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Happy 100th Birthday to Spitfire Girl Mary Wilkins Ellis

Mary Ellis gets her MASTER AIR PILOT certificate from Air Commodore Rick Peacock-Edwards, Courtesy Ivan Berryman

Mary Ellis receiving her MASTER AIR PILOT certificate from Air Commodore Rick Peacock-Edwards.
Image courtesy of Ivan Berryman via Derek Hermiston-Hooper.



On 2 February Mary Ellis will celebrate her centenary.




Among the many birthday cards will be one from the Queen. It promises to be a special day.


Here is Mary pictured last year, receiving her MASTER AIR PILOT certificate from Air Commodore Rick Peacock-Edwards, of the Honourable Company of Air Pilots. The ceremony at Cowes was organised by Derek Hermiston-Hooper of the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service Association.



A recent biography by Melody Foreman of Mary was published under the book title, ‘A Spitfire Girl’, subtitled ‘One of the world’s greatest female ATA ferry pilots tells her story.’




Spitfire BM597 at Sandown Air Show 2005.
Spitfire BM597 at Sandown Air Show 2005. Courtesy of Bob Wealthy


During the war, Mary flew in excess of one thousand aircraft of all types to RAF stations and repair units across Britain. Of that number, more than four hundred were Spitfires. After the war Mary was Commandant of Sandown Airport.


Spitfire 161 at Sandown Air Show 2005
Spitfire 161 at Sandown Air Show 2005. Courtesy of Bob Wealthy


Derek Hermiston-Hooper’s godmother was the flying legend Amy Johnson. Amy was a good friend of his mother Gladys.  On 16 February, Derek will be giving a talk on the life and times of Amy Johnson and Jim Mollison. 


Mary Ellis receives her MASTER AIR PILOT certificate November 2016. Courtesy of Ivan Berryman
Mary Ellis receives her MASTER AIR PILOT certificate in November 2016. Image courtesy of Ivan Berryman via Derek Hermiston-Hooper


Royal Mail stamp to commemorate 50 years since the Berlin Airlift 1948-1949
Royal Mail stamp issued in 1998 to commemorate 50 years since the start of the Berlin Airlift 1948-1949


Derek himself had a distinguished flying career. Among other things, he piloted a Halifax in the Berlin Airlift of 1948-1949.


This 1998 commemorative Royal Mail stamp was given to me by another ATA pilot, Peggy Lucas. Peggy was a friend of Mary. They were based at Hamble together. Peggy’s story will be added here soon

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In November last year the suggestion was made by Solent Aviatrix, through the columns of the Isle of Wight County Press, that the Island should honour Mary by giving her the Freedom of the Wight. Watch this space for news on that.