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Spitfires : the American women who flew in the face of danger during World War II Cover Image Book

Spitfires : the American women who flew in the face of danger during World War II

American women who flew in the face of danger during World War II (portion title)
Aikman, Becky (author.).

Summary: "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 With cinematic sweep, Becky Aikman follows the stories of nine of the women who served, drawing on unpublished diaries, letters, and records, along with her own interviews, to bring these forgotten heroines fully to life.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"--

Record details

  • ISBN: 9781635576566
  • ISBN: 1635576563
  • ISBN: 9781639739349
  • Physical Description: print
    xv, 345 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 24 cm
  • Publisher: New York : Bloomsbury Publishing, [2025]

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:
Includes bibliographical references (pages 289-333) and index.
Formatted Contents Note:
Prologue -- The North Atlantic passage -- A cobra in a hurricane -- Fly anywhere, anytime -- A foreign legion of the air -- The concrete -- Leftover parts -- The impossible turn -- The whole glorious feast -- Behind the façade -- The legendary Spitfire -- Playing chicken with a violent end -- Coming and going -- The fabled mischief of Ratcliffe Hall -- Her heart is involved -- Stepping up to the upper class -- Invitation from a lady -- Dicing with death -- The drumbeat of fatality -- Eyes wide open -- The bomber boys -- The shock of the familiar -- A parachute of faith -- Grounded -- Flying under a lucky star -- Her future at stake -- The world-shaking day -- Good girl -- Eager for the air -- C'est la vie -- Spinning into a new reality -- What now? -- "The Spitfire brought me home" -- On top of the world -- The look -- Epilogue -- Acknowledgments -- Bibliography -- Notes -- Index.

Search for related items by subject

Subject:
Great Britain. Air Transport Auxiliary History
Women air pilots United States History 20th century
World War, 1939-1945 United States Participation, Female
World War, 1939-1945 Aerial operations, Great Britain
World War, 1939-1945 Campaigns Western Front
Spitfire (Fighter plane) Biography
Genre:
Biographies.
Informational works.

Available copies

  • 36 of 43 copies available at NC Cardinal. (Show)
  • 1 of 1 copy available at Onslow County Public Library.

Holds

  • 1 current hold with 43 total copies.
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Location Call Number / Copy Notes Barcode Shelving Location Status Due Date
Jacksonville Main Library 940.5449 AIK (Text) 36015000742946 Adult Nonfiction Available -
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