Diana Barnato Walker MBE & Liveryman of the Guild of Air Pilots

[Flying Lawyer]

Sadly, I report the passing of distinguished aviator Diana Barnato Walker.

Her funeral will be held at Horne Church Surrey on Thursday 15 May at 14:30.
(I don't know if it's friends/family or open to all, but assume an announcement will be made soon if it hasn't been already.)

The most moving moment of the Guild of Air Pilots (http://www.gapan.org) annual 'Trophies & Awards Banquet' in 2003 was the presentation of Master Air Pilot awards to Diana Barnato Walker MBE, Lettice Curtis MA, FRAeS and Maureen de Popp.
The 700 people present rose to their feet as three little old ladies in their mid 80's walked slowly forward to receive their awards. They were members of the wartime Air Transport Auxiliary and between them had flown more than a 100 types from fighters to four-engined bombers.
They received the longest standing ovation of the evening.



http://www.raf.mod.uk/history_old/images/dbw19.jpg
Spitfire Mk IX


With Princess Marina Duchess of Kent at RAF White Waltham in 1948.
http://www.raf.mod.uk/history_old/images/dbw23.jpg




Spreading My Wings (http://www.gapan.org/reviews/wings.htm)



FL

[JEM60]

Time eventually claims us all. I do hope she, and all the Joan Hughes's etc. of that era realised how much they were, and still are, admired by us casual aviators. RIP, you remarkable woman.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

My wife was a member of the WJAC in her teens and flew with Diana in an Auster whilst at camp at Bournmeouth. Whilst we were in NZ last year we saw Diana's book at Wigram and I later purchased a copy for my wife, which she treasures.

Wonderful lady; may God Bless her.

[JEM60]

Well, Flying Lawyer, is it only the two of us who felt this worth comment!! She deserved MUCH more than that IMHO

[tommc]

Yoa are not the only ones. I just don't think very many people have heard this yet.

I have a great affection and admiration for all of the ATA ladies, unfortunately the passing years and their modesty, means that very few have been privilidged to meet and talk with them about thier unbelievable experiences. RIP

[carholme]

I recieved my private license in Canada in the late '60s, having been trained at the Edmonton Flying Club by an lady instructor who flew Ferry Command during the war and to this day, she has been the focal point of everything I have enjoyed in aviation. She was the most wonderful instructor, humble person and had an ability to make one feel that you were being welcomed into this fraternity by the masters themselves.

These ladies are all due so much of what we never fully recognized. The business has changed, the people and times have changed but I hope that we never forget them. Truly the unsung heroes and to all of them, thank you for so much.

Regards

carholme

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Couldn't they have taught a thing or two to some of the ponced-up pilots nowadays? Incredible ladies to whom we owe a very great deal.

[lsh]

Sad news.
A very interesting and modest lady from a fascinating background.
They all made a unique contribution that can never be repeated.
Very interesting to read the books about about them.
They flew anything worth flying!

I admire them beyond words.
lsh

[Lancelot37]

My wife were moved to tears to hear that Diana Barnato Walker has died.
We flew with Diana on many occasions with the Women's Junior Air Corps and we were with her at RAF Middleton St. George when she had the idea of flying a Lightning at over the speed of sound, being the first British woman to do so. She was beaten to being the worlds first by a French woman.
She mentions Middlesbrough W.J.A.C Unit in her book "Spreading My
Wings", where my wife, at that time, was Assistant Commandant. We sent her a telegram after she flew the Lightning and we still have her reply to us. My wife spent 42 years with the W.J.A.C and the G.V.C Air Cadets which it is now and retired as a Regional Commandant.
Diana was one of the many great un-sung heroes who should never be forgotten.

[Stevemcmli]

I read Diana's book with great interest particularly (if I recall correctly) her story of landing a Spitfire on Smith's Lawn (now a Polo Ground) in Windsor Great Park and walking home to her parent's house in nearby Englefield Green - all very local to me.

The news of Diana recent passing reminded me of my own encounter with one of these amazing ladies. Back in the mid 60's as a spotty Air Cadet of 15 summers I and some fellow cadets would spend weekends "helping out" at Booker in return for the odd flight. On one occasion I was offered the left seat ride in a Terrier of Airways Aero Assocations the right seat being occupied by an instructor. The instructor turned out to be (from a 15 year old's perspective) a rather posh and formidable middle aged lady by the name of Joan Hughes. Looking back it was one of the aviation highlights of my life and if I had only known then of the exploits of the incredible men and women of the ATA I may have savoured the moment much more.... but then I was 15!!

