it and the book is that much better for it.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Bloomsbury USA.)
The book focuses on American women pilots who ferried aircraft in England at the beginning of World War II. The job was obviously dangerous and these women had to go to England because the U.S. was not allowing women to be pilots in the war effort. Aikman makes two decisions here which make the book such an easy and enjoyable read. First, she doesn't get caught in the minutiae of the war and the planes. She keeps her descriptions short, sweet and gets back to the truly important part of the narrative, the women themselves.
As mentioned, Aikman presents these women as the complex humans they are with warts and all. One is a closeted lesbian whose singular focus makes her hard to engage with. Another is a relentless social climber who refuses to connect with her fellow pilots. One is the quintessential partyer who spends as much time at the bar as she does flying. All of them are also driven at a time when their options were few and their ambition made them stand out for both good and bad. Aikman masterfully juggles many different characters but doesn't overwhelm the reader. It is a delicate balancing act, but she nails it and the book is that much better for it.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Bloomsbury USA.)
August 30, 2025
I found this nonfiction book slow at the beginning, and gradually knew some of the spitfires will bite the dust and some would live a long life with something to talk about. I simply love learning about women who are feminists, often before the word was properly coined or used.
May 30, 2025
Spitfires sheds light on some amazing American women that took to the sky during WWII as part of the Aircraft Transport Auxiliary in Great Britain. Prior to reading this book, I had no idea that women flew during the war. Much of their history has been lost to time and the fact that this occupation was, and is, male dominated. These women had to continually fight to prove they were capable of handling their duties although they had amazing backgrounds. I can’t wait to learn even more about these women.
June 6, 2025
Before I get into my review, I feel like I need to give a bit of background about myself.
I'm a former Air Cadet, and I still work with my old squadron. The Air Cadet Program is a partnership between the Air Cadet League and the Department of National Defense. Many years of ground school aside, I've flown Schweitzer 2-32 and 2-33 gliders, Piper P-140 Cherokees, and Cessna C-172N models. As well, the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum is my other home. I list all this so you can understand why I'm cranky with my review.
The author, bless her, constantly used "spin" and "spiral" interchangeably. No. Big no. They are NOT the same thing. In a spin, the aircraft is in a stalled-state, with the corkscrew maintaining its size and distance. Will a spin kill you? It can, but it'll take a while, and you'll likely be recovered long before you need to worry. A spiral, however, will kill you PDQ if you don't recover quickly. The aircraft will push, and can exceed, its Never Exceed Speed (VNE), and will disintegrate if you're really unlucky while the corkscrew tightens and your speed increases. Of the two, the spiral is more dangerous and deadly than the spin. And now you understand why they are not the same thing, and why reading her describe a spiral but call it a spin is a massive aggravation.
Next, for the love of God, stop calling these beautiful machines ships. They're planes or aircraft, not dirigibles. Referring to an amphibious aircraft as a flying boat is acceptable as it's also meant to spend time on water. A Spitfire or a Hurricane, however, is not a damn airship or an amphib, so quit referring to the aircraft as things that they're not!
Finally, this, unfortunately, makes me question just how well the author actually researched her book, along with the legitimacy of her research. On page 183, she references "High Flight," which is a sonnet of significance to every pilot. She said the writer was Canadian. Wrong. The poet, who was relegated to nothing more than a footnote at the back of the book, was Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee Jr. He was born in Shanghai to AMERICAN parents, but flew in the RCAF during WW2. He was killed in training at 19 years old, not long after writing "High Flight". Thank you for suggesting that he's ours, however, seeing that glaringly obvious error made me wonder just how much else of this book was inaccurate or incorrect. For the record, "High Flight" is basically General Cadet Knowledge Lesson #2 (after the rank structure) for recruits. Not going to lie, I was legitimately offended by how much she disrespected P.O Magee. Read the poem. You'll understand. Also, I'm amazed she never bothered with the Airman's Grace, written by Father John MacGillvary, which is also a big deal for pilots, and is always recited at every important Mess. But she did a FUBAR to Magee, so I shouldn't be surprised that MacGillvary got the shaft.
