I was to prepare a film on the A.T.A. (Air Transport Auxiliary) while Chick was working for Humphrey on Words for Battle. The A.T.A. was known as the Ancient and Tattered Airmen, a christening given by ex-pilots of the Royal Flying Corps, many of whom were flying for the A.T.A. They were a remarkable bunch of men and women, as I was soon to discover.

In the spring of 1941, I found myself four miles west of Maidenhead, turning into a leafy country lane which was to take me to White Waltham aerodrome from which the main base of the A.T.A. operated. Here I was to meet the C.O., a D'Erlanger. He was resplendent in a specially designed uniform, cut like the R.A.F.'s, but the material was dark blue with wings of gold thread. It was not an agreeable meeting because he took an instant dislike to me and seemed to have no wish that a film should be made of his outfit. However, there wasn't much he could do to stop me. I had come on behalf of the Crown Film Unit, which had received instructions from the Ministry of Information which had received a request from the Ministry of Aircraft Production that a film on the A.T.A. would boost the morale of these civilian pilots whose work was exceedingly arduous and unknown to the public.

My initial briefing had told me that these men and women collected fighters and bombers from factories and maintenance units and then flew them to the operational aerodromes, thus saving R.A.F. pilots this chore when they were all overstretched on operational duties. Clearly, the work of the A.T.A. was of great importance. It was also very hazardous because they had to fly by viewpoint navigation only: no radio in case they interfered with the wavelengths of the R.A.F. In fine weather over a small country like Britain, duck soup. Follow the main line railway system and it will take you most of the way. Turn off left or right from the nearest big town or city and the aerodrome to be found will soon turn up. All very well in fine weather: not so funny when the cloud level is down to two hundred feet.