Joan Hughes
Encyclopedia
Joan Lily Amelia Hughes, MBE
(27 April 1918 - 16 August 1993) was a World War II
ferry pilot and one of Britain's first female test pilots.
Hughes was born in the West Ham
district of London in 1918. She started flying training when she was 15, before age restrictions were introduced, and by the time she was 17 she had become the youngest female flyer in Britain.
As an experienced aviator she joined the Air Transport Auxiliary
, and soon had more than 600 hours ferrying aircraft around the country. Although she was small in stature, she ferried all types of aircraft including heavy four-engined bombers such as the Short Stirling
. She became both a senior pilot and the only woman qualified to instruct on all types of military aircraft then in service.
Hughes was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
in 1946 for her war work . She continued to fly after the war, using her talents as an instructor.
She was featured in "The Eagle
Special Investigator meets Joan Mills in Special Investigator Flies Solo," an article on page 61 of the 1953 book Eagle Special Investigator by Macdonald Hastings
, published by Michael Joseph.
In the 1960s, she was a flying instructor with the Airways Aero Association, first at White Waltham Airfield
, then at Booker Airfield
.
In early 1964, due to her low weight and considerable experience, Hughes was recruited for testing a near-replica of the 1909 Santos Dumont Demoiselle monoplane
, then flying it in the 1965 film Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines
. She also flew replica World War I
aircraft for the film The Blue Max
(1966). She was also the pilot who flew the Tiger Moth
biplane for all of the live-action flying shots in the 1968 movie Thunderbird 6
.
She retired at Booker in 1985, with 11,800 hours in her logbook. Joan Hughes died in Somerset on 16 August 1993, aged 75.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(27 April 1918 - 16 August 1993) was a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
ferry pilot and one of Britain's first female test pilots.
Hughes was born in the West Ham
West Ham
West Ham is in the London Borough of Newham in London, England. In the west it is a post-industrial neighbourhood abutting the site of the London Olympic Park and in the east it is mostly residential, consisting of Victorian terraced housing interspersed with higher density post-War social housing...
district of London in 1918. She started flying training when she was 15, before age restrictions were introduced, and by the time she was 17 she had become the youngest female flyer in Britain.
As an experienced aviator she joined the Air Transport Auxiliary
Air Transport Auxiliary
The Air Transport Auxiliary was a British World War II civilian organisation that ferried new, repaired and damaged military aircraft between UK factories, assembly plants, transatlantic delivery points, Maintenance Units , scrap yards, and active service squadrons and airfields—but not to...
, and soon had more than 600 hours ferrying aircraft around the country. Although she was small in stature, she ferried all types of aircraft including heavy four-engined bombers such as the Short Stirling
Short Stirling
The Short Stirling was the first four-engined British heavy bomber of the Second World War. The Stirling was designed and built by Short Brothers to an Air Ministry specification from 1936, and entered service in 1941...
. She became both a senior pilot and the only woman qualified to instruct on all types of military aircraft then in service.
Hughes was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1946 for her war work . She continued to fly after the war, using her talents as an instructor.
She was featured in "The Eagle
Eagle
Eagles are members of the bird family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera which are not necessarily closely related to each other. Most of the more than 60 species occur in Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just two species can be found in the United States and Canada, nine more in...
Special Investigator meets Joan Mills in Special Investigator Flies Solo," an article on page 61 of the 1953 book Eagle Special Investigator by Macdonald Hastings
Macdonald Hastings
Douglas Edward Macdonald Hastings was a British journalist, author and war correspondent.Macdonald Hastings was born in London, and educated at Stonyhurst College, a Roman Catholic Jesuit school in Lancashire. He became war correspondent for Picture Post during the Second World War, sending...
, published by Michael Joseph.
In the 1960s, she was a flying instructor with the Airways Aero Association, first at White Waltham Airfield
White Waltham Airfield
White Waltham Airfield , is located at White Waltham, southwest of Maidenhead, in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England...
, then at Booker Airfield
Wycombe Air Park
Wycombe Air Park/Booker Airport is located in Booker, Buckinghamshire, south-west of High Wycombe, England. It was formerly the Royal Air Force base, RAF Booker....
.
In early 1964, due to her low weight and considerable experience, Hughes was recruited for testing a near-replica of the 1909 Santos Dumont Demoiselle monoplane
Monoplane
A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with one main set of wing surfaces, in contrast to a biplane or triplane. Since the late 1930s it has been the most common form for a fixed wing aircraft.-Types of monoplane:...
, then flying it in the 1965 film Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines
Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines
Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines, Or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 Hours 11 Minutes is a 1965 British comedy film starring Stuart Whitman and directed and co-written by Ken Annakin...
. She also flew replica World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
aircraft for the film The Blue Max
The Blue Max
The Blue Max is an 1966 British war film about a German fighter pilot on the Western Front during World War I. It was directed by John Guillermin, stars George Peppard, James Mason and Ursula Andress, and features Karl Michael Vogler and Jeremy Kemp. The screenplay was written by David Pursall,...
(1966). She was also the pilot who flew the Tiger Moth
Tiger moth
Tiger moths are moths of the family Arctiidae.Tiger moth may also refer to:*de Havilland Tiger Moth, an aircraft; an aerobatic and trainer tailwheel biplane*de Havilland DH.71 Tiger Moth, an earlier monoplane produced by de Havilland...
biplane for all of the live-action flying shots in the 1968 movie Thunderbird 6
Thunderbird 6
Thunderbird 6 is a 1968 British science-fiction and adventure film written by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, directed by David Lane and produced by Century 21 Cinema...
.
She retired at Booker in 1985, with 11,800 hours in her logbook. Joan Hughes died in Somerset on 16 August 1993, aged 75.