I also noticed that the book had a ton of issues that were missed by editors. Spelling, double words, incorrect ones (such as "though" when "through" was needed). Perhaps don't cheap out on editing, and make sure the editor actually fact checks. You know, so the screwups are not only caught, but less obvious.
Overall, I'm disappointed with this book. I was so excited to read it, because of my passion for aviation, and also because my degree is in English & Military History. But seeing at least 3 massive in-your-face inaccuracies is problematic. I've given this 3 stars as a benefit-of-the-doubt grade for the depiction of the female pilots, but I'm not confident that they were portrayed accurately either. This book is probably better suited to a 2.5/5.
I'm a former Air Cadet, and I still work with my old squadron. The Air Cadet Program is a partnership between the Air Cadet League and the Department of National Defense. Many years of ground school aside, I've flown Schweitzer 2-32 and 2-33 gliders, Piper P-140 Cherokees, and Cessna C-172N models. As well, the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum is my other home. I list all this so you can understand why I'm cranky with my review.
The author, bless her, constantly used "spin" and "spiral" interchangeably. No. Big no. They are NOT the same thing. In a spin, the aircraft is in a stalled-state, with the corkscrew maintaining its size and distance. Will a spin kill you? It can, but it'll take a while, and you'll likely be recovered long before you need to worry. A spiral, however, will kill you PDQ if you don't recover quickly. The aircraft will push, and can exceed, its Never Exceed Speed (VNE), and will disintegrate if you're really unlucky while the corkscrew tightens and your speed increases. Of the two, the spiral is more dangerous and deadly than the spin. And now you understand why they are not the same thing, and why reading her describe a spiral but call it a spin is a massive aggravation.
Next, for the love of God, stop calling these beautiful machines ships. They're planes or aircraft, not dirigibles. Referring to an amphibious aircraft as a flying boat is acceptable as it's also meant to spend time on water. A Spitfire or a Hurricane, however, is not a damn airship or an amphib, so quit referring to the aircraft as things that they're not!
Finally, this, unfortunately, makes me question just how well the author actually researched her book, along with the legitimacy of her research. On page 183, she references "High Flight," which is a sonnet of significance to every pilot. She said the writer was Canadian. Wrong. The poet, who was relegated to nothing more than a footnote at the back of the book, was Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee Jr. He was born in Shanghai to AMERICAN parents, but flew in the RCAF during WW2. He was killed in training at 19 years old, not long after writing "High Flight". Thank you for suggesting that he's ours, however, seeing that glaringly obvious error made me wonder just how much else of this book was inaccurate or incorrect. For the record, "High Flight" is basically General Cadet Knowledge Lesson #2 (after the rank structure) for recruits. Not going to lie, I was legitimately offended by how much she disrespected P.O Magee. Read the poem. You'll understand. Also, I'm amazed she never bothered with the Airman's Grace, written by Father John MacGillvary, which is also a big deal for pilots, and is always recited at every important Mess. But she did a FUBAR to Magee, so I shouldn't be surprised that MacGillvary got the shaft.
I also noticed that the book had a ton of issues that were missed by editors. Spelling, double words, incorrect ones (such as "though" when "through" was needed). Perhaps don't cheap out on editing, and make sure the editor actually fact checks. You know, so the screwups are not only caught, but less obvious.
Overall, I'm disappointed with this book. I was so excited to read it, because of my passion for aviation, and also because my degree is in English & Military History. But seeing at least 3 massive in-your-face inaccuracies is problematic. I've given this 3 stars as a benefit-of-the-doubt grade for the depiction of the female pilots, but I'm not confident that they were portrayed accurately either. This book is probably better suited to a 2.5/5.
