The RAF Museum tell me that as far as they are aware no records of ATA daily ferry movements have survived, whether records kept by pools or by the ATA headquarters that issued movement orders to pools.
Does anyone know anything of such records please? I am sure they would have been formally handed over to the headquarters of the ATA by pools, but whether on a regular basis or in bulk at the close of the ATA I can’t imagine.
Many thanks,
soggy
By: Soggy - 16th March 2011 at 13:10
There is a picture of Mr Crowder here:
http://www.poetryinaction-aviation.com/airtransportauxiliary/id6.html
soggy
By: Sky High - 15th March 2011 at 09:33
There is always a new discovery to be made here. Fascinating reading those Log Book entries – it takes you right back to the period and the work the ferry pilots did. There was an excellent programme on BBC4 a few weeks back about the woman ferrry pilots, which I found very interesting indeed. One of the facets of the war which has been rather underplayed.
By: Soggy - 15th March 2011 at 09:15
jetsett
Thank you for that permission to use the images. I’ll update here when progress has been made.
soggy
By: Arabella-Cox - 14th March 2011 at 21:03
Auster LB321
The Auster delivery flight is an interesting entry. AOP I LB321 (not L3321 as recorded) was originally destined for North Africa being allocated to 47MU Sealand for crating. There obviously was some change of plan because instead of being sent abroad the Auster was re-allocated to 652 Squadron who were in training at Dumfries.
By: jetsett - 14th March 2011 at 13:22
Well done Jbs. Indeed, EE853 is surviving. I have found a pic of her. S/O Noel Crowder sat in that very cockpit 68 years ago!
Soggy,
Please feel free to use the pics.
Here is another Pic. The Pilot Agreement for Second Officer Eric Noel Crowder. I only have a pic of the cover, the contained details are unknown.
By: jbs - 14th March 2011 at 12:36
Interesting to see that on 6th February 1943 surviving Spitfire Mk.V EE853 was delivered from Little Rissington to Dumfries in 1 hour and 25 minutes.
Superb glimpse into the past.
She is now on static display in Adelaide, South Australia.
By: Soggy - 14th March 2011 at 12:13
Jetsett! That’s a wonderful start to the project, many thanks indeed.
The pilot’s log book records a variety of single-engine ferry flights to get us going, and the ATA ferry chit is a wonderful asset and artefact that I can use to publish tasks.
Can I please publish some or all of the image of the log book and S/O Crowder’s Spitfire chit, if and when I get the ATAV web site up and running?
Many thanks and best wishes,
soggy
ps. Any artefects of this nature would be very good to see, all help much appreciated.
By: jetsett - 14th March 2011 at 10:44
Hi Soggy,
Is this any good to you.
ATA movement log and aircraft collection chit. I have included a blank chit for you to download.
Original Air Transport Auxiliary log
Original Air Transport Auxiliary chit
A blank ATA chit
By: Soggy - 12th March 2011 at 17:01
Thank you, both, most helpful and I will contact both BA and the Maidenhead Heritage folks.
A brief explanation. You may know that there are very many ‘virtual airlines’ whereby users of Flight Simulator fly scheduled flights for their airlines.
These ‘virtual pilots’ accrue hours, earn virtual pay and promotions and practice flight, procedural and navigation procedures online communicating with virtual air traffic services. Yes, I know what you’re thinking, but there are far worse diversions from the demands of the real world, and actually it’s quite engaging and sometimes even demanding and immersive.
I want to start a small online tribute to the ATA within the Flight Simulator community, where pilots can get ‘ferry chits’ to collect and fly period aircraft and deliver them. Starting as the ATA pilots did with simple pilot’s notes to fly Tiger Moth, Magister etc and gaining hours, move on to ratings to fly heavier types.
If I could get a look at some movement records that would give a sample of actual ferry tasks, although I am sure it would be quite a simple task to devise representative ferry chits.
Hope you don’t think this all too silly.
By: low'n'slow - 12th March 2011 at 16:12
Well worth contacting Maidenhead Heritage Centre who are currently creating a dedicated Air Transport Auxiliary Study Centre and Exhibition.
http://www.atamuseum.org/
By: AdlerTag - 12th March 2011 at 15:27
If I remember rightly, the British Airways Heritage Collection holds a number of ATA records and other historical items, so it might be worth contacting them.
ATA page here:
http://www.britishairways.com/travel/history-ata/public/en_gb
Contact details for the collection here:
http://www.britishairways.com/travel/museum-collection/public/en_gb
The collection used to be displayed near Hatton Cross tube station, but recently moved to BA’s new Waterside HQ complex at Harmondsworth.
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March 12, 2011 at 2:41 pm
