🇬🇧 WWII uncovered: Pauline Gower Fahie: Founder of the Women's Section of the Air Transport Auxiliary.

 🇬🇧 WWII uncovered: Pauline Gower Fahie: Founder of the Women's Section of the Air Transport Auxiliary.


On 4 August 1930 Pauline Gower was the third woman in the world to obtain her commercial pilot's 'B' licence.

According to the Imperial War Museum: "By 1938 Pauline Gower was a much respected figure in aviation circles, not only had she flown more than 2,000 hours and carried upward of 30,000 passengers, but had been given many honours, including an MBE and appointment to several commissions into air safety.

 She was Commissioner of the Civil Air Guard, and was appointed to the board of the British Overseas Airways Corporation."

"The first eight female pilots of the ATA were recruited in late 1939 by Commander Pauline Gower MBE, who had been given the task of organizing and training the womens' section of the ATA. 

Eventually there were 166 women pilots who served in the ATA many of which hailed from overseas.

 During the war, 15 of the female pilots lost their lives including Amy Johnson aviatrix and pioneering pilot. Amy's husband Jim Mollinson also served as an ATA pilot.

 Female ATA pilots at first were only allowed to fly light training aircraft, but soon, as a result of Pauline Gower's initiative, progressed to high performance fighters, Spitfire, Hurricane, Typhoon etc, and then later to the medium twin engined bombers, and later still the heavy four engined bombers Halifax, Stirling, Lancaster. 

They flew everything but sea planes.ATA female pilots were later given equal pay, by a grateful British Government, one of the first examples of equal pay." (IWM)

"On 1 January 1940, the ATA accepted the "First Eight" into service: Winifred Crossley, Margaret Cunnison, Margaret Fairweather, Mona Friedlander, Joan Hughes (the youngest, at 21), Gabrielle Patterson, Rosemary Rees, and Marion Wilberforce.

 All these women were highly experienced, each having more than 600 hours of flying time, and seven were rated flying instructors. Pauline, at 29, was younger than most of the women she commanded.

 Yet she was a natural leader, and capably shouldered the responsibilities of her office." (Women in Aviation)

Pauline Gower married Wing Commander Bill Fahie in 1945. Pauline died during childbirth on 2 March 1947 at the age of 36 years old.

 She lies in rest at Kent and Sussex Cemetery in Tunbridge Wells Borough, Kent. Lest We Forget.


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