née Wilkinson Father: William Durham Wilkinson, mother Mabel H [Jessel], later Mrs Dean Ed St Stephens College, Folkestone m. 1938 in Chelsea, James Herbert Witherby [missing, later presumed killed, in the sinking of the SS Ban Ho Guan during the fall of Singapore, 28 Feb 1942] "She was a modern woman for her time since later that year [1939] she is reported as Mrs. J.D. Witherby as a Licensed Pilot taking part in an air search for a downed plane whilst she is flying with the Kuala Lumpur Flying Club" - https://www.malayanvolunteersgroup.org.uk prev. exp. 65hrs on Tiger Moth, Gipsy Moth prev. Secretary,War Office (MI5, then SOE) Address in 1942: 147 Chelsea Cloisters, Sloane Ave, London SW3 Postings: 5TFPP, 15FPP "This pilot came to ATA with very little flying experience ... she had trouble on Harts and her training was stopped in September 1942. She appealed against this and for various reasons [sic] was given another chance"
Class III pilot "She has always shown keenness and the fact that she has finally got through is due more to this and her hard work than to her natural ability" 3 accidents, 1 her fault: - 5 Feb 1944, the starboard undercarriage leg of her Spitfire collapsed on landing, after failing to lock down - 20 Feb 1944, the port undercarriage leg of her Spitfire VIII struck a heap of stones beside the runway, after a takeoff in a strong crosswind - 2 May 1944, a forced landing in a Spitfire after hydraulic fluid leaked into the cockpit
m. 1953 in Kensington, Marcus Samuel 'Mark' Hale, also an ex-ATA pilot. They had a son together in November 1945, who remembers his mother telling him that "she was still flying missions with the ATA whilst pregnant".
d. 2004, Australia
Download ATA Pilot Personal Record (.zip files):
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via Marcus J Hale
Joan and Mark, 1942
