Irene Arckless 2nd Officer ATA from Uppingham, Rutland was one of those ordinary Working-Class Girls who, by sheer Enthusiasm & Determination, and with the help of the subsidised Civil Air Guard Scheme, learnt to Fly in the years before WW2. She managed to amass over 50-hrs Solo between 1937 & 1939. Amy Mollison (Amy Johnson) was the daughter of a Fish Merchant in Hull) once snootily dismissed someone as “the Typical CAG Lyons–Waitress Type“.
You’ve probably met someone like Irene; bubbly, a bit cheeky, innocent, irreverent – ‘high spirited’, if you like that sort of thing, a complete pain if you don’t – and probably exactly the sort of person who would get right up Captain The Honourable Margie (Margaret) ‘Mrs Cold Front’ Fairweather’s nose (Her father was Viscount of Doxford). Which Irene indeed did.
In her 1st Letter, dated 11th March 1941, having heard Lord Londonderry’s appeal on the Wireless the Night before, she applied:
“I wish to put forward the following for your Approval, and I will be most grateful to hear from you if you think that my Services could be of use in connection with the ATA – I was studying for my 2nd Class Navigators Certificate and intending to take a ‘B’ Licence but the War stopped all that I’m afraid. I am 25-yrs of age, height about 5ft-4ins. I would very much like to get into the ATA, particularly as my Fiancé is a PoW in Germany (Flt Lt T M Lockyer) and as he is no longer able to Fly his beloved Spitfires, if I can carry on his good work I would love to do so . I am swotting up all the information I can get hold of with regard to Variable Pitch Airscrews, Superchargers & Boost Pressure, as we did not have any of those on our poor old Gypsy Moths, Hornet Moths etc!”
She closed by “Hoping I can do my bit for our Dear Old Country.”
Flt/Lt Thomas (Titch) Mitchell Lockyer Chorley, Lancs, Shot-down 22nd February 1941 Flying a Spitfire R6598 (1PRU) over Ostend the Victim of Obfw Hermann Staege 2./LG 2. PoW
ATA Invited Irene for a Flight Test, and on the 31st March she wrote:
“Dear Mr Wood
First of all I better give you an explanation of this Letter! A few days ago I Wrote to W/Cdr Geoffrey Tuttle asking if he could tell me anything about the Prospects of the ATA I had already submitted my Application to them, and have since had a Letter asking me to go to Hatfield for a Flight Test. I have arranged to attend at Hatfield on Tuesday, 8th April at 10.0oam
I have had a letter from Geoffrey today, and he gave me your Name & Address, and told me to Write to you, so I trust you will forgive the Liberty I am taking. What I want to know at the moment, and before I go to Hatfield next Monday – I am Travelling down to London on the 7th instant, is – I might as well come straight to the point! – do you know what kind of Machines they are using at Hatfield for the Flight Tests? I would be most grateful if you could drop me a note and let me know what to expect to handle – ’cause I want to be as well prepared as possible. I have handled Gipsy II, Hornet Moths, Fox Moth, and several of the Ultra-light Types, such as Pragas, Taylor Cubs etc. I am hoping I don’t have to do the Test on a completely strange Machine – if they have Tiger Moths there I shall be quite happy, as they are very similar to Gipsys as you know. If it will be in order for you to Inform me what I will be most likely take the Test on, I shall be most grateful to you.”
He sent a Telegram back which (even before the days of auto-correcting Smartphones) managed to read “Tiger Mothers for Initial Test”.
Irene was well into her Stride now. Here she is, writing to ATA Adjutant Kitty Farrer on the 9th April 1941:
“Dear Madam,
First of all I would like to say how pleased I am that I was successful in passing my Flight Test yesterday, and that I am looking forward very much to coming down to take up Duty. I already feel I shall be very happy with you all, as everyone was very nice to me yesterday. I do sincerely hope it will not be long before you send for me – you know I am honestly very anxious to get down to what I term ‘a Real Job of Work’.
There was one thing I forgot to ask you yesterday, a rather important one as well! The question of Salary!! I know the Rates as Published in ‘Flight’ but whether these apply to Male & Female, or only the former, I do not know, will you be kind enough to tell me exactly what the Scale is?
From what you said yesterday, I gather I shall be at Hatfield ‘Under Training’ for about a month, & during this time I take it Flying Pay will not be applicable. I should like to know just how I shall be fixed as regards Salary, so that I can make necessary arrangements here before I leave, i.e. (so that if necessary I will have sufficient Cash to last me until I draw my First Pay).
