Jackie’s (Sorour) Moggridge’s Passion for Flying began at a young age, when she saw a Plane Flying overhead in her Hometown Pretoria, South Africa. Instantly, she wanted to become a Pilot and began taking Flying Lessons, working towards her Commercial Pilot’s Licence. Her brothers used to tease her about her petite frame, claiming that a Woman wouldn’t be able to Fly, to which Jackie thought, “I’ll show them!” By the age of 17 she had become the 1st Woman to do a Parachute Jump in SA. In order to learn more, Jackie’s mother sent her to Witney & Oxford Aero Club at Witney Aerodrome, Oxon, as there weren’t any Flying Colleges in South Africa at that time. She had to Study hard, particularly at Maths, as she needed to prove that a Woman could do it just as well as the Men studying there. Jackie had only been at College a year when WW2 broke out. She desperately wanted to be a part of the Action and to put her Flying Skills to good use, despite her mother’s calls for her to return to South Africa. Jackie initially tried to join the RAF but unfortunately, they wouldn’t allow Female Pilots at that time, so instead she joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF).
At 1st, Jackie’s Role was as a Radar Operator at Rye: a Chain Home Station – the 1st Type of Radar Station (RAdio Detectection And Ranging) to be Developed & Built – of which there were eventually 32-Sites Nationally. Radar Stations were designed for Raid Reporting, passing information to a Central Operations Room which in turn directed Fighters to Intercept Enemy Aircraft. They were put in tiny little Cubicles. All Girls, in little Cubicles. They were looking at a Series of Dots on a Screen. It wasn’t until the end of the week, when they’ve been doing Reporting on the Screen that some were Kicked-out and those that Stayed were then told that they were doing a very Secret Operation, which was called Radar. So, Jackie actually watched the Battle of Britain as Series of little Dots on a Cathode Screen.
As the War progressed, Jackie took a Flight Test and was accepted into the Air Transport Auxiliary to Transport Planes from Factories to Aerodromes around the Country. She was 5ft-3ins Tall. While these Planes were deemed Safe to Fly, the risk was still incredibly high. They had no Radio, no Weapons, and no Navigation Systems, and there wasn’t a Guarantee that everything Worked. Initially, the ATA only took Men, many of whom had been unsuccessful in their RAF Application often due to Age or Injury, earning ATA the nickname ‘Ancient & Tired Airmen’. But as the War went on, there was a greater demand for Pilots and so they began enlisting Women. Jackie joined No.15 Ferry Pool in Hamble, near Southampton; an all-Women’s Pool.
Top: Vera Strodl
Mid 8: Bobby Leveaux, Mardi Gething, Margot Duhalde, Anne Walker, Dora Lang, Jackie (Sorour) Moggridge, Taniya Whitall, Diana( Barnato) Walker
Ground: Pam Marsh, Phyllis Farquharson, Kay van Doozer, Maureen Dunlop, Grace Stevenson, Emily Chapin, Rosemary Bannister, Pat Parker, Phillippa Bennett, Rachel Nickals, Margot Gore, Alison King, Rosemary Rees, Barbara Murray, Margaret Murray, Doreen Williams, Betty Grant
Their Pilots had to Fly every & any Type of Plane that came out of the Factories, from Lancaster Bombers to Spitfire Fighters, using only the Card Information given to them in a small Ring Card Binder.
Jackie giving a Lift to an Airman in a New Type of Aircraft: ‘The Weather was terrible and they were Flying through it with difficulty. When they Landed the CO of the Station came over and asked, ‘How was the Flight?’ and the Chap who’d been given a Lift said ‘well, it was just dreadful Weather, and I can’t believe not only was I Flown back here by a Woman but she was Reading a Book!’ Jackie went on – ‘Oh no, I wasn’t Reading a Novel, these are my ATA Notes, I hadn’t Flown this Type of Plane before.’ He nearly threw up. But this is what it was really like, she hadn’t Flown that Plane before. They were just told that’s what you’re Flying next.
