Nancy Miller Stratford, a 106-year-old Californian, celebrated her birthday, gaining recognition for her critical and dangerous role as a female pilot in Britain's Air Transport Auxiliary during WWII. She was one of the 'Attagirls' who ferried military aircraft, facing hazardous conditions and discrimination, and is now the last surviving pilot of the group.
She flew hazardous fighter planes for Britain during WW2. She just turned 106
Second world warCaliforniaWomenUnited StatesLife and styleWest CoastAir transport
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Nancy Miller Stratford, a 106-year-old Californian, celebrated her birthday, gaining recognition for her critical and dangerous role as a female pilot in Britain's Air Transport Auxiliary during WWII. She was one of the 'Attagirls' who ferried military aircraft, facing hazardous conditions and discrimination, and is now the last surviving pilot of the group.
Trending- 1 1919: Nancy Miller Stratford born in Los Angeles
- 2 1935 (approx): Stratford takes first plane ride at 16
- 3 1940s: Stratford serves in Air Transport Auxiliary during WWII
- 4 1944: Stratford lands Spitfire safely in Scotland after losing visibility
- 5 1970s: US major commercial airlines begin hiring female pilots
- 6 Early 1990s: Women banned from combat roles in US until then
- 7 2010: Stratford self-publishes memoir
- 8 Last week (June 2025): Nancy Miller Stratford celebrates 106th birthday
- Increased recognition for female WWII pilots
- Stratford's story serves as an inspiration for women in aviation
- Highlights historical discrimination against female pilots
- Contributes to the historical record of WWII and women's roles
What: Nancy Miller Stratford, a 106-year-old Californian woman, celebrated her birthday and is receiving wider recognition for her role as a pilot in Britain's Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) during World War II. She was one of the 'Attagirls' who ferried military aircraft, a hazardous job, and is now the last surviving pilot of this group.
When: Last week (Stratford's 106th birthday); 1919: Born in Los Angeles; 1940s: Served in WWII; 1944: Incident flying Spitfire; 2010: Self-published memoir; 1970s: US major commercial airlines started hiring female pilots; Early 1990s: Women banned from combat roles in US until then; 2025: Women make up about 5% of airline pilots in UK/US.
Where: Carlsbad, California, United States (her home); Scottish coastline, United Kingdom (where she landed a plane); United Kingdom (where she served).
Why: Stratford joined the ATA because she 'just wanted to fly' despite societal expectations and her fiancé's disapproval. Her story highlights the critical, dangerous, and often overlooked contributions of women in WWII aviation and the ongoing struggle for gender equality in the field.
How: Stratford joined the British civilian group, Air Transport Auxiliary, which ferried barely tested bombers and fighter planes to airbases and returned damaged wrecks for repair. She relied on her skills and determination to navigate dangerous conditions, such as flying through impenetrable clouds with no formal instrument training.