Air Transport Auxiliary tribute in Hamble-le-Rice

Image: © Jaggery Taken: 17 Nov 2013

Located here http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3814606 at what used to be the entrance to Hamble-le-Rice Airfield and to the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) Ferry Pool. Unveiled on July 10th 2010, the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, the tribute shows the badge of the ATA and its motto AETHERIS AVIDI (eager for the air). The text records that the ATA was formed at the outbreak of war in September 1939 to transport mail, dispatches and essential supplies. It quickly developed to ferry new, damaged and repaired aircraft between the aviation industry and the RAF and Fleet Air Arm airfields. The ATA delivered all types of newly built operational aircraft and flew others in need of repair. Between September 1939 and November 1945 the ATA flew 309,011 aircraft missions. The fledgling ATA consisted of just a few dozen men, with eight women joining shortly after. The wartime strength of ATA pilots was in excess of 1200, including 168 women. It employed able bodied and disabled people from 28 countries. They all performed the same duties, and they all received equal pay and rights. Tragically 173 ATA personnel were killed on duty.

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