Billie Swift Takes Flight

A gripping, entertaining and empowering WWII adventure about the women of the Air Transport Auxiliary, perfect for fans of Emma Carroll, Michael Morpurgo and Hilary McKay.

The story of WWII starring the brilliant pilots you’ve never heard of… the women of the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) who battled against the odds to get the air force’s planes to the front lines.

When twelve-year-old Bill is out exploring with her pet chicken, she sees a plane crash into a field and is left wondering if the pilot even survived. Determined to find out more, Bill finds a way into the ATA - a group of amazing pilots who defy the odds to get planes from the factories to the front lines and her life changes for ever. Some of the pilots are men who are too old, or too injured for the air force. But many more are women. Intrepid, inspiring women who show Bill what she might grow up to become.

With missions including ferrying turkeys over from Ireland and flying unfamiliar, broken planes, Bill is desperate to help. But piloting fighter planes could turn out to be more than she bargained for…