Friday, 20 June 2025
  • Login
  • Home
  • LSJ TV
  • LSJ Magazine
  • The Linc
  • Style Guide
  • Privacy Policy
  • About LSJ
LSJ News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Arts and Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Business
  • Community
    • Education
    • International
    • Viewpoint
  • Politics
  • Science and Technology
    • Environment
    • Health
  • Video
  • Podcasts
LSJ News
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Arts and Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Business
  • Community
    • Education
    • International
    • Viewpoint
  • Politics
  • Science and Technology
    • Environment
    • Health
  • Video
  • Podcasts
No Result
View All Result
LSJ News
No Result
View All Result
Home Community

Women’s History Month: Lincolnshire’s Aviation Heritage

Giving the spotlight to three groups of women who were vital to the RAF during WW2 and who played a significant role in Lincolnshire’s aviation history.

Stephanie Lake by Stephanie Lake
March 28, 2020
in Community
0 0
A A
Women’s History Month: Lincolnshire’s Aviation Heritage
Women’s History Month: Lincolnshire’s Aviation Heritage
Women’s History Month: Lincolnshire’s Aviation Heritage
Women’s History Month: Lincolnshire’s Aviation Heritage
Women’s History Month: Lincolnshire’s Aviation Heritage
Women’s History Month: Lincolnshire’s Aviation Heritage
Women’s History Month: Lincolnshire’s Aviation Heritage
193
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on XShare on LinkedinShare via Email

The role of women in World War Two is often underplayed and underrepresented. As part of Women’s History Month, this article will give the spotlight to three groups of women who were vital to the functioning of the RAF during WW2, and who played a significant role in Lincolnshire’s aviation history.

Lincolnshire’s Aviation Heritage

In the First World War, one in 14 of all British aircraft were manufactured in Lincolnshire. In WW2 Lincolnshire had over 100 airfields, more than any other county- the exact figure is unknown as some of these were decoys. This was due to its flat landscape, making it ideal for runways and its geographical proximity to Germany.

The usual stalwarts appear in the annals of Lincolnshire’s RAF wartime heroes: Wing Commander Guy Gibson, awarded the Victoria Cross for his leading role in the Dambusters Raid in 1943 and Douglas Bader the celebrated RAF fighter ace, who lost both legs in a plane crash and continued as an active spitfire pilot.

So, what about the heroines?

Spitfire Heroines

Members of the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) were civilians, often women, employed to deliver planes from factories to RAF bases in the Second World War. They flew all types of planes that were active in WW2, including: Spitfires, Hurricanes and Lancaster Bombers, without the use of radios or navigation aids.

Many endured prejudice. Mary Ellis, who flew over 1000 planes throughout the war, said the ground crew at one RAF base didn’t believe she was the pilot of a Wellington bomber she’d just landed. She remembered: “They actually went inside the airplane and searched it. Everybody was flabbergasted that a little girl like me could fly these big aeroplanes all by oneself.”

Lettice Curtis’ skills were held in such high esteem by her superiors- she was the first women to fly a Lancaster bomber- that she was involved in the preparations for the Dambusters raid led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson, based at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire by delivering specially modified planes from factories to the base.

Nearly one in ten ATAs were killed in the war.

Winged Angels

This was the moniker of nurses attached to the 817thMedical Air Evacuation Squadron. Throughout the war they were responsible for the evacuation of 38,172 casualties of all nationalities across Europe and Africa. They were based at RAF Barkston Heath, attached to the larger RAF Cranwell, Lincolnshire.

Ann Macek Krueger was a highly decorated 817th nurse. Amongst other recognitions of service, she received the Soldier’s Medal for heroic achievement when her plane full of evacuated patients crash landed in France in 1944. Her bravery helped ensure that all patients were saved from the wreckage. All survived.

WAAF

Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) Intelligence Officers were vital to the successful functioning of the RAF. They performed intelligence operations, cracked codes and  operated barrage balloons, which were responsible for protecting key targets in the UK by deterring enemy planes. Steel cables attached to the balloons made it impossible for planes to fly underneath, forcing them into the path of anti-aircraft guns. Many doubted that women had the physical strength and stamina to manoeuvre the balloons, which were 66ft long and 30ft high. However, the WAAF were so successful that they eventually ran over 1000 barrage sites across Britain, with over 15,700 WAAF operators. RAF Goxhill, Lincolnshire was the site of the balloon centre that protected the critical docks at Grimsby and Immingham.

