Memorial Held For Spitfire Pilot Mary Ellis

A memorial has been held for RAF veteran Mary Ellis who passed away, aged 101, in July.

Mrs Ellis was one of the last remaining female RAF pilots from the Second World War; she joined the Air Transport Auxiliary and flew Spitfires from factories to combat pilots across Britain.

In her later years, she told the story of her wartime experiences to several generations who had no idea women flew during the war. 

After the war, she moved to the Isle of Wight and it was there that the memorial service was held.

Hundreds of family, friends and well-wishers packed the church, to honour Mary Ellis.

Speaking to Forces News her niece, Rosemarie Martin, said the memorial service had made her “very happy”.

“It’s an opportunity for us to all gather and celebrate Mary’s life and remember what a lovely person she was.”

After the service, a Spitfire from Biggin Hill did a flypast in her memory.

Mary lived independently at the home she’d had built by Sundown Airport, on the Island, which she used to run.