April 21, 2025
A peek into the lives of several women who piloted planes for the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) in Britain during WWII. Women were not permitted to fly for military in USA. A few years into the War, the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP)was formed in the USA… but it was clear to see the woman were not afforded the same luxury as those in the ATA. These women were pioneers before their time— some wanted to further their aviation careers while others wanted to simply support the war efforts. The women were able to fly several planes they never flown before. Women came from all sorts of backgrounds. I was enthralled to hear how some came from nothing and made a name for themselves. The women often struggled with having their career and conforming to societal pressures to have traditional families. Final thoughts: an engaging read from start to finish! Heart wrenching to hear some women learn their loved ones were killed in battle and yet, they leaned into their work to keep going. I liked how the book weaved the story between the woman’s background and the progression of the war. I do still wish Ann would have gotten back with POW Bill… wonder if their love story would have survived had he not been captured. Highly recommend to anyone looking for an insight to the brave women who flew spitfires! #spitfires #beckyaikman #goodreadsgiveaway #goodreads #history #ata #womenpilot #ww2 #highlyrecommended #jillianhereforthebooks
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2025
Spitfires by Becky Aikman dives into the group of 25 aviators who were denied the right to fly for the US during WWII, and so, headed to England to fly for the ATA (Air Transport Auxiliary), becoming the first US women to command military aircraft.
This was a fantastic and in-depth look into the lives of some inspiring and incredibly brave women who refused to take no for an answer and took on the dangerous work of ferrying aircraft, all for the chance to fly.
I've read a lot of biographies on early female pilots, including accounts of the WASPs, as well as some fictional stories featuring female ATA pilots, but this was my non-fiction account of these specific women, and it was fascinating. Whether they recognized it or not, they paved the way for those of us who came along later, and it was an honour to be able to read their stories and remember their lives.
While there were a few pilots featured more prominently than others, we got to see the background for many of these women, what motivated them to join the ATA, as well as their experiences flying during the Second World War. There were quite a few names and individuals to follow along with, but Aikman did a good job briefly recapping when switching back and forth between stories.
This book was engaging, detailed, and well-researched. The writing was excellent, flowing smoothly and capturing my attention throughout. Full of delightful stories and anecdotes about these mesmerizing women, as well as some fascinating aviation history, I would highly recommend diving into this one!
Also, 𝘈𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪 is my new favourite motto. I need it on a t-shirt!
Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing for my gifted copy.
This was a fantastic and in-depth look into the lives of some inspiring and incredibly brave women who refused to take no for an answer and took on the dangerous work of ferrying aircraft, all for the chance to fly.
I've read a lot of biographies on early female pilots, including accounts of the WASPs, as well as some fictional stories featuring female ATA pilots, but this was my non-fiction account of these specific women, and it was fascinating. Whether they recognized it or not, they paved the way for those of us who came along later, and it was an honour to be able to read their stories and remember their lives.
While there were a few pilots featured more prominently than others, we got to see the background for many of these women, what motivated them to join the ATA, as well as their experiences flying during the Second World War. There were quite a few names and individuals to follow along with, but Aikman did a good job briefly recapping when switching back and forth between stories.
This book was engaging, detailed, and well-researched. The writing was excellent, flowing smoothly and capturing my attention throughout. Full of delightful stories and anecdotes about these mesmerizing women, as well as some fascinating aviation history, I would highly recommend diving into this one!
Also, 𝘈𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪 is my new favourite motto. I need it on a t-shirt!
Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing for my gifted copy.
May 18, 2025
I loved these true stories of brave women during WW2. The obstacles and prejudice against women pilots was explained in detail. Many of these women pilots led extraordinary lives during the evenings too, making connections and thinking ahead about what they wanted to pursue after the war.
I’m glad the author included information about how long each one lived and who decided to pursue traditional roles as a wife and who decided to always choose independence.
I’m glad the author included information about how long each one lived and who decided to pursue traditional roles as a wife and who decided to always choose independence.
July 15, 2025
Well-written, readable history of the American women pilots who served in the UK during WWII when the US Air Force refused women as pilots of any aircraft. Individual women are followed for the duration of service - 3 to 4 years, until the war ended and they returned to the US fully qualified to fly twin engine bombers...and the USAF still refused to enlist them. Fascinating details about flights in inclement weather, some that ended in death (reconstructed) while some lived to tell about their near-death flights. Social and living conditions detailed also. Really well done.
