Marion Wilberforce was a Scottish aviator and one of the first eight members of the Air Transport Auxiliary.
19 Facts About Marion Wilberforce
1.
2.
Marion Wilberforce flew many planes including Spitfires, Hurricanes, Lancaster Bombers, Wellington Bombers and Mosquitos.
3.
Marion Wilberforce rose to become deputy commander of the No 5 Ferry Pool at Hatfield, and later became commander of the No 12 Ferry Pool at Cosford, one of only two women pool commanders in the whole ATA.
4.
Marion Wilberforce was born on 22 July 1902 to Anne Ogilvie Forbes and John Ogilvie-Forbes, the 9th Laird of Boyndlie, she was one of seven children.
5.
Marion Wilberforce bought her first aircraft, a de Havilland Cirrus Moth, in 1937 from money made on the stock exchange as a child, having been taught how to invest on it by her uncle Reginald Prendergast.
6.
Marion Wilberforce was one of these, known as the First Eight alongside Joan Hughes, Margaret Cunnison, Winifred Crossley Fair, Mona Friedlander, Gabrielle Patterson, Margaret Fairweather and Rosemary Rees, under the command of Pauline Gower.
7.
Marion Wilberforce was first deputy and then commanding officer of the inaugural women's Ferry Pool at Hatfield, and in 1943 became commander of the No 12 Ferry Pool at Cosford, one of only two women pool commanders in the whole ATA.
8.
Marion Wilberforce went to the canteen, stood on a table and gave a resounding speech about the war effort.
9.
Marion Wilberforce, who knew her well, was often asked for recollections of her, which irritated her since she considered her to be overrated and a poor flyer prone to panic.
10.
Marion Wilberforce's navigation used to involve following features on the ground.
11.
Marion Wilberforce always carried a dinghy in her aeroplane in case she came down over water.
12.
Marion Wilberforce flew as far east as she could, to Helsinki, and continued her journey onwards piloted in another plane, or possibly by train.
13.
Marion Wilberforce brought back with her some blue soap, relishing the colour in drab postwar Britain.
14.
Marion Wilberforce's husband-to-be was for some time undecided between the state of matrimony and a vocation to the priesthood, eventually deciding to test the strength of the latter by spending six months in the monastery at Ampleforth Abbey.
15.
When this period was over Marion Wilberforce was at the monastery gates to collect him.
16.
Marion Wilberforce was a modest woman, refusing requests for interviews about her wartime exploits.
17.
Marion Wilberforce was invited to stand for Parliament but declined.
18.
Marion Wilberforce declined an MBE at the end of the war.
19.
Marion Wilberforce continued to be involved in the Fairbridge Farm Schools until late in her life.