Francesca Best, my editor at Transworld, has steered this project with the steadiest of hands. Thank you, Francesca, for your unflagging enthusiasm and belief.
At the very start of this journey Kim Read at the Yorkshire Air Museum in Elvington near York helped set me on the right road; Kim, I sincerely hope that you don’t spot too many factual errors here.
Finally, it turns out that many of my friends share my admiration for these amazingly bold and brave ATA women, so special thanks are due to Paul and Carol Withey for chewing the fat with me and providing invaluable pointers in the right direction.
And as ever, thank you Caroline Sheldon for reasons too many to mention.