May 13, 2025
Leading The Way Ahead
My parents were archetypal … Dad flew bombers in the South Pacific and survived, Mom had a “girl job” as a beautician before and during the war, met Dad, who said “no wife of mine is going to work” so she quit her job. Another cookie-cutter 1950s family was born.
The heroic women in these pages didn’t buy the cookie cutter. They took their flying skill to the desperate UK and set an alternative standard of excellence that helped save the world from fascism and proved women could achieve great things outside the home.
They came up against enemy and friend alike and triumphed.
This book celebrates women who dared to think big and then achieved great things. One must dream it before one can do it. On a recent regional flight on a Boeing 737-800, both flight deck crew were women. It was a smooth flight. Thanks, to those in this book who took the first steps.
This is an interesting and meaningful read.
My parents were archetypal … Dad flew bombers in the South Pacific and survived, Mom had a “girl job” as a beautician before and during the war, met Dad, who said “no wife of mine is going to work” so she quit her job. Another cookie-cutter 1950s family was born.
The heroic women in these pages didn’t buy the cookie cutter. They took their flying skill to the desperate UK and set an alternative standard of excellence that helped save the world from fascism and proved women could achieve great things outside the home.
They came up against enemy and friend alike and triumphed.
This book celebrates women who dared to think big and then achieved great things. One must dream it before one can do it. On a recent regional flight on a Boeing 737-800, both flight deck crew were women. It was a smooth flight. Thanks, to those in this book who took the first steps.
This is an interesting and meaningful read.
July 6, 2025
A comprehensive telling of the lives of some of the 25 American women who flew as ferry pilots for the Brits during WWII-the ATA- Air Transport Auxiliary. They were denied the opportunity in the US. Eventually the USA created the WASP- Women Airforce Service Pilots but it was a an organization with very limited opportunity and control that couldn't match the ATA in pay, duty, and airframe access. The ATA received equal pay- a first as well as flying dozens of aircraft. Often times the pilot would have no introduction to a plane until her first flight in it!
With so many women's lives being told it got a little confusing keeping track of them. Some real characters and very diverse backgrounds (there were black women pilots but they were denied service in ATA and WASP) but all loved to fly and wanted to be free from the expectations and obligations society forced on them. They were truly free in the air and in the UK.
With so many women's lives being told it got a little confusing keeping track of them. Some real characters and very diverse backgrounds (there were black women pilots but they were denied service in ATA and WASP) but all loved to fly and wanted to be free from the expectations and obligations society forced on them. They were truly free in the air and in the UK.
May 29, 2025
Thank you to LibroFM, Bloomsbury Publishing, and Becky Aikman for the ALC!
Centralizing women’s stories in history 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 I loved getting to hear about the groundbreaking that these women did in the aviation and military industries. This was so easy to listen to - the narrator spoke their stories perfectly, and the author wrote them in such an easy to understand and enjoyable way. The only thing is that this story felt like it was 7 years long. I would easily read a sequel, but for some reason, some books just feel long. I don’t regret it and would listen again, just buckle in!
Centralizing women’s stories in history 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 I loved getting to hear about the groundbreaking that these women did in the aviation and military industries. This was so easy to listen to - the narrator spoke their stories perfectly, and the author wrote them in such an easy to understand and enjoyable way. The only thing is that this story felt like it was 7 years long. I would easily read a sequel, but for some reason, some books just feel long. I don’t regret it and would listen again, just buckle in!
September 29, 2025
An amazing read!
Can’t say enough about this awesome real life history of these amazing women. Thank you for your service ladies!
My Dad was a B-17 Flying Fortress Radio Gunner at 19. He kept diaries of his time in WWII, MIA twice and POW once. His sister kept all of the Stars and Stripes newspapers that he sent home and created a scrapbook of the local and world news. I share his story through DAR/SAR and Genealogy Societies. Read this book with a DAR Book Club Group. Thank you so much for sharing the lives of these amazing women!
