A Flight of Golden Wings

by Beryl Matthews

Ruth Aspinall is a committed member of the Air Transport Auxiliary. When she meets handsome American Jack Nelson she soon falls in love, but cautious Jack cant commit. And when he goes missing in action, heartbroken Ruth must accept that the love of her life may never return.

Genres: Historical Fiction

250 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2007

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

A novel about some of the women who were pilots in the Air Transport Auxiliary in England during WWII.
Ruth Aspinall’s older brother was killed in a car crash and her family are devastated. He loved flying and Ruth decides that is what she wants to do too. Her father is a wealthy lawyer and she has lived a charmed life but when she tells her parents she wants to take flying lessons they are supportive. There is a lot of unrest in Europe and soon England and Germany are at war. Simon, Ruth’s flight instructor joins the ATA and tells Ruth he believes they will soon be looking for female pilots to help fly different planes from one airfield to another. There simply aren’t enough men to meet the need.
Jack Nielsen is an American pilot who decides to travel to England to help the country and joins the ATA as well. There, he meets Ruth.
The story gives an idea of the important role those pilots had.
I enjoyed the book but there were a few glaring errors. A comment about one of the American pilots travelling by train from Montreal to Newfoundland to go on board a ship heading for England had me doing a double take. Newfoundland is an island and the ferry trip from the tip of Cape Breton Island at the north end of Nova Scotia is a 14 hour trip to Newfoundland. No trains cross that body of water. The trains go from Montreal, Quebec to Halifax, Nova Scotia and that is where all the ships sailed from in WWII. Still, an enjoyable book.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent read, showing how civilian pilots, some from Canada and America, joined the ATA and ferried planes around Britain. Men and women both were needed. The hardships, wearying work, and stresses are demonstrated. Occasionally pilots were lost. They were subject to rationing. Mostly they brought planes from factories to airfields, and some might not have radios fitted yet. In one case they had to evacuate an airbase full of planes, because it was in the path of the flying bombs.
The fictional characters add romances and friendships to the mix.
I enjoyed the book and found it full of detail but a smooth read. I read a paperback. This is an unbiased review.

[Rosemary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've yet to read a Beryl Matthews story that I don't like. She has way of creating characters that are real and that you want to get behind. The four main protagonists of the story were believable young people trying to do their own bit for the war effort and not let life get them down. The happy ending was in keeping with the events of the novel and a true sense of the war time spirit was reflected throughout the story, even down to the local pub landlord taking care of 'his pilots' at the end.

[GABRIEL LOMBARDO · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great band poignant story of ATA during WWII

Enjoyed meeting the ladies and gentlemen of the ATA . Following their heartfelt adventures during the beginning of the war in England until the end of the ATA.

[Sylvia preston · Rating 5 out of 5]

The greatest flying generation

Wonderful book. Everyone should read it. The greatest generation that ever lived! My dad was I the Army and so were my uncles, and those were not I. Uniforms were doing something for the war effort.

[Samantha Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story.
I loved how the era was set.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved reading this! Interesting to learn about the ATA this way, I didn't know it existed before reading this book.

[June Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story sheds well-deserved light on the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA), a World War II civilian organisation based at White Waltham Airfield in England. These pilots – from several nations, including the U.S. – flew ferry missions and mail and ambulance flights, thus freeing Royal Air Force pilots for combat duty. ATA pilots included women who were paid the same as male pilots; in fact, a woman was the first ATA pilot to die in service, so it is realistic that some of the book's characters die in action.

Matthews does a good job of describing the ATA's work and life in England during the war (Matthews grew up during the war), but the writing style is at the level of young adult. I'd even say it was suitable for elementary school children except for the few non-explicit paragraphs about characters having sex.

Still, I'm glad I read the book. I enjoyed learning about the ATA, and I congratulate the former tea-girl for becoming a published author at the age of 70.

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another easy read by Beryl Matthews. The Second World War has begun and Ruth a top pilot joins the Air Transport Auxillary. In the USA Jack and Lucy Nelson also want to join. Jack comes to the UK to White Waltham where he bumps into Ruth spilling drink on her and annoying her in the process. Ruth realises that she is in love with Jack but the war makes it difficult for any future plans to be made and Jack is not making any plans or declarations of love. As the war is changing course Jack gets lost in France while delivering a plane.
Again I really enjoyed this one and would recommend it as a light easy read.

[TheIron Paw · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a novel, this book comes up a little short. The characters are rather stock and the plot is routine romance. (It is classified as a "romance" by the library). There is value in this novel however in the setting: the Air Transport Auxiliary during World War II. From what little knowledge I do have of the ATA the author appears to have provide a decently accurate description of the growth and role of that organization and the role that female pilots played in it.

[Psammead · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book.. liked learning about the ATA and what they did during the war.