I am asking you this because I have recently transferred my Bank Balance to War Bonds, & naturally do not want to have to ‘Cash in’ on these if not necessary. I think you will quite understand my asking – I hope so anyway. Further, if there are any special subjects I can ‘Swot’ meantime, will you send me a List? I am Swotting up Met: Navigation, etc, and also my Morse – I don’t know whether the ATA ever have need to use the latter, but it may be useful at some time or other.
Believe me Mrs Farrer, this job of work I am going to do, & I shall do my utmost to do it well, means an awful lot to me, I told you my Fiancé F/Lt Lockyer is a PoW, & to me now, every ‘Plane we can deliver to the Great Lads of the RAF, means one day nearer to the time he will be home, & everyone carefree & happy again. You don’t know Tommy, but he is a grand fellow, & a damn good Pilot, he has over 3,000-hrs to his credit! My record is a mere detail beside that isn’t it?
To me, however, his 3,000-hrs means an awful lot, & whenever I Fly, I always try my best to do it well, I’ve his good reputation to Uphold you see. You’ll probably think that a very sentimental reason, on the other hand, maybe you’ll understand what I mean. By the way, I think I could get off with a Fortnight’s Notice, so if perchance if I could start with you in May, will you let me know. Here’s hoping I can start then. Forgive me for taking up so much of your time with this letter please, I started it with the intention of being very Business like! but I’m afraid it’s got to be a personal letter in the end – hasn’t it?
Hoping to be with you all very soon.
Irene“
She wrote back to Mr Wood to say thank you, and that “I passed the Flight Test successfully – in fact, I did very well indeed, so I was told by the Adjutant afterwards – she said “Your Test was Excellent”. So you may guess I felt quite proud of myself!
Actually I surprised myself I must admit, because after being ‘off’ Flying since the Outbreak of War, I thought maybe I’d have forgotten a few things – however I hadn’t, thank goodness! because this Job means rather a lot to me as I told you.”
Nothing happened:
20th April 1941, to Kitty:
“Dear Mrs Farrer,
Many thanks for your letter of the 14th instant. You know you make me feel very much at ‘home’ the way you write, and I know that I will be very happy with you all when I come to join you.
I think I told you I am at an EFTS at the moment, and British Air Transport, who are running the School, have a Scheme for Training Boys to become Engine Experts! (we hope!) so after Office Hours, I am an Apprentice! I am trying to put together all the numerous Parts which go to make up an Aircraft Engine!!
I suppose I will be reaching the ‘Watchmaker’ Stage before too long – you know – one piece over! Where the heck does this go?! I have learned quite a lot about ‘twin’ Types, and already, in theory! I think I could fly ’em! That remains to be seen, but I hope one day soon I shall be Flying Twin, or even more than Twin Types.
Optimistic aren’t I! Strange to say though, right from childhood I’ve always felt more at home ‘Upstairs’ than on the Ground.
Here’s hoping you will soon require some more Pilots Mrs Farrer, I’m an awful pest aren’t I? but I’m just longing to get Started you know.”
Still nothing happened:
5th June to Kitty:
“Dear Mrs Farrer,
Yes, it’s that Arckless pest again! I am going to ask you something point blank, and leave it to you to decide what happens!
As so far there seems no possibility of me coming down to join you in the immediate future on the Flying Staff, I wonder if in the meantime there is any chance of a Ground Appointment, either as a Typist or Clerical Staff.
If there is any opportunity of work of this nature in the meantime, I would be perfectly willing to come down, and then later, when a Vacancy exists for a Pilot, I could be transferred to that Vacancy.
I feel sure that I could make myself quite useful if there are any Openings in this direction, but of course, as you will understand, I naturally want to start on Flying Duties as soon as possible.
I am sure you will think I am an awful nuisance, but as you have been so kind, I hope you will forgive me troubling you again. To be perfectly honest Mrs Farrer, this is between you and I entirely – I am sitting in the office here doing practically nothing all day and I don’t like it!
You see, as Mr Brown, our Accountant, knows I am Leaving to come to ATA sometime, he has taken on someone else who is taking over my Job, and the point is, that I am left without anything to do, except to watch that my Job is done correctly by someone else!
Well, there you are, thats the position, and if you are able to help me, I shall be most grateful to you.