Can’t say enough about this awesome real life history of these amazing women. Thank you for your service ladies!
My Dad was a B-17 Flying Fortress Radio Gunner at 19. He kept diaries of his time in WWII, MIA twice and POW once. His sister kept all of the Stars and Stripes newspapers that he sent home and created a scrapbook of the local and world news. I share his story through DAR/SAR and Genealogy Societies. Read this book with a DAR Book Club Group. Thank you so much for sharing the lives of these amazing women!
September 10, 2025
This is a much needed and well written account of the women who flew in WWII to relocate aircraft mostly within Great Britain. The focus is on American fliers from the United States who were not allowed to fly as part of the US military but were welcomed in England.
Well done. Well researched. Highly recommended.
Well done. Well researched. Highly recommended.
June 10, 2025
Thorough research underlies the stories of American women who volunteered to ferry aircraft in England in the early days of World War II. A slowly-expanding group of them, some 25 at its peak, flew a staggering number of aircraft types, often taking them up into the air with only the barest study of a short set of cheat notes they had developed among themselves to familiarize them with a new aircraft. The post-war boom in commercial aviation largely left them out, despite their thousands of hours of experience, but they persevered.
August 12, 2025
This is a Non-Fiction book. I read this book by listening to audiobook. I really enjoyed reading this book, and I love getting to know the girls in this book. I loved the little bit of WWII that was in this book.
June 2, 2025
What these women did is insane. And I never would have known if it weren’t for this book.
August 29, 2025
4.5. A bit on the Long side but very interesting. I never knew about the spitfire women!
October 15, 2025
Fantastic book about remarkable women.
October 16, 2025
Absolutely incredible true storie(s) of the women who courageously flew for America in WWII- against all odds, safety precautions (or lack there of), and discrimination. Rich in history, heroism and a bit of girly gossip and drama.
October 26, 2025
The women of the ATA were different breed. They had no fear in the air and very little respect for convention when on the ground.
May 2, 2025
A strong, well-written, engaging history.
This was an ARC
This was an ARC
June 12, 2025
A wonderful collection of World War II history that is often overlooked. Highlights the unique individuals and their experiences in the midst of professional and personal trials.
August 2, 2025
I loved this book about the 25 women fliers in World War 2 who risked their lives for their country. If you like women's history you will definitely like this book! Non-Fiction
June 1, 2025
An important and often inspirational recount of some really kick-ass women. The non fictional approach just doesn’t engage me as much as other narrative styles.
June 6, 2025
I gave 2 stars more because I felt misled into reading it, otherwise I would give it 3 stars. I grew up in McKeesport hearing about Helen Richey. The Pittsburgh Post Gazette ran a review about this book called "The Flying Woman of McKeesport" highlighting Helen Richey of McKeesport, leading me to believe she'd be a bigger part of the book. 3 accidents and she was let go from the program...that was pretty much it. Her part in the book only amounted to several sentences.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2025
Sometimes I forget how much men just... deeply hate women for no reason and then I read a book like this and get angry all over again. Anyway, a good book about a marvelous group of women-- vibrant human beings-- doing a cool thing. Underrepresented and underappreciated. Always a good book topic. Also, the pictures at the end gave me some big emotions.
That being said, most of my praise for this book comes from that. Like, the book is legible. But really, from a book standpoint, its just okay. Its very flighty (pardon the pun). We hop from one person to another to another pretty rapidly. Theres not a lot of narrative form continuity. If youre the type to get lost or overwhelmed, I recommend a bullet point list to remember whos who and who did what when. There were times when the book itself unfortunately did just feel like an extremely long, flowery list of things and it felt more like a slog to just keep reading the list as the author "checked them off". Its hard to explain but I thing somebodies gonna understand what im saying.
I mean, you'll probably enjoy it at lot more if you're *into* planes but I know nothing about planes and it was fine (Googling pictures did help but wasnt like. Required to understand and appreciate the book).
