Pauline Gower Pioneering Leader Of The Spitfire Women I Alison Hill by Alison Hill 9781803991481, 9780750996822, 1803991488, 075099682X instant download after payment.

Pauline Gower gained her pilot's licence at just 18, she set up the first female run aviation 'joyriding' business in 1931 along with aviation engineer Dorothy 'Dot' Spicer (1908-1946) and took 33 000 passengers 'up for a whirl', in the process of which she clocked up over 2000 logged flying hours in her own personal aircraft. She went on to lead the inaugural women's section of the Air Transport Auxiliary for which she was awarded the MBE during the war in recognition of her leadership and services to Aviation. She also achieved what many considered impossible at that time - equal pay and recognition for all her women pilots. Her work enabled them to fly 'Anything to Anywhere', including most of the major RAF service aircraft in use at that time - from Sunderland flying boats, through to heavy bombers like the Lancaster, or fighters like the Hurricane and Mosquito. But by far their favourite mount was always the Spitfire. 

Determined, diplomatic and always fair, Pauline was a clear leader of her time who was greatly respected by all those who knew her, included among her closest friends were people like Amy Johnson. Tragically both her and Dot died within months of each other after both were married, one in childbirth and the other flying as a passenger on an airliner which crashed while bound for Rio. 

Pauline's life was one of significant achievements and a lasting legacy for all women in aviation which is recognised to this day.

Also includes a list of all female ATA Casualties and the cause of the loss of their aircraft. 

Alison Hill is a freelance editor and poet who is best known for her work 'Sisters in Spitfires' and is a member of the Spitfire Society, the Society of Authors, and an RSA Fellow who resides in Teddington (UK).