Spitfires

Book Review

Spitfires by Becky Aikman
History | Non-Fiction | WWII

★★★★★

Spitfires by Becky Aikman dives into a group of twenty-five aviators who were denied the right to fly for the US during WWII, and headed to England to join 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 during the Second World War. The planes they flew were often unreliable. Without radios and flight instruments, the weather conditions caused numerous disasters, fatalities, and near misses, but these women continued to bravely jump into unfamiliar cockpits, all for the chance to fly professionally. 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 celebrate these ground-breaking aviators.

I’ve read numerous biographies and fictional accounts of early female pilots (including books featuring WASPs, as well as some fictional stories featuring female ATA pilots), but this was my first non-fiction account of these specific women. Aikman’s writing was excellent, flowing smoothly and capturing my attention throughout. It was detailed and well-researched, and I appreciated the blend between aviation history and personal anecdotes.

While there were a few pilots featured more prominently than others, we got to see the background for many of these women, their motivation for joining 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.

Overall, this book is a soaring narrative of heartbreak and trials, sacrifice and dedication, and a deep love for flight. It was a joy to be introduced to these mesmerizing women. If you love learning about fierce, historical women and incredible aviation history, I would highly recommend stepping into this one!

Also, 𝘈𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪 is my new favourite motto. I need it on a t-shirt!

★★★★★

Recommended for:

Fans of aviation history and those looking for stories about inspiring historical women

This post contains affiliate links; as an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Advance copy of the book provided courtesy of the publisher, Bloomsbury. All opinions expressed are my own.

About the book:

(From the publisher): 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.