Customer Reviews
Unmissable for anyone interested in aviation history - By: Andrew R. Spark, 14 Oct 2008 
This is one of the most fascinating stories I have read this year, no it's not highly technical (There are many technical Tours de Force on the Spitfire). Instead it concentrates on the politics & personalities surrounding the remarkable decision to allow women to fly combat aircraftin WW2, & the uniquely challenging conditions under which they did so, traveling from as far away as South Africa & Chile.
It also contains some superbly evocative photographs. (Even though the front cover shows not just a Spitfire & a Hurricane but an ME109! (Actually, it's a Spanish built HA-112, with a Spitfire engine!)
Page-turner of a read and fascinating - By: Art, 29 Aug 2008 By coincidence I'd just read Diana Barnato Walker's autobiography when I came across this book. Very much enjoyed the additional insights from other pilots & also it helped that the author was also able to put thingsin historical context. I found the book a real "page-turner" & full of amusing stories & gossip.
I enjoyed reading it even more than I did DBW's own account & also Jeffrey Quill's & Alex Henshaw's biographies which I also readin the past few months.
spitfire - By: G. I. Forbes, 10 Aug 2008 
Thisbook is good as far as it goes but it dosnt go nearly far enough.164 women from allover the world joined theAir Transport Auxillary to fly fighters & bomers that were unarmed & without radio control.139 survived the war & 15 died flying. Nomention is made of the other 10. Fifteen ssrvivors were interviewed while the remainder of the book seems to deal with material from other publications. It is noted thecImperial War Museums archives were searched but not the RAFs.The book should have a line listing of all the women with their flying details & final outcome.
Not one for the flying enthusiast - By: Peter Miller, 22 Jul 2008 Lots of family history & background, lots of politics, lots of the social line & back stabbing & bitching. Almost no flying.
If you want to read about flying activity don't buy this book.
Rebuttal! - By: Lulu 70, 06 May 2008 No idea what these bad reviews are about - I found the book absolutely fascinating, well-researched & engagingly written. Nothing can take away from the sheer guts these women had, & the book inadvertently gives a vivid picture of just how much death permeated everyday life during the War: colleagues, friends, loved ones - & one's self, of course - could cease to exist at any moment, frequently quite horribly. It very eloquently shows women living under such terrific strain while behaving with almost incomprehensible braveryin fulfilling their own missions.
