Heartwarming and emotional story of one girl's courage in WW2

by Fenella J Miller

  THE SPITFIRE GIRL

  Fenella J. Miller

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  About this Book

  About the Author

  Table of Contents

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  About The Spitfire Girl

  It’s 1939 and the threat of war hangs over the country…

  Flying instructor Ellie Simpson has grown up a tomboy. She’s never had an interest in the latest fashions or finding a husband, her only passion is flying her beloved Tiger Moth. But when war is declared, she is no longer be able to do what she loves most – fly.

  When Ellie is offered the opportunity to join the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, she jumps at the chance to help keep the brave boys in the RAF safe. But when tragedy strikes close to home, Ellie realises that this war could tearing both the country she loves – and her heart – apart…

  Contents

  Welcome Page

  About The Spitfire Girl

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Acknowledgements

  About Fenella J. Miller

  Become an Aria Addict

  Copyright

  This book is for those brave women who joined the ATA and delivered aircraft all over the country in order to allow the men to fight.

  One

  Essex

  July 1939

  ‘Well, Miss Simpson, what do you think?’ Joseph Cross asked as he pointed to the de Havilland 60 Moth that stood proudly on the worn grass outside the barn that served as a hanger.

  Ellen wanted to hug him but thought he might not appreciate the gesture. ‘I love it. Is it dual control?’

  ‘No, but it has the usual two seats so can take a passenger.’

  ‘Good – I’ve got more than enough pupils to teach. Since the government subsidy last year every Tom, Dick and Harry wants to learn to fly.’

  ‘I hope you don’t expect me to pay you any extra, young lady. I reckon you owe me far more than your wages would have been for all the lessons and hours you’ve spent flying my aircraft over the past five years.’

  She put her hands on her hips. ‘Giving my brothers and me lessons at your Flying Club couldn’t have been as much as the rent you would have had to pay to use my father’s farms and fields.’ He was about to interrupt but she continued. ‘Not forgetting the fact that Dad bought the first aircraft and both Neil and George acted as instructors until they joined the RAF.’

  He scowled but she wasn’t fooled for a minute. ‘The cost of one lesson is usually two pounds – the three of you never paid a penny…’

  ‘Joe, I don’t want to stand here arguing anymore. I want to take her up before it gets too hot. Are you coming with me or can I go solo?’

  ‘Circuits and bumps only, my girl, no flying off into the wild blue yonder. There are three new enquiries to be dealt with in the office – I want you to sort those out this morning.’

  The other aircraft the flying club owned were a Swallow and a Gypsy Moth. Both were fitted with dual controls. Joe had several clients who liked to go up on their own and pootle about until the fuel ran out. This de Havilland had been bought to satisfy those clients.

  Sidney, the ground engineer, and the only other full-time employee, wandered out from the hanger. ‘Nice little machine, Ellie, sweet as a nut. You going to take it up for a spin?’

  ‘If that’s all right with you, I’d love to. I’ll not be long – I just want to get the feel of it for myself.’

  ‘The bloke what brought it said it flies like the Gypsy only a bit faster. You’ll have no problem – you’re a natural. I remember your first solo flight when you were no more than a nipper…’

  Joe poked his head out of the office. ‘No time for reminiscing, Sid, let her get on with it. Just had a bell and we’ve got a new pupil coming in an hour.’

  ‘Sorry, guv, I’ll not hold her up.’

  She collected her helmet and goggles and scrambled into the cockpit. Even though the weather was warm she needed her flying jacket on over her dungarees. It got a bit nippy at a thousand feet above the land. After doing her pre-flight checks she taxied into position on the grass runway and took off.

  An uneventful forty-five minutes later she landed smoothly and headed for the office to catch up with the paperwork. The new pupil, a middle-aged bank manager, decided after a couple of circuits of the field that he didn’t want to learn to fly after all. As they’d only been in the air for a quarter of an hour there was no charge.

  By the time her last pupil left the airfield it was almost six o’clock. Often they had to work until it was too dark to fly, but tonight they’d finished early. Ellen left Sid to lock up and jumped onto her bicycle. At least in the summer Dad didn’t come in for his tea until late so she wouldn’t have missed her meal.

  She pedalled furiously down the track, swerving instinctively around the dips and ruts, covering the mile in record time. She skidded into the yard, sending half a dozen chickens squawking into the air in protest, and tossed her bike against the wall.

  With luck she’d have time to wash before her parents sat down to eat. It had taken Mum months to get used to seeing her only daughter dressed in slacks or dungarees. She might be a farmer’s wife now, but she’d come from a grand family and had very high standards.

  The fact that Mum had been disowned when she’d married a farmer should have softened her but instead, according to Dad, it had made her even more determined to bring her children up as though they were landed gentry and not the children of a farmer.

  After a quick sluice in the scullery Ellie headed to the kitchen – she was about to open the door when she realised the voices she’d heard were coming from the seldom used front parlour. Mum insisted on calling it the drawing room, but no one else did.

