RB396: delivered 80 years ago by a remarkable woman
December 9 marks the 80th anniversary of RB396 being delivered to RAF Westhampnett from RAF Lichfield by Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) pilot Anna Leska. RAF Westhampnett plays an important role in the story of the Hawker Typhoon Preservation Group (HTPG). Roy Worthington, the grandfather of our Project Director, Sam, took off from the base on 21 May 1944 before his Typhoon was shot down. He was subsequently imprisoned in Stalag Luft III. Sam’s research into Roy’s war-time exploits gave birth to the HTPG. This is also why the project was launched at Goodwood aerodrome, formerly RAF Westhampnett, in October 2016. It was the first time RB396 returned to the base following Anna’s delivery flight. The restoration of RB396 will, of course, honour all the pilots who flew the Typhoon on the frontline. Importantly, it will also pay tribute to Anna Leska and all those members of the ATA who delivered Typhoons to their bases. Without them, the war couldn’t be won.
Anna was a remarkable Polish pilot who made a significant contribution to the war effort. Born on 14 November, 1910, she was one of the first Polish women to join the ATA, alongside Stefania Wojtulanis-Karpińska.
Early Life and Training
Anna was born into a family with a strong engineering background. Her father, Juliusz Stanisław Natanson-Leski, was a pioneer in Poland’s arms industry. She began her aviation training at the Warsaw Aeroclub and the Aeroklub Pomorski, where she earned her glider and balloon pilot licenses. By 1938, she was a member of the Warsaw Aeroclub.
World War II Service
When World War II broke out, Anna was called up for auxiliary military service and assigned to the Staff Squadron of the Air Command. She managed to escape from a German-controlled airfield in an RWD-13 aircraft, making her way to the United Kingdom via Romania and France.
She joined the ATA on January 1, 1941, after passing her exams and training. She only had about 30 hours of solo flying experience when she signed up, but claimed to have 250 hours in order to meet the entry requirements. She was the 28th woman accepted into the ATA; eventually 166 women pilots would serve in this critical role.
Anna flew a total of 1295 aircraft (an amazing 93 different types) during the war, including 557 Spitfires, and served until the end of October 1945. She was known for her skill and bravery, and was often chosen to deliver bombers to various airfields across the UK. She was photographed for publicity purposes, including a shot of her in the cockpit of a Spitfire at White Waltham taken by photographer Lee Miller, which was published by British Vogue in June 1942. Her contributions were not only significant in terms of numbers but also in the inspiration she provided to other women pilots.
With your help, we will ensure that Anna and all those involved in the story of the Hawker Typhoon, be they pilots, engineers or factory workers, are remembered. If you are already a supporter, thank you. Please continue to help us by sharing our story and social media posts as widely as possible. If you are reading this and are not yet a supporter, then we urge you to sign up (from as little as £2 a month) here and do your bit to keep the story of the Hawker Typhoon and its people alive.