Thanking you in anticipation of your Reply, Very Sincerely, Irene”
Nothing yet was forthcoming; eventually Irene had to take herself off to another Job after 4-months of waiting, so she must have been quite amazed to finally get the Call to Report on 1st August 1941. She completed Training (although she Bumped into another Aircraft when Landing on the 11th August, due to ‘bad Airmanship’), went on to Ferry Work, and progressed through the Ranks; she was promoted to 3rd Officer on 5th February 1942, then 2nd Officer on 1st July 1942.
On the 24th February 1942, ATA Senior Commander Pauline Gower invited Irene into her Office to discuss a rather delicate matter. Irene was typically forthright:
“Interview with 3rd Officer Irene Arckless
To Pauline Gower Dear Madam,
Further to Interview of this morning, I would like to place the following Statement on Record as I feel it would be more satisfactory from my own personal view point. The matter being to me of a very serious nature, and effecting my good Character, as such it has always been to date. Reference the accusation made, and presumed to concern myself i.e. that at a certain Aerodrome (unnamed) an unnamed Duty Pilot is Reported to have said to me – when I requested the Delivery Chit to be Signed – “I will, if you give me a Kiss 1st”. I wish to emphatically deny these words, as never, on any occasion, has such a familiar attitude been adopted by any Duty Pilot wherever I have been. Further, I would like to place on Record that far from adopting a familiar attitude myself – I get my Chits Signed as soon as possible, and Depart from the Duty Pilot’s Office. Having served 6-months in H M Forces prior to joining ATA, I consider, that as an Officer and I trust, a Lady, I know how to conduct myself both In & Out of Uniform-“
Irene demanded a Full & Detailed Enquiry, and went on,
“- I would like to add that recently at a number of Aerodromes visited, & by a number of people, I have been mistaken for another Female Member of the ATA, whether there proves to be any connection with the charge made & the above – will do doubt, after Investigation, come to light.
I an Madam,
Your Obedient Servant,
Irene
Pauline (no doubt muttering under her breath ‘For goodness’ sake, calm down, Woman’), replied:
“With reference to your letter to me of today’s date, I would point out to you that you have not been Charged with any Offence. Certain matters have been brought to my attention and I took the course of discussing these with you in order to clear them up. Under the circumstances I shall make a further Investigation but in the meantime I am fully prepared to take your word concerning the particular instance mentioned in our conversation this morning.”
– and that appears to have been the end of that.
The very next month (March 1942), however, a more serious matter came up, and she was Grounded. Without boring you with all the tedious details of ‘She said to me, so I said to her’, etc, what happened was this:
On the 15th March, Irene Ferried an Aircraft from Catterick to Prestwick, via Carlisle. As she Landed, who should be watching but Margie Fairweather, and she was not pleased by what she saw; “I noted the Circuit & Approach of the Machine which ultimately turned out to be Piloted by 3rd Officer Arckless. The Final Turn into the slight Wind which was blowing, was done in a Series of Jerks, in the nature of Flat Turns, and the Machine was then under-Shooting by several 100-yds. The Engine was now used to Recover, and Height was again Gained. Thereafter the Machine made a perfectly good Landing on the Grass. I was shocked to discover the Pilot was 3rd Officer Arckless who is known to have some Experience.”
Margie confronted Irene, criticised her Turns, the Height at which she Circuited the Aerodrome, minutely cross-Examined her on her knowledge of the Valley, and queried Irene’s explanation of a Fuel Leak for the large quantity of Petrol taken on at Carlisle; (she asked for a ‘Snag Report‘ and said “If it’s found to be alright, it will be too bad for you”, or words to that effect); she also told Irene she clearly didn’t know how to read an Altimeter. Margie summed up her opinion of Irene in no uncertain terms: “Her whole Bearing during our conversation convinced me, that her extreme Confidence in herself as a Pilot has no justification.”
Irene, in turn, wrote, “Personally I feel that there is some personal prejudice existing in the whole of Captain Fairweather’s Attitude” and ended her Report by stating, “my one Ambition is to be an Asset to ATA and not a Menace!”
As it happens, Irene came up with convincing Arguments against all Margie’s criticisms; nevertheless, she was sent back to School for a Check Flight, with the Chief Instructor, no less. I wonder if she could resist a slight smirk when the report came back:
19th March 1942
T/O – I Arckless
We have duly received your Report dated 15th March regarding the above Officer, and thank you for Writing. Miss Arckless has had a Flight Check with the Chief Flying Instructor who has given us such a Good Report that we have no alternative but to return her to full Flying Duties. Her Explanations on your various points seem fairly satisfactory, but we shall, of course, keep this Officer under Observation.
