The mementos of Jackie’s service were loaned by her daughter, Candy Adkins, who is delighted a spotlight is finally shining on the women of the ATA and the WAAF. has done a brilliant job showcasing the work women did during wartime. "One day General Eisenhower paid us a visit and he brought oranges and bananas, which was a real treat. Back at Biggin Hill yesterday for a preview was Ann Galley, 99, of Teddington, SW London, who worked as a WAAF (Women’s Auxiliary Air Force) plotter there during the war.Īnn, who worked at the site between 19, having joined up aged just 18, recalled: “We worked eight-hour shifts round the clock and my job as a plotter was to stand by a large map and map movements using codewords we heard on earphones. Visitors to the exhibition will be able to see Jackie’s uniform, read her logbooks and see photographs of her with some of the 82 types of aircraft she flew.
With an easy camaraderie I waved back, for after all I was, almost, one of them." I landed uneventfully at Ternhill, a fighter squadron base, and climbed out with spurious nonchalance as fighter pilots, sunning on the grass and awaiting the call of battle, waved and wolf-whistled in welcome. "Singing with joy and relief I dived and climbed and spiralled around the broken clouds before turning onto course. Carefully I familiarised myself with the controls as the ground fell away at fantastic speed and felt exhilarated by the eager, sensitive response. "A few seconds later I found myself soaring through the air in a machine that made poetry of flight. I started up inexpertly and felt the power coursing through the Spitfire's frame and registering on the instruments, a little awed but stimulated by the throb of the Merlin engine that seemed to tremble with eagerness to be free in its own element. "I clambered into the cockpit as warily as a rider mounting a highly spirited stallion and sat gazing absently at the instruments.
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