Author and poet Alison Hill enjoyable book tells the story not just of the remarkable life of Pauline, but also introduces us to the many other extraordinary women who flew in the 1930's & 40's.
To have set up in business today, while in your twenties, would be considered an achievement. But to have done it back in the 1930's in a male dominated world, reveals what a determined lady Pauline was.
Along with her friend Dorothy Spicer, herself a highly skilled engineer, they set up in business ferrying passengers, offering joyride flights, & travelling Britain participating in Air Circuses.
Pauline would command the women's section of the ATA during the Second World War, where on top of her work, she fought & won to get equal pay for the female pilots.
The stories of many of those pilots are included within the book. Those who spoke of Pauline had only the kindest word to say, & clearly held her in high esteem.
During the course of the war, 173 ATA pilots were killed, 15 of them women. Pauline clearly felt each loss greatly.
One of these was the legendary Amy Johnson who was a close friend to both Pauline & Dorothy, before the war.
Pauline would leave the service at the end of the war. It is hard to comprehend such a busy life would end at just 36 years of age, following complications after the birth of twins.
Pauline Gower clearly touched so many people's lives, and with Alison's great book, many more people can now read her extraordinary story.
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