Sitting at the window 2

story of an ATA pilot

Sitting in the window 2

12 October 2020

11:11

She was sitting in her window, Watching the world pass by,

Children on their way to school, Ladies setting out for the shops.
People beginning a new day

 

She had her scrap book on the table in front of her, she was about to open it.

 

There was a knock on the door. She heard the key in the lock. It would be her carer  making her first of the days visits,

"How are you today Elaine?

 

"Oh I am fine, I was just going to look through an old scrap book, bringing back memories of times past"

"Would you let me look through with you, I like to hear what my clients have done in the past, but so many rely on their memories, but, sadly! for many the memories have faded over time"

 

Here we are then.

Me at boarding school, it was a convent; the head nun was a tyrant, cane for the least thing, talking, looking out the window at the flowers; still; we got over it.

Daddy got me a job in an office in Westminster, I had to move to London.

 

Hear we are, on a night out with the girls,

We were 'wild' they said; parties and dances.

They used to ask me to some grand balls; As soon as we got thought the door 'will you dance with me Miss Elaine'

Then they took me to the races, meeting the jockeys, trainers and owners,

We went to Silverstone.

Here look me with Achille Varzi and here with the German Rudolf Caraccola, at a car race somwhere;

Now where were the taken? it will come back when you leave;

I had a go at car racing.

I drove at La Mans in the twenty four hour race partnered with Doreen Evans the top British lady driver. Look at these from the magazines.

 

All that stopped when the war broke out
I wanted to do something to help the boys.

I Joined the NAFFI, not many girls could drive in those days.

I had to learn mechanics to see to the engine 

I was given a mobile tea van, serving tea, sandwiches and cakes all over the place.

I was on a fighter station. Church Fenton, between Hull and Leeds; some times the boys only had time for a drink and they had been re-fuelled and re-armed  and they were off again; it was the Battle of Britain, of course we didn't call it that then.

 

Winston  Churchill the Prime Minister came to see them off one day; I asked him for his two pence, one of the officers handed over the two pence "Dont you know who that is? He asked me  "Well the boys have to pay so why cant he"

 

Another officer, a Wing Commander saw what happened

"Are you that racing driver girl?

 "Yes, sir"

"I have a job more suited to you it flying aircraft from the factory to the squadrons, we are short of girl pilots, the boys are needed on the squadrons, they will teach you to fly in one week its the Air Transport Auxiliary ATA,

We flew Spitfires and Hurricanes all over the country

 

One time I was attacked by two German fighters.

Well they didn't get to attack me

Air traffic Control called me;

 

I was going to Biggin Hill with a Spitfire, I had no armaments fitted, they did that at the squadrons.

I just had a radio, the controller said

'You are being approached by two enemy air craft, climb to ten thousand feet, we are sending out two Spitfires to intercept them.

 

A Spitfire pulled along side and waved, he pointed up

There I saw three more Spitfires

I waved back

All I could do was to keep flying towards Biggin Hill; It seemed like hours

 

One of the Spitfire came alongside, he waved and gave the thumbs up

He gave another wave, then moved in front of me, waved his wings, for me to follow

 

He took me right to Biggin Hill He flew over the runway

Leaving it for me to land

I followed the instructions from Air Traffic Control to an hanger

Where I was met by the Station CO; they took me to the Officers mess

That night they gave me a Station Plaque.

That is it on my sideboard

 

After the war I wanted some excitement.

We formed a flying circus

We took that onto the continent France, Italy, Spain, Portugal.

Then got a more steady job as a tour guide.

I moved into the office when the travelling became to tiring.

 

"You have had an exciting life. Has anyone ever offered to write it down and publish it,/ because we could get a writer for you,

I would stay here with you as they worked here"

 

"I dont want my papers to leave me. Can I think about it, it would be nice to leave for my grand children. They like the stories"                 

"Of course you can,: I have to go now, I am going to be late for my next client, see you later"

 

Wild Rose

Oct 2020

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

I loved this story. The ladies of WW2, strong, wild and brave. I liked how she learned many things and she tested life. I liked when she requested the coins. Thank you dear friend for sharing the interesting, wonderful and worthwhile story. I loved every word.
Coyote

[Wild Rose]

Thank you Coyote
I don't think I haver read anything about the ATA

Delivery drivers > just fancy they would be the first person to take the controls
Flying a fighter plane with no armaments

I ahd just been saying to my wife as she was looking out on the world > We have done so much more with our lives than so many other people do

She was complaining "We don't go any where now

Thanks again

[Coyote Poetry]

Hello my dear friend. Great life, needed to be written and you are welcome.

