Storrington Museum Talk “The ATA Spitfire Girls in Sussex”

“The ATA Spitfire Girls in Sussex”

A Talk by William Lonergan

January 5th at 2.30 p.m. at Storrington Museum,
Old School, School Lane, Storrington RH20 4LL.

This talk covers the women pilots in the WW2 “Air Transport Auxiliary”, ATA, who played a vital part in providing the aeroplanes that were needed for the RAF to win the air battles over Europe and free up RAF pilots for operational duties.

There will be a special reference to two who came from the Speaker’s home town, Whanganui, in NZ. One was sadly killed in 1944 in a Spitfire crash, the other survived the war became a flying instructor at the Whanganui Aero Club.

William Lonergan was born in Whanganui, New Zealand, and learnt to fly in the RNZAF. He then went into civil flying as a flying instructor and commercial pilot. He came to the UK in 1959 and joined the RAF and flew as a fighter pilot, flying instructor and engineering test pilot. He left the RAF in 1976 and went into management and computer consultancy.

He “retired” 6 years ago and fly ex RAF training aeroplanes as a member of the Skyhawks formation display team.

Members £6. Non Members £8. All welcome

Teas & Coffees will be available after the talk.

No booking required

Registered Charity: 1084853

Submitted to the Storrington Community Website using the Event contact form.