West London Aero Club Members’ Day – Airfields on the Air – GB0ATA

White Waltham Airfield, near Maidenhead, Berkshire, served as the headquarters of the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) during the Second World War. Tasked with ferrying new, repaired, and damaged military aircraft between factories, maintenance units, and operational airfields. At its peak, the ATA employed over 1,300 pilots, including a remarkable group of women who became known as the “Spitfire Girls.” These trailblazing women flew everything from Tiger Moths to Spitfires and heavy bombers like the Wellington—often without radios, instruments, or formal military training.

On Saturday, August 29, 2025, the Bracknell Amateur Radio Club (BARC), operating as GB0ATA, broadcasted from the historic White Waltham Airfield. The broadcast honored the bravery, skill, and quiet determination of the pilots who served in the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA). Their contribution helped turn the tide of the war, and their legacy lives on in the skies over White Waltham.

It was an early start for the team. After some slight concern over the positioning of our tried and trusted 88ft Doublet antenna, we were set up with the IC-7300 radio and ready to get on the air.

We received a fantastic response on 40m, at 7.164MHz SSB, with many callers already aware of the history of the ATA and the White Waltham Airfield. We soon found ourselves with a “pile-up,” a rush of so many callers, some with strong signals and others with lower ones, that we needed to choose carefully to give everyone a chance to make contact.

Although we are used to a noise floor, the event presented its own challenges with the sounds of planes and helicopters from the air show and the rumble of classic cars on display.

Throughout the day, we had many visitors to our stand. We were especially honored to be visited by Candy and Lara Adkins, the daughter and granddaughter of Jackie Moggridge, one of the “Spitfire Girls” who operated from White Waltham. Jackie delivered aircraft to the frontline from the age of only nineteen. Candy also took the microphone and, following an initial contact from our operators, described her mother’s role and the importance of some of the missions she completed.

We were also lucky to be visited by two young women from the British Women’s Pilot Association who also bravely took the microphone and explained their role in helping women pursue aviation careers.

The weather took a turn for the worse around 4 p.m., with rain and heavy clouds interrupting the air display. At that point, we decided to wrap up our “Airfields on the Air” event. After about six hours on the air, we recorded 220 QSOs from across the UK and Europe—far more than we had imagined achieving at the event.

On behalf of everyone at the Bracknell Amateur Radio Club, we would like to thank all of our callers for their QSOs and support, and for allowing us to remember and celebrate the brave achievements of the women and men of the Air Transport Auxiliary.