Nottingham-born Eleanor Wadsworth, who served as one of the RAF’s “Spitfire women” during the conflict, died in December in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk after a short illness. Like many of the pilots, Wadsworth joined the ATA in 1943 after seeing an advertisement for female pilots. Joy Lofthouse joined the ATA with her sister in 1943 and flew aircraft – including Barracuda bombers, Mustang fighters and Spitfires – from factories to the front line. About 165 female and 1,153 male pilots flew planes from factories to the frontlines during the war. Fifteen women died in action.

Source: The Guardian January 10, 2021 17:58 UTC