RAF100 - Celebrations of 100 years since its formation in April 2018.

As part of the celebrations, I came across a BBC Broadcast in April 2018, which mentioned Joan Hughes. Regretably, I have not been able to trace any notes that I may have taken at the time.

Over 5 years later, I googled RAF100 to see if I could find something positive written about Joan Hughes and the other female pilots who flew as part of the ATA in WWII.

Instead I found a Press Release in July 2018 entled the "Forgotten First Five Women won RAF wings" . The Press Release was dedicated to Women Pilos of the Solent and was publuished by:

solent aviatrix.wordpress.com

An Extract from the Press Release is worded as foilows:

Forgotten First Five Women won RAF Wings

In the article the awarding of the wings was disputed by some.

"Much has been written and filmed about the centenary of the Royal Air Force but one thing has been overlooked, some would argue deliberately ignored, during this media coverage of RAF celebrations.

Other than the much deserved acknowledgement of the role played by the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) men and women, there has been little if any mention of the general contribution made by women in the RAF. Once again it has all been about the"Brylcream Boys".

In particular, the most glaring omission is the outstanding achievement of the First Five Women to get their RAF wings in the 1950s. It is largely believed that the first woman to win her wings was Julie Gibson in 1991. Not so. In 1952, amid a fanfare of publicity, the first woman to achieve this distinction was Jean Bird. She was a member of the Women's Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Pilot-Officer Bird was presented with her full wings at a ceremony at Redhill Aerodrome.

Jean was the pioneer. Four other women followed her trail blazing flight path. They were:

Benedetta Willis of Bembridge (see Note)
Jackie Moggridge
Joan Hughes and
Freydis Leaf.

All five women were ex-ATA. All five overcame the rampant prejudice in the RAF to attain their full wings. But as soon as they did so, the RAF introduced new rules to exclude other women from emulating the "Famous Five".

When the Air Transport Auxiliary closed down after the war, six women were honoured by the UK by making them Members of the British Empire..."

Joan Hughes duly received her MBE.

Note

The Press Release includes an article published by the Daily Echo in which Benedetta Willis is quoted as saying that she was awarded her wings, per an entry in her service record book on 28 August 1953.

Conclusions

Since 2018, there have been various articles, books & videos, and information broadcast, that have attempted to ensure that the extraordinary story of the young women aviators of the ATA are not forgotten.

On 8 March 2023, there was an article in the RAF Coningsby News about International Womens Day. It confirmed that in 1952 the five women did earn their RAF wings and the next woman did not earn her wings until 1991.

Colin Bower
31 January 2025

Joan Hughes Index