  This must mean they had guests. She looked down at her scruffy oil-stained dungarees and wondered if she had time to nip upstairs and put on something more respectable. Unfortunately, her mother must have heard her come in.

  ‘Ellen, you are very late this evening. Had you forgotten Neil has a twenty-four hour pass?’

  She was pretty sure this was the first she’d heard of it but having her oldest brother home was a wonderful surprise. She didn’t stop to think why this meant they were in the parlour, and burst in.

  ‘Hello, little sister, I’ve brought a chum along. Let me introduce you to Gregory Dunlop.’

  Only then did she become aware of the second RAF uniformed young man staring at her with open admiration. He was a bit shorter than Neil, but broader in the shoulders, with corn coloured hair and startlingly blue eyes.

  ‘I’m pleased to meet you, Flying Officer Dunlop.’ She wasn’t sure if she should offer her hand as despite her best efforts it was far from cle
an.

  He stepped closer and held out his and she had no option but to take it. ‘I’ve heard so much about you, Miss Simpson, and have been pestering your brother for an invitation in order to meet you for myself.’

  His grip was firm, his hand smoother than hers – but what caught her attention was his upper crust accent. ‘I’m sorry to appear in my work clothes. If you don’t mind waiting a few more minutes I’ll pop upstairs and change into something more suitable for the occasion.’

  ‘Please, don’t worry on my account. I think you look perfectly splendid just as you are.’

  He seemed reluctant to release her hand but she pulled it away firmly. He was a very attractive man and was obviously interested in her, but she wasn’t looking for a boyfriend.

  ‘Run along, Ellen, you’ve got plenty of time to put on a frock as your father has only just come in himself. We are having a cold collation so nothing will be spoiled by waiting for another quarter of an hour.’

  She smiled at her brother in resignation and he winked. They both knew there was no point in arguing once their mother had made up her mind.

  She met her father in the passageway. ‘Have you got to change as well, Ellie? She told me at lunchtime I’ve got to put on something smart.’

  ‘It must be because of Neil’s friend. He certainly sounds very posh.’ She pushed open her bedroom door and was about to go in when he replied.

  ‘Seems a lot of fuss for nothing but easier to give in than put up with a week of black looks and sour faces.’ He shook his head sadly and went into the room he no longer shared with her mother. Ellie wished her parents had a happier relationship.

  If there was one thing she’d learned, by watching the disintegration of what must once have been a happy union, it was this: Don’t marry for love as it doesn’t last. If she ever took the plunge it would be with a man she respected, liked and who shared her outlook on life.

  Her mother had told her to put on a frock but she rebelled. She didn’t wish to impress their visitor so would come down in what she usually wore – slacks and blouse. The only time she put on a frock was when she was forced to attend church. Most Sundays she had the excuse that she had to work at the airfield.

  She checked her face was oil free and ran a brush through her hair. Satisfied she was presentable she hurried downstairs eager to catch up on Neil’s news. George, her other brother, hadn’t been home since January and she was desperate to hear how he was doing.

  Her mother pursed her lips when Ellie came in. ‘Is your father coming, Ellen?’

  ‘I don’t know, Mum, but I don’t think he’ll be long.’ She joined her brother by the open window, leaving his friend to entertain her mother.

  ‘I wish you wouldn’t deliberately provoke her, Ellie. Why won’t you call her Mother? You know how much she dislikes being called Mum, especially in front of strangers.’

  She shrugged. ‘Whatever she was in the past, now she’s just a farmer’s wife. Have you finished your training?’

  He grinned and pointed to the wings on his uniform. ‘I have, didn’t you see these? George is still in Scotland – seems he pranged a Moth and needs longer up there.’

  ‘He obviously didn’t hurt himself or you wouldn’t be so jolly. Do you know where you’re going to be stationed?’

  Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of her father looking uncomfortable in a collar and tie. After he was introduced to the guest her mother clapped her hands as if wishing to attract the attention of a crowd of children.

  ‘We shall go in to dine now that we are all here.’

  Ellie hid her smile at her mother’s pretentiousness behind her hand. Ham and salad hardly deserved such an introduction.

  When her father mentioned the likelihood of there being a war her mother insisted that this was not a suitable topic of conversation at the dinner table. No one was particularly interested in discussing the weather and an uneasy silence fell.

  ‘We’ve got another aircraft, Dad. I took her up and…’

  Her mother glared at her. ‘I’m sure that Flying Officer Dunlop doesn’t want to hear about your highly unsuitable employment. A young lady should be interested in more feminine things, don’t you agree, Mr Dunlop?’

  The young man nodded solemnly. ‘I’m sure that most girls would prefer to talk about fashion or flowers but your daughter is different. I’ve never met a female pilot before and am most impressed. How many hours solo do you have now, Miss Simpson?’

