Blue plaque for our founding chairwoman
The Oxfordshire Blue Plaques Board has unveiled a plaque at Chalkstone Cottage, Benson, commemorating Freydis Sharland (1920–2014), ‘Spitfire Girl’ of the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) in WWII, pioneering woman pilot and founding chairwoman of the BWPA. Bev Reardon, a member of the BWPA, gave a tribute to Freydis’ life and achievements, saying: “The women of the ATA got little recognition at the time so I am passionate about ensuring they do now. Freydis and the others remain a huge inspiration to women and girls wanting to fly.”
Bev Reardon giving a tribute to Freydis.
The ATA was created at the outset of WWII to ferry new, damaged and repaired aircraft between factories, maintenance units and active service squadrons. Freydis was one of 160 women (in addition to men) who carried out this hazardous work, flying solo and navigating by features on the ground below. Between 1943 and 1945 Freydis made an outstanding contribution to the war effort, ferrying 38 different types of aircraft, from Vickers Wellingtons bombers to De Havilland Mosquito combat aircraft, and most frequently Supermarine Spitfires, which she said were her favourites.
After the war, she was among the first five women awarded RAF pilot ‘wings’ and became British Air Racing Champion in 1954, competing against 16 men. She was a pioneering commercial pilot, famously delivering a Hawker Tempest V to Karachi in Pakistan, flying 4000 miles. On arrival, she was denied access to the Officers’ mess because she was a woman.
Always eager to promote opportunities for women and girls to become pilots, in 1955 she became the founding chairwoman of the BWPA which is devoted to the support of women in aviation. She gave up flying for some years to bring up her children but returned later and was flying microlights until well into old age. She lived in Benson from 1981 until her death on 24 May 2014.
Eda Forbes, Secretary to Oxfordshire Blue Plaques Board, said: “Plaques are awarded only for exceptional contribution and legacy beyond the norm in a particular field. Freydis Sharland easily exceeds the very high bar required. It is gratifying to add another amazing woman to our record.”
The Oxfordshire Blue Plaques Board received financial and other support for this commemoration from the BWPA and from the Bensington Society.
Members of the BWPA with Freydis’ family.
Eda Forbes and Annabel Cook
