大象传媒

When the war broke out I volunteered for service and became an aircraft inspector. First I inspected components and I had to measure to a quarter of an inch. I used micrometers, depth gages and space gages. From components I went to assembly. I knew the names of all sections of the aircraft. From assembly I went to final inspection on the air fields. When I wasn't sure of something i asked one of the male inspectors and pointed out my query on a map. They refused to answer me and had a meeting in the men's toilet to boycott me. This was because if they had lady inspectors, they would be called up in the forces.

At the end of the war I was discharged of my duties. I was then a final inspector on the air field. After the war I was on an aircraft called the Pilot. It held one hundred people. I was going to Jersey with my husband. The co-pilot came to talk to the passengers. I said to my husband that I was going to have a chat with the pilot. I had the co-pilots permission. I was stood at the doorway talking to the pilot about my experience as a wartime inspector. The pilot invited me to sit down and I continued my disscussion. I then took the wheel of the aircraft and said I would fly it. The pilot switched the engine over to me. I said I was thrilled. I felt the power of the machine in my hands and said I would be able to tell my grandchildren about it. I went back to my husband who asked what I had been doing. I said "Flying this aircraft." I gave it back to the pilot when I saw the banks of flowers on the borders of Jersey. I said to the pilot "You'd better take over, I am no good at landing." My husband motioned with his hands in an up and down, side to side movement. He said "I knew you'd taken over."

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