DURING the Second World War she soared through the sky in Spitfires and Hurricanes helping to deliver the planes to RAF bases across the country.

Now Molly Rose, 92, has had a visit to the the modern day RAF Brize Norton to meet and inspire the latest crop of pilots and see how they are using planes in today’s conflicts.

And although the technology may have changed from her day, it did not stop Mrs Rose from settling down in the cockpit and discussing her wartime experiences.

She was a member of the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) during the Second World War, a civilian unit that ferried fighter planes around the UK after being built or repaired.

The military was short of pilots at the time and licensed fliers were drafted in to help, allowing fighter pilots to concentrate on combat duties.

Mrs Rose, who is from Bampton, flew 37 different aircraft during the war. Spitfires were always her favourite.

During her visit to Brize – organised after Squadron Leader Jo Roe, who also lives in Bampton, met Mrs Rose and invited her to the base – she was shown around a C-17, which is used to transport people and equipment in Afghanistan.

Mrs Rose, who has three sons, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, said: “It was much bigger than the planes I used to fly. I was a single-and twin-engine girl.

“In our day you had very, very few controls. You had a compass, an artificial horizon and a speedometer and really and truly that was it.”

She added: “It was much more interesting in my day because one was entirely in control of the aeroplane. They do not really fly it these days – it is all computers.”

But she said she could probably fly the C-17, adding: “I always feel that should anything incredible happen, one could always cope if necessary.”

Mrs Rose obtained her pilot’s licence when she was 16 years old and was invited to join the ATA in 1942.

She worked with the ATA until 1945, when her husband Bernard, who died 16 years ago, was released after 11 months in a German prisoner of war camp.

Squadron Leader Caz Viles, deputy officer commanding 30 Squadron at RAF Brize Norton, said: “Molly is such an inspirational character, who is so endearingly modest about her incredible achievements.”

FACTFILE

Molly Rose flew in 37 different aircraft during the Second World War, including:

Spitfires: the iconic single-seat aircraft was designed to be a short-range interceptor aircraft. Its primary role was to defend Britain from enemy bombers.

Wellingtons: The twin-engined plane was widely used as a night bomber.

Tiger Moth: The 1930s biplane was used by the RAF to train pilots. Many of the planes were built during the war by Morris Motors Limited at Cowley.