What an extraordinary woman!

 At our May meeting, one of our members, Jill Hanks, provided details of a forthcoming BBC radio play, which continues after the wartime experiences of her late mother, Joan. Joan used flying skills gained in Singapore to become a member of The Air Transport Auxiliary during WW2.

The play will be broadcast on the following dates:

11 - 15th June 2012 on BBC Radio 4 "Woman's Hour" from 10.00 to 11.00

The actual play is on at 10.45 for 15 minutes each day and is entitled 

"Tiger Wings".

Here is some information provided by Jill, along with some charming photographs of Joan and further information on the history and activities of the ATA:

"I had a great afternoon in London sitting in on the recording of the last episode. Then I had a 2 minute slot doing an epilogue!!  I got to meet Honeysuckle Weeks, from "Foyle's War", who is playing my mothers part. All thecast were so lovely and appreciative of the massive achievement Joan's Soloflight was in those days, when commercial overseas flights, had only justbeen started after the war!The play focuses on this flight in March 1948, (taking 26 days!!) from UK toSingapore in a small two seater, single engine plane.  Joan was living in Singapore and when the Japanese invaded in early 1942, she escaped on an American evacuation ship on Jan 30th (another story in its self) and Joined theATA (Air Transport Auxiliary) in the April."

                                                                                

                                   

                                                                          

Jill has spent a great deal of time researching various records and this acknowledgement by the BBC can be viewed as a fitting and worthwhile tribute to her mother. 

Our grateful thanks go to her for providing this fascinating glimpse into her mother's flying activities.

If you miss the programme on the above dates then click here to go to the BBC iPlayer for Radio 4 to hear the programmes after 15 June 2012.