In general, its a fine, legible book about interesting people. Sometimes reading felt like a chore but I have a general appreciation for the concept and appreciate the style and language of the writing itself.
That being said, most of my praise for this book comes from that. Like, the book is legible. But really, from a book standpoint, its just okay. Its very flighty (pardon the pun). We hop from one person to another to another pretty rapidly. Theres not a lot of narrative form continuity. If youre the type to get lost or overwhelmed, I recommend a bullet point list to remember whos who and who did what when. There were times when the book itself unfortunately did just feel like an extremely long, flowery list of things and it felt more like a slog to just keep reading the list as the author "checked them off". Its hard to explain but I thing somebodies gonna understand what im saying.
I mean, you'll probably enjoy it at lot more if you're *into* planes but I know nothing about planes and it was fine (Googling pictures did help but wasnt like. Required to understand and appreciate the book).
In general, its a fine, legible book about interesting people. Sometimes reading felt like a chore but I have a general appreciation for the concept and appreciate the style and language of the writing itself.
July 25, 2025
As often happens, I wish I had a crack at editing this. There are goofs that should have been caught as far as language and grammar, as well as a couple of minor but significant factual errors. Pack them all together and you have a featherweight compared to the heft of the material presented here.
It all started, as usual, with a bunch of small, mean, ignorant white men who willfully refused to recognise that women could fly airplanes. These men were in charge; were piddling around domestic fronts; were normal, average, everyday Americans. Such creatures still crawl our landscape, waving flags printed with fear and ignorance. Sadly, the efforts of the women described here have not only been obliterated by men, they have been denigrated by women. We have great aspirations betrayed by our pettiness.
Sending war planes out from an airfield to fight or bomb the enemy requires many things, most importantly flyers (until the recent drone enthusiasm) and secondly, airplanes. We won WWII because the American labor system built planes, tanks, ships and everything else needed for war. But wait. There is a gap. While the factory can produce a plane and the airfield can send it forth to fight, how does the plane get from the factory to the field?
The answer is air transport pilots. For the first few years of the Second World War, the air transport command existed in Britain, where the war was being fought without the involvement of the United States. But a handful of American flyers saw a chance to fly and a need for their expertise. They volunteered to participate in the dangerous, vital work of getting planes from factories and repair depots to where the fighters could use them.
Atogether, it was not a simple as that. But in a world where a majority of American citizens are as ignorant as newborn babies, one needs to explain everything and to do so in simple terms.
Ms. Aikman does a stupendous job marshalling facts, presenting bios, pacing her narrative, writing her paragraphs, and hooking the reader's interest through 300 pages. She makes a difficult job appear easy. Kudos to her for the book and for the monument it makes to a group of peerless women.
Highly Recommended.
It all started, as usual, with a bunch of small, mean, ignorant white men who willfully refused to recognise that women could fly airplanes. These men were in charge; were piddling around domestic fronts; were normal, average, everyday Americans. Such creatures still crawl our landscape, waving flags printed with fear and ignorance. Sadly, the efforts of the women described here have not only been obliterated by men, they have been denigrated by women. We have great aspirations betrayed by our pettiness.
Sending war planes out from an airfield to fight or bomb the enemy requires many things, most importantly flyers (until the recent drone enthusiasm) and secondly, airplanes. We won WWII because the American labor system built planes, tanks, ships and everything else needed for war. But wait. There is a gap. While the factory can produce a plane and the airfield can send it forth to fight, how does the plane get from the factory to the field?
The answer is air transport pilots. For the first few years of the Second World War, the air transport command existed in Britain, where the war was being fought without the involvement of the United States. But a handful of American flyers saw a chance to fly and a need for their expertise. They volunteered to participate in the dangerous, vital work of getting planes from factories and repair depots to where the fighters could use them.
Atogether, it was not a simple as that. But in a world where a majority of American citizens are as ignorant as newborn babies, one needs to explain everything and to do so in simple terms.
