Spitfires by Becky Aikman

Credit: Bloomsbury Publishing

In this episode of Narrative Edge from Georgia Public Broadcasting, hosts Orlando Montoya and Peter Biello highlight Spitfires by Becky Aikman, a book that uncovers the little-known history of American women who ferried aircraft for Britain’s Royal Air Force during World War II. Among these pilots was Hazel Jane Raines of Macon, Georgia, the first licensed female pilot in the state, who stunned her family by performing aerial stunts and later survived a crash into an empty thatched-roof cottage. Her story is one of many that reveal the courage and skill of the women known as the “Atta Girls.”

Drawing from interviews, diaries, and historical records, Aikman profiles twenty-five American women who transported a variety of aircraft, often with minimal preparation and under hazardous conditions. They faced unpredictable weather, mechanical failures, and the risk of enemy fire while flying across war-torn landscapes. Though they were not combat pilots, their work carried real danger, with one in seven losing their lives in service. The book captures the sense of adventure and the constant edge of risk that defined their wartime missions.

Peter and Orlando also discuss the challenges these women faced after the war, when sexism kept them out of military and commercial aviation roles. Some returned to stunt flying, others found creative ways to stay connected to aviation, but many were denied the careers they had proven themselves capable of. Through these accounts, Spitfires becomes not only a record of daring flights but also a testament to perseverance and ambition in the face of systemic barriers.