I Cannot Make Up My Mind If She Isn't One The Bravest

[emmie]

women i have read about or simply mad. It's a really interesting piece if you read it all.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-39351162

[anotheoldgit]

emmie

/// mikey i expect she wasn't the only woman to go across hostile terrain. After all women served as nurses, VAD's in France and Belgium during WW1. And flew aircraft across the country during WW2. ///

I wouldn't class the UK as hostile terrain, during WW2 and riding a bike is a tad different to flying an aircraft.

[mikey4444]

AOG....why don't you read the entry for Freya Stark ?

[emmie]

aog
both were dangerous in their own ways. Women pilots in WW2 were shot down, not sure how many were killed.
sure i can find a link someplace.

[emmie]

many did lose their lives whilst transporting planes

http://www.npr.org/2010/03/09/123773525/female-wwii-pilots-the-original-fly-girls

[anotheoldgit]

mikey4444

She didn't fly aircraft nor did she ride a bike, so what is your point.

I wouldn't have thought that you would be picking her out, especially with her view on the superiority of the British Empire.

/// She had an instinctive trust in human goodness - an attitude considerably at variance with her professed belief in the superiority of the British Empire ///

[trt]

Walking around Moss Side, Birmingham, Brixton, and a few more Boroughs in London after dark, would be more dangerous!

[hc4361]

In that case I must be the bravest soul on the planet, trt

[KARL]

The courage element is in ignoring the ignorant bias nurtured by people whose only venture out of their own country is to the bars along the beach in some holiday resort and whose closest contact with any of the places in question is muttering expletives at the sight of a conspicuous foreigner.

Her description of Iranian hospitality is brilliant - I have first hand experience of it and can vouch for its accuracy, from the humblest peasant to the obviously wealthy. Ignorance in the Middle East is simply of a different type from that found in the UK.

[anotheoldgit]

emmie

The link you provided was appertaining to US women pilots, who like our own women pilots were chosen to transport aircraft from one base to another.

I also don't recall any being shot down, or flying over hostile terrain, unless of course you mean mountains or deserts.

[Samjenko]

She was lucky, that's all.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7344381.stm

[emmie]

many did lose their lives, not sure the figures in this piece it says 15 but in another its says 38.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3194754/The-female-Guns-World-War-II-Inside-RAF-s-woman-ferry-squadron-rubbed-shoulders-men-flew-Spitfires.html

[pastafreak]

Here we go again...the usual people who instead of praising her, or showing any interest in her experiences,damn her and the people who were in the main so hospitable.
If you can't say anything nice...etc
And thanks emmie for BA.

[emmie]

pasta
couldn't agree more, some just don't get it. It was a remarkable trip. Of course she could have got hurt, killed even but she didn't.

[anotheoldgit]

emmie

/// many did lose their lives, not sure the figures in this piece it says 15 but in another its says 38. ///

I am not disputing that, but these lady pilots were not shot down over hostile terrain as you earlier suggested.

And 15 or 38 of these brave women lost their lives in a 6 year war, but to put things into perspective, 55,000 men in bomber command alone lost their lives, with 545 in one night alone.

[Mamyalynne]

Great article, thanks - yes she is both brave and somewhat foolhardy but you have to be a bit crazy to be adventurous.

[mikey4444]

Emmie....what a pity somebody had go and spoil your good news story !

[emmie]

aog
i know about Bomber Command and how many they lost, but remember women weren't supposed to fly on the front line.

mikey
take it on the chin so to speak.

[emmie]

divebudy
i know, they just ferried every known aircraft across country, an amazing thing when you consider most didn't know the first thing about the aircraft they flew.