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The American Women Who Flew in the Face of Danger during World War II
by Becky Aikman
The heart-pounding true story of the American women who piloted the world's most dangerous aircraft through the treacherous skies of Britain during World War II.
They were crop dusters and debutantes, college girls and performers in flying circuses-all of them trained as pilots. Because they were women, they were denied the opportunity to fly for their country when the United States entered the Second World War. But Great Britain, desperately fighting for survival, would let anyone-even Americans, even women-transport warplanes. Thus, twenty-five daring young aviators bolted for England in 1942, becoming the first American women to command military aircraft.
In a faraway land, these "spitfires" lived like women decades ahead of their time. Risking their lives in one of the deadliest jobs of the war, they ferried new, barely tested fighters and bombers to air bases and returned shot-up wrecks for repair, never knowing what might go wrong until they were high in the sky. Many ferry pilots died in crashes or made spectacular saves. It was exciting, often terrifying work. The pilots broke new ground off duty as well, shocking their hosts with thoroughly modern behavior.
With cinematic sweep, Becky Aikman follows the stories of nine of the women who served, drawing on unpublished diaries, letters, and records, along with her own interviews, to bring these forgotten heroines fully to life. Spitfires is a vivid, richly detailed account of war, ambition, and a group of remarkable women whose lives were as unconventional as their dreams.
"Engaging portraits of a spirited crew." —Publishers Weekly
"A soaring narrative of a handful of women who wanted to choose their own path and ended up helping to change the world, Spitfires reminds readers of the obstacles that women faced-in the air and on the ground-during World War II, and what it took to overcome them. Becky Aikman puts these forgotten heroines back where they belong: in the cockpit, risking everything, to live the lives they wanted." ―Keith O'Brien, New York Times bestselling author of Fly Girls and Charlie Hustle
"With prose that sweeps you across the Atlantic, Spitfires is the long overdue account of the brave and fascinating women who risked their lives flying during World War II ... A must read not just for aviation buffs, but for anyone who appreciates a great tale of unsung heroism." ―Mary Pilon, New York Times bestselling author of The Monopolists
This information about Spitfires was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Becky Aikman is the author of two books of narrative nonfiction: her memoir, Saturday Night Widows, and Off the Cliff: How the Making of Thelma & Louise Drove Hollywood to the Edge. Aikman worked as a journalist at Newsday and has written for the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and other publications. She lives in New York.
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