  ‘Please call me Ellie, everyone else does.’

  ‘And you must call me Greg.’

  ‘Well, Greg, to answer your question, I’ve been flying since I was twelve – six years now – and got my A licence when I was fourteen and my instructor’s certificate when I was sixteen. I’ve logged more than twelve hundred hours now.’

  ‘Good God! That’s a damn sight more than I have.’ He couldn’t fail to hear her mother’s horrified gasp. Instead of being embarrassed he smiled at her. ‘I apologise for my appalling language, Mrs Simpson, I do hope you will forgive me.’

  ‘Apology accepted. I’ll say no more on the matter.’

  He turned to Ellie. ‘I want to hear how you manage in poor weather conditions and hope you will talk to me before we leave tomorrow morning.’

  Before she could answer she was instructed to clear the table and fetch the dessert. Obediently she pushed her chair back and began to collect the plates. When Greg made a move to stand up she shook her head.

  Clearing the table was a woman’s job, as well all the other domestic duties that she did her best to avoid. Pudding was a sherry trifle accompanied by a jug of thick, fresh cream from their dairy herd. She placed the large glass bowl on the tray and put the cream beside it. The ham salad, again all home-grown, had been excellent but this would be even better.

  Murmurs of appreciation ran around the table when they saw what treat was to come. Her mother might be a snob but she was a dab hand in the kitchen, so couldn’t have spent all her time swanning about the place with her nose stuck in the air, attending grand parties and going foxhunting.

  She was about to take her place when the telephone rang. ‘Excuse me, it’s usually for me.’

  ‘Glebe Farm, Ellie Simpson speaking.’

  ‘Thank God – you need to get down here pronto. A silly bugger has gone up in the new kite and he’s still up there,’ Sid told her.

  ‘I’ve got to change first but will get there as soon as I can. Is Joe there?’

  ‘No, he rang to tell me to let this blighter take the new Moth – seems he’s a friend of his or something. I’ll have the Swallow ready for you.’

  ‘Let’s pray he has enough fuel for another hour.’ Ellie dropped the telephone back on the hook and raced upstairs.

  Her clothes were thrown in a heap on the floor and she scrambled into her grubby dungarees. Her brother was waiting at the bottom of the stairs.

  ‘What’s the flap? Can we help?’

  ‘You could drive me to the airfield – I’ll tell you why on the way.’

  As she ran outside a smart MG sports car pulled up. Greg was at the wheel. ‘Hop in, both of you. Ellie, you sit beside me and tell me where to go.’

  This left the tiny backseat for her brother to somehow fold his considerable length into – however, he didn’t argue.

  The car covered the distance in a few minutes, barely time enough for her to explain what had happened.

  Sid had done the pre-flight checks so all she had to do was scramble into the cockpit. The aircraft had no radio so she would have to rely on her excellent eyesight.

  ‘I’ll come with you,’ Greg said. He didn’t wait for her agreement but settled himself into the front seat, the one used by a pilot under instruction, and strapped himself in.

  She would have preferred her brother to accompany her, but it was too late to complain. Every minute counted – the man flying the new Moth must be found and led back to the airfield. If she’d been there she would have checked the pilot�
��s navigational skills and knowledge of the area before allowing him to fly on his own. Apparently, the man said he was going to follow the railway line that led to Clacton-on-Sea and then come back the same way.

  How the hell he had managed to get lost she’d no idea. But being lost was better than having crashed. The take-off was smooth and once she’d ascended to a thousand feet she was able to see the countryside laid out below her like a patchwork quilt.

  Her passenger – co-pilot really – was scanning the landscape the same way that she was. She began to fly over the rail track whilst looking from side to side. She had a bad feeling about this. She opened the throttle and headed towards the east coast. The only place the wretched man could get himself lost was if he’d gone out to sea.

  They made excellent time and completed the forty-mile journey in a little over a quarter of an hour. As long as she could still see the shore she would be able to find her way back. After two fruitless searches which took her as far as Foulness to the north, and Felixstowe in the other direction, she was about to give up when Greg pointed to a speck on the horizon that could have been a bird.

  If she flew close enough to be able to distinguish what it was she would be out of sight of land. He twisted in his seat and cupped his mouth so she could hear what he shouted above the engine and the rush of air.

  ‘Let me fly – I’ve instrument training – we’ll not get lost.’

  She nodded and relinquished her hold on the controls. She leaned out as far as her harness would allow and wished she’d had the forethought to bring binoculars. As they sped towards the circling object the shape became clearer and her spirits soared.

  It was the missing aircraft. As they thundered towards it the pilot saw them and climbed away from the sea. She waved frantically and received a thumbs up from the other aircraft. Greg circled the plane and headed towards safety.

  She prayed he was as proficient at navigation as he’d said as there was nothing but sea in all directions. The setting sun was obscured by low cloud which would have made it even more difficult to find one’s position.