The last surviving female pilot from World War II

Mary Ellis is the last surviving female pilot from the second world war. She delivered Spitfires and bombers to airbases. Now aged 101, Sarah Harris went to meet her in Hertfordshire.

[placidrenegade]

Rest In Peace Mary Ellis...you forever have my respect. X

[Demospammer]

I want to give this woman a hug. She risked life and limb so the RAF could have more combat pilots, and sounds like someone whose stories I could listen to almost all day.

[ImpartiallySpeaking]

RIP Mary. — Forever an inspiration to others

[stevethomas]

Watched the Netflix documentary of the Spitfire. Mary was in the last 10 minutes or so. Any one who could watch her reunited with the plane she signed, and resigned, without a tear is one cold fish.
Amazing woman.

[maxwellfan]

Never, ever underestimate all our girls who served and sacrificed.

[tarful]

Many blessings to this World War II hero!!! You will always have my upmost respect for serving our country in a time where men dominated.

Rest in peace Mary Ellis!!

[yamahaxt]

I'm Irish but ye brave spitfire women i'll never forget ye, I love when Mary says i go up and play with the clouds, amazing

[carys]

R.I.P Mary Ellis. Truly a wonderful woman. May heaven welcome you warmly.

[densalbeach]

An amazing woman a true hero and a wonderful life.
Lest we forget!

[gor]

Rip to a true legend very brave lady and a true hero

[franlooving]

So wonderful, brave, and cute in her older years. Just so brave! Thank you for your amazing work!

[howardroberts]

400 Spits, Hurricanes, Bombers. There is the check list, the stall speeds and flap limitations are on the back. Make sure you trim it, or you will never hold here. Don’t forget to check the manifold pressure and prop pitch. No need to set the booster more than ten. Lift the gear asap. Navigation is dead reckoning. The wind is 180 at 20k Pressure setting is 1022 No radio. Best of luck.

[TheBezaleel]

A true pioneer, true God bless this lady.

[paredding]

400 Spits flown...incredible. And that is how to win a war - just tell them to Go Away! Amazing

[ToddSauve]

The BBC reporter created a straw man argument saying that Mary Ellis could fly a bomber alone while it took 7 men to do the same thing. Not to denigrate Mary Ellis' piloting skills but if she could do it solo, so could a man. The 7 man crew was necessary only for a bombing mission where you needed a navigator, a co-pilot, and gunners at each emplacement. I do wish some reporters would actually understand what they are saying.

[LivviEquestrian]

where would britian be without these young women pilots, may have even lost the war god forbid!

[DanielFleiss]

Is that her??.. Is that Old Blue-ey??.. I'm so glad that her and her pilot is okay..

[SamLukie]

Never underestimate a woman. My mother was one.

[stannow]

Hats off and crisp salutes to Mary Ellis and all the women who built and flew the planes for the RAF.
England was the only country to stop Hitler's advance because of the ferocity of the RAF.

[TomBartram-bc]

"Flying solo when men would have a team of seven crew" What a stupid remark. Yeah, it's much worse flying an empty plane across England than one laden with ten tons of fuel and bombs across Germany.