The Photo That Defined an Era In the late summer of 1944, as Allied forces pushed through Europe, the demand for fresh aircraft was insatiable. This striking image of Jackie Moggridge—one of the 166 female pilots of the Air Transport Auxiliary—captured the public’s imagination in a way few other wartime photos did. Standing on the wing of a Supermarine Spitfire, Moggridge represents a unique civilian force that arguably shortened the war by keeping the RAF’s “Sword of Freedom” sharp and ready.
Flying “Blind and Alone” What the photo doesn’t show is the sheer technical difficulty of the task. ATA pilots like Moggridge were tasked with ferrying aircraft from manufacturing centers (like the Castle Bromwich factory) to operational airfields. Unlike RAF combat pilots, these “Attagirls” often:
Flew without radios: To keep frequencies clear for combat, they navigated primarily by map, compass, and sight.
Had no formal training on new types: They carried a small book of “Ferry Pilot Notes” to learn the controls of a Spitfire or a massive Lancaster bomber on the fly.
Braved the British Weather: Flying at low altitudes to maintain visual landmarks, they were frequently at the mercy of unpredictable fog and rain.
Breaking the Glass Ceiling The ATA was a revolutionary organization for its time. Led by Pauline Gower, it became one of the first government-controlled entities to offer equal pay to women starting in 1943—a feat unmatched by their American counterparts in the WASP program. Moggridge, a South African-born pilot who had earned her license at just 17, was a prime example of the international diversity within the unit, which included pilots from over 28 different nations.
The Legacy of the Spitfire Ferry By the time the war ended, the ATA had delivered over 300,000 aircraft. For Jackie Moggridge, the Spitfire was always the favorite. It was the aircraft that symbolized British defiance, and her role in delivering it ensured that the “Few” always had the machines they needed to stay in the fight. This photograph remains a poignant reminder of a time when the sky wasn’t just the limit for women—it was their workplace.