 

Gallery Slideshow Captions

  1. Nurses in the 817th Medical Air Evacuation Squadron, part of a display at the, Century of Valour exhibition at the Collection Museum, Lincoln. Photo: Stephanie Lake
  2. A nurse in the 817th Medical Air Evacuation Squadron exiting a plane. part of a display at the, Century of Valour exhibition at the Collection Museum, Lincoln. Quote on the display reads: “Winged Angles. Saving lives of friend and foe alike…”. Photo: Stephanie Lake
  3. Lettice Curtis, Jenny Broad, Wendy Sale Barker, Gabrielle Patterson and Pauline Gower of the Air Transport Auxilary in 1942. Photo: Unknown, Creative Commons.
  4. Lettice Curtis, Air Transport Auxiliary. Photo: Unknown, Creative Commons.
  5. Members of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force operating a barrage balloon. Photo: Unknown, Creative Commons.
  6. Members of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, taking part in intelligence operations, such as plotting information. Photo: Unknown, Creative Commons.
  7. Intelligence officers of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, taking part in intelligence operations, such as cracking codes and ciphers. Photo: Unknown, Creative Commons.

 

Tags: AviationHistoryRAFwomen
Previous Post

Personal trainer tips on how to stay active and stay safe

Next Post

Amnesty International launches course on Covid-19 human rights implications

Related Articles

‘It’s a violation’: how shoplifting became a major Lincoln issue
Business

‘It’s a violation’: how shoplifting became a major Lincoln issue

by Jemma Robinson
June 20, 2025
0

It may not be a crime that would result in anyone ending up on a Most Wanted list. But for...

Opinion: Let us sleep – why 9am lectures should be abolished
Education

Opinion: Let us sleep – why 9am lectures should be abolished

by Jemma Robinson
June 18, 2025
0

The seven o'clock alarm. An air raid siren of a sound. Like a blast from the Blitz. The piercing sound...

Lincoln firefighters complete 75 mile walk for 40th anniversary of Bradford City fire

Lincoln firefighters complete 75 mile walk for 40th anniversary of Bradford City fire

June 9, 2025
Lincolnshire nature lovers wanted for help with national wildlife conservation project

Lincolnshire nature lovers wanted for help with national wildlife conservation project

June 4, 2025
Cheers to History: Lincoln pubs honour 80th anniversary of VE Day

Cheers to History: Lincoln pubs honour 80th anniversary of VE Day

May 8, 2025
Howzat! New walking cricket initiative launched for over 50’s in Lincoln

Howzat! New walking cricket initiative launched for over 50’s in Lincoln

May 1, 2025
Next Post
Amnesty International launches course on Covid-19 human rights implications

Amnesty International launches course on Covid-19 human rights implications

More from LSJ News

‘It’s a violation’: how shoplifting became a major Lincoln issue

‘It’s a violation’: how shoplifting became a major Lincoln issue

June 20, 2025
Heckington United: young football club founders celebrate first anniversary of new village team

Heckington United: young football club founders celebrate first anniversary of new village team

June 18, 2025
Opinion: Let us sleep – why 9am lectures should be abolished

Opinion: Let us sleep – why 9am lectures should be abolished

June 18, 2025
Photo of Katie & Peter

‘Biggest day of my life’: Lincolnshire couples face wedding uncertainty after castle closure

June 10, 2025
Lincoln firefighters complete 75 mile walk for 40th anniversary of Bradford City fire

Lincoln firefighters complete 75 mile walk for 40th anniversary of Bradford City fire

June 9, 2025

Trending on LSJ News

  • Heckington United: young football club founders celebrate first anniversary of new village team

    Heckington United: young football club founders celebrate first anniversary of new village team

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Opinion: Let us sleep – why 9am lectures should be abolished

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • ‘Biggest day of my life’: Lincolnshire couples face wedding uncertainty after castle closure

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Girl, 12, on track to be first Sikh Formula One driver

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • ‘It’s a violation’: how shoplifting became a major Lincoln issue

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
LSJ News

© 2024 LSJ News - Part of the School of Education and Communication at the University of Lincoln

Links

  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Arts and Entertainment
  • Business
  • Community
  • Politics
  • Science and Technology
  • Video
  • Podcasts

Social Links

Welcome Back!

OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Arts and Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Business
  • Community
    • Education
    • International
    • Viewpoint
  • Politics
  • Science and Technology
    • Environment
    • Health
  • Video
  • Podcasts

© 2024 LSJ News - Part of the School of Education and Communication at the University of Lincoln

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.