Father: James Rudge Preston ("a Surgeon Dentist, of Harley Street"), mother Elizabeth Mary [Munn] One younger brother, Michael Rudge Ed. Malvern College prev exp: 168 hrs on Tiger Moth, Hornet, Klemm, Swallow, Piper Cub Address in 1939: 111 Queen's Court, Queensway, London W2 Postings: 15FPP, 6FPP, 7FPP
6 Accidents, 2 her fault: - 18 Mar 1941, landed downwind in Master N7954, due to a signal error - 25 Jan 1942, the tail of her Hampden AT175 was damaged when the tarmac collapsed under the port wheel while taxying - 11 Apr 1942, forced landing following engine failure in Botha W5134; she crashed into trees and was seriously injured - 30 Dec 1942, she failed to control the landing swing in Spitfire Vc EE740 and the undercarriage collapsed - 1 Jun 1943, forced landing in Argus FK340 after engine failure - 22 Jul 1943, she overshot the landing in Mosquito III HJ863
"A keen and steady pilot. Her cheeriness is a great asset and she is coping with Wellington and larger aircraft excellently"
m. 2 Jun 1943 in London, Captain William Graham 'Willie' Metcalfe, also of the ATA:
Contract terminated by ATA the following October (her son, Graham, was b. Apr 1944)
d. 6 Feb 1975 - North Cotswold, Glos. Download ATA Pilot Personal Record (.zip file): |
RAeC 10 May 1939
1942 caricature by 
Ursula and Willie in 1954, with thanks to Chris Sturgess
