Spitfire Girl (30 page)

Jackie on her beloved motorbike ‘Jill’ in Pretoria. Years later, Jackie would name her first daughter after this bike.

Jackie and Reg pose for the camera in July 1942 during a precious week’s leave spent together.

Jackie poses with fellow Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) pilot Hazel Raines on the wing of a Spitfire. Photo taken at RAF Brize Norton in 1943.

The women of No. 15 Ferry Pool relax in the sunshine between duties.

‘To you darling with love Jackie. March 1943. In the Anson, taken at 2000 ft.’ A photograph sent to Reg during one of many periods of separation.

The full team of No. 15 Ferry Pool, Jackie can be seen to the left of the propeller.

‘I want to see South Africa again before we get married.’ Jackie managed to obtain this work permit in order to see her family again before settling down to married life.

Jackie with her extended family, Matatiele, December 1944. Clockwise from left: Jackie’s Uncle, her youngest brother Eddie, her baby sister Rosemary, Jackie, her mother Veronica, her aunt Mary, two cousins, her brother Laurence and three more cousins. The two sisters (Veronica and Mary) married two brothers, making the family very close.

Jackie and Reg were married on 12 January, 1945 at St George’s Catholic Church in Taunton. Here they are pictured with their bridesmaids, Sally Malthouse (left) and Barbara Gill (right).

Jackie was straight back to work following the wedding. Here she is in her favourite aeroplane, a Spitfire. As she was only 5ft 2in., Jackie always carried a cushion with her in order to reach the controls.

Jackie and Jill, 1949.

Jackie continued to encourage other women to fly. Here she is with the Women’s Junior Air Corps (WJAC) in the early 1950s.

‘Graduation photo, Wings at Wellesbourne!’ Jackie is the only female face in a class full of men – something she was very used to by now. They are posing in front of an Airspeed Oxford.