Two sisters who used to fly one of the world’s most iconic aircraft during the Second World War were reunited with each other and the elegant Spitfire during a recent visit to Cotswold Airport.
Joy Lofthouse and her sister Yvonne MacDonald were members of the wartime Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) and, amongst many aircraft they delivered to squadrons and maintenance units, was the Spitfire.
The invaluable worked carried out by the sisters and more than 150 other women who joined the unit, allowed more men to join the RAF to fly operational aircraft, including during the Battle of Britain when the Spitfire played such a pivotal role.
Now, only 15 of the female pilots survive and, although there have been reunions, face-to-face meetings are far from frequent.
Mrs Lofthouse, from Cirencester, remains very well-known on the aviation circuit and is a regular visitor to Cotswold Airport, but her sister emigrated to the United States many years ago and, although they stay in touch, their time in each other’s company is limited.
However, the sisters, who are both in their 80s and attended Cirencester Grammar School, were once again reunited after two years apart, last month, when they took time to view and pose for pictures next to a Spitfire during the recent Battle of Britain airshow at the airport.
Mrs MacDonald, who now lives in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, joined the ATA after her husband was killed during a bombing raid over Berlin in 1943.
She said it was an emotional experience seeing the Spitfire again at Cotswold Airport.
She went on to comment: “It certainly brought back a lot of memories.
“It was a gorgeous aircraft. If ever there was an aircraft designed for a woman to fly, it was the Spitfire – if you breathed on the controls it moved.
“It was nice to come back and see my family.”
The ATA was founded in 1938 and was a civilian unit, which delivered more than 300,000 aircraft of 130 different types from factories to frontline airfields.
By 1945, it had 650 pilots, including 164 women, from 22 countries around the world including Chile, South Africa and the US.
The pilots often flew in terrible weather conditions, such was the demand, and more than 150 crew members lost their lives.
Yvonne said: “There were only eight ladies flying at the start of the war but it soon became like a little foreign legion of the air.”
When Mrs Lofthouse enlisted she hadn’t even driven a car, but by the end of the war she had flown some 18 different types of aircraft, but, like her sister, she agreed that the Spitfire was in a class of its own.
She said: “When I joined I thought it was great that Yvonne and I were doing something together. We applied together, but because we had different names at that stage, they didn’t realise we were sisters and so, we were largely flying from different places.
“It was tremendous to see her again and see the Spitfire. It was very nostalgic and I know she loved it – you don’t see many Spitfires in America.”
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BACKGROUND BRIEF
Royal Air Force Kemble opened in 1938 as part of the RAF’s ‘expansion plan’, which concentrated on training and maintenance bases.
It has been used for aviation activities ever since and was home to the world-famous Red Arrows display team during the 1980s, who were a regular sight in the skies above the south Cotswolds, practicing up to four times a day.
The airport’s current owner, Ronan Harvey
His aim was to maintain the site’s use as an active airfield and safeguard its rich heritage, while at the same time encouraging both local and international businesses to base themselves at Kemble – a move which has created hundreds of jobs in the local community,
Today, the site, which is known as Cotswold Airport and is licenced by the Civil Aviation Authority, is home to dozens of businesses, flying clubs and a thriving restaurant.
The airport stages a host of events, including the hugely popular annual Kemble Airshow, Vintage Flying Weekend, Race for Life, and Mobility Show – the biggest UK show devoted to mobility for the disabled.
In addition, the airport has very strong ties with the local community, offering a flying scholarship scheme to young pilots, engineers and would-be traffic controllers.
The airport also raises thousands of pounds for charities and worthy causes, including the RAF Benevolent Fund.