At the end of the War the ATA was Disbanded, and although they were thrilled that War had ended. they were sad that their Job was over. As Jackie herself reflected:‘You’re out!’ they say, when War is Won. ‘We know of all the Work you’ve done.’ But Men must Work, & Women Weep – and the Women said ‘yes – like a lot of Sheep.’
Most of the Women who had Flown in Arduous Conditions went back to being Housewives or Ladies of the Estate and, sadly, many never Flew again. In 1940, Jackie was given the King’s Commendation for Services in the Air, and later joined the RAF Voluntary Reserves. Despite her Work during the War, Jackie still encountered Mistrust for being a Female Pilot. For example, on a Trip to Burma delivering Spitfires: ‘When they all Landed, they were Stuck at the Airport for about 3-hrs because they didn’t believe that a Woman had Flown this Spitfire in, and they thought that a 4th Pilot had just jumped out and ‘Done a Runner’. They had to Ring back to ‘Blighty’ to find out that it was actually True, and they were all stuck waiting while everything was Checked. So yes, they did have some trouble. You can imagine these Countries couldn’t even believe that there might just be a Woman Pilot.’ She flew more than 1,500 Aircraft & 83 different Types.
Marriage – The ATA was closed down in 1945, after the War ended. Jackie Sorour got married the same year to Reg Moggridge, an Army Captain, in Taunton, Devon. Post-war, the Airlines reverted to the pre-War prejudice against Women Pilots . Jackie settled down to Married life and their 1st child, Jill, was born.
Jackie continued to face Obstacles when she wanted to become one of the 1st Women to break the Sound Barrier. After hearing of 2 other Women were trying to Grab the Title, Jackie pushed Hard to be the 1st and Grab the Title for the Commonwealth. Sadly, the RAF & Private Aviation Organisations were unwilling to allow her into a Jet, and so she was beaten to the Title. Jackie did later get the chance to Fly in a Gloster Meteor Jet (see top of page), an experience which she loved, but it was a shame that she wasn’t allowed the opportunity sooner.
After 5-yrs of Service in the Voluntary Reserves, Jackie was given her RAF Wings on the 26th August 1953. After this, Jackie became the 1st Female Airline Captain, Flying Passengers all over the World. When she was young, Candida her daughter didn’t realise just how renowned her mother was, and what an important Role she played during the War. Candida and her Siblings saw her as a Typical Embarrassing Mum, who was away often for Work. It was only as she grew older that Candida began to truly appreciate the actual Work her mum did and what an important Historical figure she was.
‘I realised that actually everyone was terribly interested in the life of ATA, the life of a Woman Pilot, and that she is so Inspirational. She came from an ugly little girl who wasn’t particularly clever, at a School in Pretoria and just had a Dream. She just got there with sheer Will Power and believing in her Dream of anything is possible. Everyone should be able to do that.’
For me, Jackie’s Story is truly Inspirational, showing that determination can take you far. Despite the Hurdles she faced, Jackie was able to live our her dream of being a Pilot. It is also encouraging to see how much the RAF has changed over the 100 years. From initially not allowing Women to enter the RAF to now having an Open, non-Discriminatory Policy. I hope Jackie’s Story encourages others to also pursue their dream Careers. – Candida Atkins
Candida on her Mother as an ATA Pilot
When Jackie died in 2004, she asked Carolyn Grace if she could scatter her Ashes from a Spitfire over an Aerodrome. When in the Air, Carolyn allowed Candida to take the Controls. She remembered the Lessons her mother learned. ‘I just thought, I didn’t move, and it went beautifully to the Right. Carolyn then said “Oh my goodness, You Are your Mother’s Daughter.” I had never Flown a Plane in my life! But those Lessons in that Bed worked.’
Jackie (Sorour) Moggridge was extensively Interviewed by the Imperial War Museum during December 1984 about her considerable Experiences as a Pilot with the ATA at No.15 Ferry Pool ATA Hamble, from 1940-1945. Total of 6-Reels
Air Gunner Bob Gill DFM 