How many are still around? Is Joan Hughes still with us?

[S'land]

Sorry to hear of Diana Barnato Walker's death. Another piece of aviation history no longer with us.


Stevemcmli:
Joan Lily Amelia Hughes, born 1918 died in 1993.

She was one of the first 8 women to join the ATA on 1 January 1940. She was a flying instructor with the West London Flying Club and later was an instructor at Booker.

I think that she was also involved in the film "Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines".

The ladies of the ATA were remarkable people by any standards.

[India Four Two]

I think that she was also involved in the film "Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines".

Joan Hughes flew the Demoiselle replica. She was the only pilot light enough!

[Mike6567]

Full Obituary in todays Telegraph (Monday)

[Props]

I well remember the evening you mention as I came up from Berkshire in a party with Lettice Curtis.
She is still going strong at 92 and I will visit her this week.

A remarkable lady as you say.


Props

[exscribbler]

Diana Barnato - RIP. What a girl - and weren't they all? Aetheris Avidi.

[PLovett]

Sad but inevitable end where we all must go sometime. However, what a legacy to leave and what an inspiration for all those who met her and felt moved to follow a career in aviation.

As an aside after seeing the photos posted by Flying Lawyer, I bet there was more than one airman's heart skipping when he saw her alighting from an aircraft at some dreary wartime aerodrome.

[meag197]

I had the honour to host Diana Barnato Walker at RIAT in 2001 when one of the main themes was "Women in Aviation". Out of all the ladies who came to the event whether they had flown in in a KC135 or an F-16, it was the ladies from the ATA who stole the show.

Diana Barnato Walker arrived at Cottesmore having driven herself from Surrey in her MG sports car and proceeded to charm everyone there. She was simply awesome and was a delightful lady to host. I am proud of my signed copy of her autobiography, even more so as I was privileged to meet her.

RIP.

[John Farley]

I totally support all the compliments that have gone before.

A really super lady.

A few years ago at Shoreham she described a particularly hairy single engined arrival without any instruments at Hawarden in a Mitchell. She said how the FE started grovelling at her harness and parachute release boxes as they came to a halt before dragging her from her seat (he had seen the right donk was on fire during finals but decided she had enough on her plate so had said nothing)

Her remark to me was "At first I thought the poor chap had been starved of female company - until I saw the flames on his side"

Even in her eighties she was one of those very few people who exude quality.

JF

[Warmtoast]

What a fascinating and eventful life.

I read the obituary in the Telegraph, but I think think they got wrong one of her claims to fame about being the first English women to fly faster than sound.

One evening in 1963 in the mess at RAF Middleton St George, the Wing Commander Flying, John Severgne, idly suggested that Diana might like to fly one of the RAF’s new supersonic Lightnings. She jumped at the chance and on August 26 1963, following clearance from the Ministry of Defence, she took off and reached a speed of Mach 1.65 (1,262 mph), making her the first woman to break the sound barrier.

This feat was achieved a year earlier by WRAF Flying Officer Jean Oakes flying in a Middleton St George Lightning, as this cutting from The Times dated 14th September 1962 shows:

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/FirstWomantobreaksoundbarrier14thSe.jpg

[RETDPI]

Noting the Telegraph's assertion regarding the "first woman to break the Sound Barrier"
Jacqueline Cochran was probably the first women in the world to break Mach 1. Flying a Sabre , she created her first sonic boom in May of 1953 at the age of 43. Just a few months later, flying a Dassault Mystere II, 36-year old Jacqueline Auriol bested Cochran's record and became the first European female to fly faster than sound.
Just a pity we Brits didn't have suitable aircraft available at the time!

[Out Of Trim]

Just a pity we Brits didn't have suitable aircraft available at the time!

I seem to recall that we purchased Canadair Sabre F4s around this time - before we got the Hunter.

Anyway - Back to the thread - I admire the ATA and the work they did, and would haved loved to have met Diana.

RIP - you will not be forgotten!

[ozzietony]

I was saddened to hear of Diana's passing today. Diana's grandfather Barney Barnato was the first cousin of my great grand mother so we were distantly related (6th cousins). I have tried to collect and read all things about this awesome family. I enjoyed her biography so much that I corresponded with Diana (and she wrote to me twice) and even flew last Xmas from New York to Sydney via London with the sole aim of meeting Diana but sadly we could not connect on the day I had free. I was planning another quick trip to London later this year just to meet Diana but sadly I will never meet her now. :sad::sad::sad: