RAF Ferry Pilot Story

[Bill Greenwood]

I have a copy of the story of an ATA pilot, which is written with a lot of detail and a wry sense of humor: example, his first ferry delivery is in an open cockpit Tiger Moth and he writes that he had forgotten how cold that could be and was not dressed warm enough for it, after 2 hours he was just praying the flight to end, much the same as if he was a leg of mutton just waiting for the refrigerator door to open. Once when he asked how to retract the gear in a Lysander he was told that if you hit a low stone wall hard enough the gear will fold up.
ATA is the ferry organization, ie Auxiliary Transport Authority , which ferried all sorts of planes in often bad weather to the RAF bases. It parallels the RAF if not actually part of it.

Free to a good home. If you are a Brit I think you'll enjoy it even more. lots of talk of pubs and British trains, etc.

[Hal Bryan]

Sounds like something I'd LOVE to read, Bill!

[Bill Greenwood]

I can send it to you next week Hal.

[WLIU]

Once Upon A Time At Oshkosh.... A friend introduced me to an elderly gentleman who had been a ferry pilot in europe during WW II. The gentleman had saved the card deck that those pilots were given for ferrying different aircraft. Each oversized card listed the important information and checklist items for jumping into an airplane and delivering it to wherever they were tasked to take it. P-51, C-47, B-25, whatever. They were expected to be able to fly any airplane. Very interesting conversation.

Best of luck,

Wes