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Spreading My Wings

One of Britain's Top Women Pilots Tells Her Remarkable Story from Pre-War Flying to Breaking the Sound Barrier

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Spreading My Wings

By: Diana Barnato Walker
Narrated by: Lucy Rayner
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About this listen

The remarkable autobiography of a pioneering female aviator who left a privileged life to serve in World War II.

Her father was a millionaire race car driver who became chairman of Bentley Motors, and her grandfather cofounded the De Beers mining company. But by the late 1930s, debutante Diana Barnato had enough of her affluent, chaperoned existence and sought excitement in flying - soloing at Brooklands after only six hours' training.

Joining the Air Transport Auxiliary in 1941 to help ferry aircraft to squadrons and bases throughout the country, she flew scores of different aircraft - fighters, bombers, and trainers - in all kinds of conditions and without a radio. By 1945, Barnato had lost many friends, a fiance, and a husband - but she continued to fly.

In 1962, she was awarded the Jean Lennox Bird Trophy for notable achievement in aviation, but her greatest moment was yet to come, when in 1963 she flew a Lightning through the sound barrier, becoming "the fastest woman in the world". Spreading My Wings is her remarkable memoir, brimming with history and adventure.

©2003 Diana Barnato Walker (P)2018 Tantor
Air Forces Armed Forces Military Military & War Modern Women World War II War Aviation
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What a Lady,welthy privelaged upbringing who then took immense risks delivering warplanes throughout WW2.From Walrus via Spitfire,Mustang,,Wellington, Mosquito and many more to flying a Lightning jet at 1200mph in 1963.Loosing a fiancee and husband in air crashes plus many friends and later conquering cancer.An inspiration to us all what a read, not to be missed.

Amazing

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