To be fair to Margie, she was just doing her Job, and she was absolutely right to be concerned; the 15th of March 1942 was one of the worst days of ATA‘s existence, with 6-people dead in 4-separate Crashes. Plus, Margie was a very experienced Pilot & Instructor; if she had concerns about the way Irene was Flying, she was probably right. In any case Margie & Irene’s personalities and backgrounds were so different, they were perhaps bound to Clash. Pauline thought it best to Transfer Irene anyway, with this Note in her File:
“Miss Arckless suffers from over-Confidence and I am not at all satisfied with her ability as a Class I Pilot. I should be grateful therefore if you would keep a careful check on her Flying & General Airmanship.”
Irene’s next Mishap turned out entirely to her Credit; on the 20th August 1942 she Took-off in a Mk I Hurricane, and the Port Undercarriage Leg failed to Retract. She wrote:
“I Flew around for about 30-mins trying to get Port Leg up, or Starboard down, by the Emergency Methods – nothing happened, in any of these Directions, the Port Leg remained down & Starboard up. After this I Circuited the Aerodrome, waggled my Wings, and made very amazing other Actions. By amazing actions I mean: I trimmed Aircraft to Fly hands-off as well as was possible under the circumstances, took both hands-off & feet-off everything and tried Brute Force to move the Selector Lever – during this period the Aircraft certainly appeared to perform some remarkable Antics! I then did a further Circuit and went in to Land. The Port Wheel fortunately retracted and I made a ‘Normal’ Crash Landing.”
She went back to School, but this time on a Conversion Course. Her Final Report was, again, positive: from A G Head, Temp OC Training Pool
“A Keen & Safe Pilot who has shown considerable Initiative & Resourcefulness. A likeable Personality who is inclined to be rather High Spirited but whose work is of a High Standard. An extremely good Navigator who will make a most useful Ferry Pilot. She had to cope with a difficult problem in a Hurricane with Undercarriage Selector trouble recently, and Belly Landed it with less damage than the Engineer Officer of the Station had ever seen before with similar circumstances. She was Exonerated by the Accidents Committee, thus proving her School Reports to carry considerable Weight. All her Work in Training Pool has been very Satisfactory.”
Irene had another Accident, on 21st December 1942; her Airspeed Oxford developed Low Oil Pressure in its Starboard Engine and she had to Force Land. The Incident was Investigated and she was found ‘Not to Blame’.
Sadly however, her next Accident – less than 3-weeks later, in the same Type of Aircraft – was Fatal. On the afternoon of Sunday 3rd January 1943, her Oxford V3888 Crashed onto a House on the Outskirts of Cambridge when an Engine Cut during Take-off. She was taken to Addenbrooks Hospital but was pronounced Dead.
Pauline Gower never fully warmed to her, actually; rather than the usual fairly positive Summary, she managed to damn Irene with Feint Praise: “her Conduct and General character was satisfactory and she performed her Duties Conscientiously”
The ATA Benevolent Fund went to visit her Parents, to offer Assistance, but reported back:
“Mr Arckless is an ordinary Working man, being an Organ-Builder by Trade and I understand that in recent years he has not been fully Employed, hence the reason that I deemed it advisable to Interview the Deceased’s Parents on the question of the Fund. Both Mr & Mrs Arckless have requested me to thank the Organisation and the Committee for the consideration shown to them, but they feel that, although their Daughter contributed considerably to the Home, they cannot under the circumstances avail themselves of any Monetary Allowance which the Committee may have see fit to Grant them as they feel there must be many more Deserving Cases, namely young Widows left with small children.”
Cairns Post, 15th January 1943; “Irene Arckless, daughter of a Carlisle Organ-Builder, was known as “the Flying Schoolgirl.” She realised her Schoolgirl ambition to emulate Amy Johnson. She made her 1st Solo Flight when she was 21. She was Killed on the day after her 28th Birthday. She had just returned to her Station from 4-days Leave. She was Engaged to Flight-Lieutenant Thomas Lockyer, a PoW in Germany. Lockyer’s father said last night “Tom & Irene had known each other since childhood. She took Flying Lessons as soon as she left School. When Tom joined the RAF, she was determined to get her ‘Wings‘ as soon as he did.” She joined the ATA Ferry Service in October, 1941, after she heard that Lockyer was a Prisoner. “One of us must keep Flying”, she said’.”
Air Gunner Bob Gill DFM 