22/07/2022
🇵🇱WWII uncovered: Anna Leska: Polish Air Force: First Woman to Fly in the ATA
A serving officer in the Polish Air Force, Anna Leska was one of three Polish women who served in the Air Transport Auxiliary. She was certified to fly gliders, balloons and airplanes.
On September 22 1939 Anna escaped by plane from a Polish field airport occupied by Germany. Anna would go on to train in Britain and on January 1, 1941 after passing all the qualifying examinations, she became one of the first women to fly with the ATA.
According to the British Poles Web portal "Stationed at Hatfield and Hamble, Leska ferried a total of 1,295 aircraft including 557 Supermarine Spitfires. She flew 93 types of aircraft, including flying boats, and was airborne 1,241 hours. When picking up an aircraft at a plant, she had to check its operation both on the ground and in the air and comment in writing on its performance during the flight for the benefit of the destination wing. After landing a multi-engine combat aircraft, such as the Wellington, it took some effort on her part to persuade the male pilots receiving the aircraft that she was, in fact, the pilot. Among her subordinates, whom she instructed and assisted, were five British women and one each from the United States, Chile, and Argentina."
The women who flew in the ATA were extremely skilful, required as they were to fly a variety of different planes from the maintenance sheds to the airfields (in this image, Leska is in a Spitfire). Fifteen female pilots lost their lives during the war, some of whom were shot down by the enemy.
Anna passed away on January 21, 1988 at the age of 87. She lies in rest at Powązki Cemetery in Warsaw Poland. Lest We Forget.
WWII uncovered©️ Original description and photo sourced by IWM and the British Poles Web portal (Fair Use Photos) Photographer: Lee Miller via the Lee Miller Archive