Ms. Aikman does a stupendous job marshalling facts, presenting bios, pacing her narrative, writing her paragraphs, and hooking the reader's interest through 300 pages. She makes a difficult job appear easy. Kudos to her for the book and for the monument it makes to a group of peerless women.
Highly Recommended.
May 5, 2025
Rating: 4/5
Tropes/themes: historical nonfiction, World War 2, female pilots
This book is about the women (American and British) who flew as pilots in Europe during World War 2. In the 1940s women were still mainly wives, mothers, or secretaries. England needed pilots to ferry aircraft to bases as needed for the war effort. Very few women had enough flight experience to qualify, but some had flight hours accrued through crop dusting, flight school training and teaching, joy riding, or flight acrobatics during air shows. These women with adequate flight hours were sent to England via ship (braving the torpedoes from German subs) to the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) base. At the base, the women were put into classes learning about upwards of 60+ different aircraft in preparation for delivering all planes where they were most needed for the war effort. Sometimes with only a small booklet for reference, most of the time with no navigation. As the women were cleared to fly certain classes of planes, they would advance to more difficult aircraft, and there was often heavy competition amongst the women for who would advance faster.
The book follows the women on their journey to the ATA and their time as pilots during the war. Some of the women networked, dabbled in politics, many had affairs, married other service members, lost a partner and grieved. Many learned to fly multiple types and classes of planes with no navigation systems. Some learned upwards of 60+ planes. Many had to turn back from their deliveries due to bad weather. Accidents and even death were common, and even expected, making this task a huge risk!
Aikman did a great job weaving stories together to make one cohesive novel. With good pacing and dates included to help the reader understand the passage of time in the novel, this book flew (no pun intended). Much of the information was news to me, and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read it and learn about these mavericks! Such inspiring and amazing women!
Tropes/themes: historical nonfiction, World War 2, female pilots
This book is about the women (American and British) who flew as pilots in Europe during World War 2. In the 1940s women were still mainly wives, mothers, or secretaries. England needed pilots to ferry aircraft to bases as needed for the war effort. Very few women had enough flight experience to qualify, but some had flight hours accrued through crop dusting, flight school training and teaching, joy riding, or flight acrobatics during air shows. These women with adequate flight hours were sent to England via ship (braving the torpedoes from German subs) to the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) base. At the base, the women were put into classes learning about upwards of 60+ different aircraft in preparation for delivering all planes where they were most needed for the war effort. Sometimes with only a small booklet for reference, most of the time with no navigation. As the women were cleared to fly certain classes of planes, they would advance to more difficult aircraft, and there was often heavy competition amongst the women for who would advance faster.
The book follows the women on their journey to the ATA and their time as pilots during the war. Some of the women networked, dabbled in politics, many had affairs, married other service members, lost a partner and grieved. Many learned to fly multiple types and classes of planes with no navigation systems. Some learned upwards of 60+ planes. Many had to turn back from their deliveries due to bad weather. Accidents and even death were common, and even expected, making this task a huge risk!
Aikman did a great job weaving stories together to make one cohesive novel. With good pacing and dates included to help the reader understand the passage of time in the novel, this book flew (no pun intended). Much of the information was news to me, and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read it and learn about these mavericks! Such inspiring and amazing women!
May 28, 2025
Becky Aikman’s “Spitfires: The American Women Who Flew in the Face of Danger During World War II” is a riveting and overdue chronicle of bravery, ambition, and defiance. Aikman brings to light the little-known saga of the American women who, denied the chance to fly for their own country, crossed the Atlantic to serve Britain’s Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) during its darkest days. Aikman’s research is both meticulous and empathetic. Drawing on unpublished diaries, letters, and interviews—including with the last surviving pilot—she reconstructs the lives of nine remarkable women who risked everything to ferry new, often barely tested, fighters and bombers across the treacherous skies of wartime Britain. These women—crop dusters, debutantes, college students, and flying circus performers—shared a passion for flight and a determination to break free from the constraints of gender roles. Their work was perilous: one in seven ATA pilots died in crashes, and the job demanded not only technical skill but also extraordinary courage and adaptability. Aikman excels at immersing readers in the texture of these women’s lives, both in the cockpit and off duty. She doesn’t shy away from the tension and competition among the pilots, nor from the culture shock they caused in Britain with their modern attitudes and independence. The narrative is cinematic in its sweep, but never loses sight of the personal: we see these “Atta-Girls” not as a monolithic sisterhood, but as individuals with distinct motivations, flaws, and dreams. What sets “Spitfires” apart is its dual achievement: it fills a glaring gap in World War II historiography and restores these aviators to their rightful place in the story of American heroism. Aikman’s prose is vivid and propulsive, making the technical details of aviation accessible while capturing the exhilaration and terror of flight. Ultimately, “Spitfires” is not just a tale of war, but of women who, decades ahead of their time, seized the sky—and changed history.