[Crowe]

I thought this was really compelling if a bit sad. After such an amazing life to be sitting alone at a window watching the world slip past

[Wild Rose]

Thank you
There is little known about the ATA except that the existed and what they did
read moreThank you
There is little known about the ATA except that the existed and what they did
All fiction except for the Biggin Hill journey that I picked up from a TV news program
Also many WWII veterans do end life in solitude . maybe a bit immobile, that is where the British Legion comes in > once they know about the person.

[Betty Hermelee]

This woman your client, certainly had an interesting life, especially during the war and after as well ;one she wants to hold near her heart, so that her survivors can read it. Nicely done. Best, Betty

[Wild Rose]

There is hardly anything about the ATA people > All volunteers. The women who I knew from the force were WAAF and were on permanent stations
So the article is purely fictitious, hope that isn't a disappointment > The attack on her way to Biggin Hill I did pick up from a TV news film. The sam article mentioned the ladies past hectic lifestyle

Anyway I am pleased that you liked it - Thanks

[Einstein Noodle]

well done! very believable ... i was certain in closing it would be revealed she is your wife. ;) i have never heard of the ATA nor women's role in Britain during the War. What incredible bravery all showed in the fight. I especially like the Churchill meeting as she charges him 2 pence ... i think he would have insisted anyway. ;) very much enjoyed reading .. thanks Wild One!
E.

[Wild Rose]

I had heard of ATA - son is into Cumbrian aviation history & I have read about them
There is scant information out there USA had a similar group; although it could be the same group with US pilots

The events are entirely fictitious, But who knows

[Just Kim]

Wow! I liked this story, very descriptive, and full of imagery.

[Wild Rose]

Thanks Kym
Entirely fictitious We are locked down
Wife was looking out of the widow onto the empty street > The words just

Last night it came to me she must have been flying Comets and Dakotas into Berlin as part of the Air "Feed Berlin" Air drop

[John the Baptist]

This story interested me because I am currently reading "The Splendid and the Vile," by Erik Larson, which is about the Battle of Britain. Amazing what those British pilots accomplished, but I have yet to read anything about the ATA. I will have to find out more about them. Your story brought Elaine to life.

[Wild Rose]

Thanks _ I will pass on 'The Splendid and the Vile' to my son He is into aviation histrory

My story began as about how pictures etc helps our memory
Elain just came to sit by her window and events developed unlike the story about the Agents and Maurice where the main characters were known to me & the events were true stories. I have no information about the ATA other than they were an aircraft delivery service

[barleygirl]

This is far & away the best story of yours I've read so far! Thanks for read requesting me on this one, especially. You go into great detail that's clear & easy to follow, all the way thru. The amount of descriptive writing is minimal & you focus on the action storyline, so that it's not dragged down a bit anywhere with explanatory tangents. You capture the point of view & mood of a woman in this situation, being the rare woman pilot, but also not making a big deal about it, just being herself with honest & authentic actions & dialogue. This is a spellbinding story! It reads like a true story! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Wild Rose]

Thanks Margie
Rare woman pilot > Well yes Little is known of them, even now - she just came into my mind

I think people doing jobs like that and top athletic stars . Dont feel they are special - they just get on with what they do - But do know others think they are good . great

[barleygirl]

I have flown planes in my 30's, so I was actually FEELING the way it would feel to fly, as I read some parts of this . . .

[Wild Rose]

For my self I have only flown in two planes, One an RAF Anson and a private eight seater; a vast difference from being the pilot (and navigator) of a fighter plane, with no heating > or comforts

We have videos of our sons trips in an ex RAF Jet Provost fighter trainer (2 seater)

[Intothemilkyway]

love how it is11:11 lucky angelic number. also how the story is narrated and the end where she has to think for a min if she wants her story to be told or not.
Really makes you stop for a min and think about everything has happened in life and how short it is and how fast does it go.

[Wild Rose]

Thank you > I have others "Agents (SOE)" & "Maurice"

Both are the story of people I knew > Elaine was/ is a fictional charachter - the ATA - did exist

Elain did not want her precious scrpbook to be taken away - To her the scrap book was her memory store (Like Frank * Enid _ Enid's memory had left her - "Can you take our picture/video - everything they did > The I discovered she could not remember yesterday > She could remember when she saw the pictures
AW Wainwright developed his walking books in the Lake District - for when he couldn't walk the fells any more

[wordman]

great story rose,i enjoyed it

[Wild Rose]

Thanks > This is version 2 > The first I will delete now
I will have to think about the ATA Possibly expand Elain's flight to Biggin Hill - Like I did for the agent

[wordman]

sounds workable

[augustus]

Super stuff. The Battle of Britain in a few well chosen words!

[Wild Rose]

Some people DO have exciting lives, but to them it is just something they do. when they were taking part in the BoB it was just what had to be done at the time
It wasn't until later that the whole story came together