October 9, 2025
Actual rating: 3.5 stars.
A well-written and -researched history of the British Air Transport Auxiliary program of WWII, and the 25 American women who flew for it. Among the most experienced and highly-regarded American women pilots of the 1930s and 40s, these women were recruited by the British to join fellow women aviators from allied nations to ferry fighters and bombers from British factories to front-line RAF bases. The women, like their male counterparts, were a diverse group. All were good at their craft (though there were plenty of accidents), though some, off-duty, lived on the edge, and the author pulls no punches describing their lives in wartime England.
Though presented sympathetically and honestly, with details from their on- and off-duty lives in the ATA, none of the Spitfires Becky Altman writes about quite come alive on the page. That is the only demerit I give the book.
My interest comes from my own experience and knowledge of women military pilots in the U.S. Air Force — I was a flight instructor in Air Training Command in the mid-1970s when the first small group of women pilot candidates entered training, the first women to go through flying training in the military since the WASP pilots of WWII (the woman pilots of the British ATA program, the subjects of this book, came out of the world of civil aviation). Later, as a fighter pilot myself, I was around in the 1990s when the first few women were admitted to fighters and bombers. On my blog, I've written a few posts about my encounters with this rare breed (even today, women make up less than 4% of the USAF fighter/bomber pilot force) and their experiences. Naturally, my interest encompasses the pioneering women who came before them; notably Becky Altman's Spitfires of the wartime ATA program (and the later WASP program of the U.S. Army Air Corps).
No spoilers, so I won't mention the book's big reveal about Jacqueline Cochran. She was a force, though, and that cannot be denied. Her presence in these pages make for a page-turning read.
A well-written and -researched history of the British Air Transport Auxiliary program of WWII, and the 25 American women who flew for it. Among the most experienced and highly-regarded American women pilots of the 1930s and 40s, these women were recruited by the British to join fellow women aviators from allied nations to ferry fighters and bombers from British factories to front-line RAF bases. The women, like their male counterparts, were a diverse group. All were good at their craft (though there were plenty of accidents), though some, off-duty, lived on the edge, and the author pulls no punches describing their lives in wartime England.
Though presented sympathetically and honestly, with details from their on- and off-duty lives in the ATA, none of the Spitfires Becky Altman writes about quite come alive on the page. That is the only demerit I give the book.
My interest comes from my own experience and knowledge of women military pilots in the U.S. Air Force — I was a flight instructor in Air Training Command in the mid-1970s when the first small group of women pilot candidates entered training, the first women to go through flying training in the military since the WASP pilots of WWII (the woman pilots of the British ATA program, the subjects of this book, came out of the world of civil aviation). Later, as a fighter pilot myself, I was around in the 1990s when the first few women were admitted to fighters and bombers. On my blog, I've written a few posts about my encounters with this rare breed (even today, women make up less than 4% of the USAF fighter/bomber pilot force) and their experiences. Naturally, my interest encompasses the pioneering women who came before them; notably Becky Altman's Spitfires of the wartime ATA program (and the later WASP program of the U.S. Army Air Corps).
No spoilers, so I won't mention the book's big reveal about Jacqueline Cochran. She was a force, though, and that cannot be denied. Her presence in these pages make for a page-turning read.
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