"JOHNNIES" STORY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 139, 16 June 1930, Page 10

"JOHNNIES" STORY

WORKING AT ENGINES

JOB TO BE NEAR WORK

GBOUND LICENCE WON

(Copyright.} ■ No. VI.

Continuing her story of her early (rials as an aviator, Miss Amy Johnson tells of the reluctance of the engineers to have a woman about the workshops, of their repeated efforts to "discourage her, and of their final capitulation. She describe? her delight at being the first woman in England to win a ground engineer'!.1 licence, and her joy at being able to resign her office job and take definitely to aviation. Shrewd instructors, so I learned,..always distinguished between those who sought flying for the love of ilyiug and those who desired wings merely because it might be fashionable. There, was no surprise, therefore, when I went to Captain Baker and asked to bo taught why an engine runs on petrol,, and how it drove propellers at terrific speeds. The engineers were quite willing to explain, things until I edged round them into the cngii.eering shop. They had not had a woman working about them before,"and vowed they never, would. There seemed to be a sex antipathy in the workshop and the chances of woman getting- into overalls and pulling an engine to pieces were about as even as those of a woman walking into the shoes of Mr. Eamsay MaeDonald in the role of Prime Minister. • Diplomacy was needed, and because one of Vis chief engineers declared that I seemed to be a pilot born, ho gave me a grudging chance. So instead of enjoying a walking tour with girl friends for my fourteen days 5 annual leave, I spent that blessed resting time in the grease and dirt of the engineering works at Stag lane. From 6 o'clock in the morning till dusk I was in overalls, working at engines; and I never enjoyed a holiday so much. It was a real holiday from office work. The engineers, though, did not want it. to be easy. They .started we1 off in all the dirty jobs and each day would tell me in detail how to do the same job. ■ . ■ They told mo afterwards that had I once said, "I know how to do it without your repeating the I'esson," they had planned to kick me out, not only literally, but very figuratively; but an aerial engineer was such a marvellous nerson to me then that I would,have bowed at all times to their superior knowledge. Such was my hero worship that had they told me how to rearrange my hair, I would have obeyed them —once. Such profound humility at last won recognition, and they taught me everything possible about the engine. They became so kind as to tell me I had a mechanical mmd —which, of course, might mean anything —and at last forgot the very existence of a woman in the shops. So thorough was the instruction given that good progress was made during those happy fourteen days. Unfortunately, nothing could, stretch their length; and at last I had to trudge back to the stuffy office and maddening routine. I lived midway between aerodrome and office; and in the same way my mind was divided between these interests—the aerodrome because I loved aviation, and the office because I had to live. As a compromise, I worked at the aerodrome from 5 o'clock until S or 5.30 in the morning, and. then scurried to work in town. ■ . As I progressed, un engine was specially set apart for my overhaul, and how I loved it! There were moments when I was so keen on finishing a job that I would not leave the shops until it was very late. Then I had to make a dash for the office. Meanwhile my "boss" had arrived, and was furiously ringing my bell. More aud more dilatory I became; and there were some frightful rows. Things had to end; but before the "crash" came I was desperately in need of funds to continue my ideas of making a living by flying; and, naturally, I- was afraid to appeal to father, who did not even know I had won my pilot's licence. Searching for all economic expedients —onco I studied economics at the university, but the theories I imbibed would not fit into the simple problems of making ends meet—l saw an advertisement asking: "Some gentle young person to take care of two children on two evenings each week and an occasional Sunday, in return for free board and lodging." Speeding out to the address, I got there a bit late; but I besought and implored, and came back nest day. On the third visit ■my supplications found responsive hearts and I got the job. Free from paying for "digs," all my money was available for aviation. My new and happy home was close to the aerodrome, but away from the bus route, with the result that starting time at the office became later and later. Father was once persuaded to advance a loan to purchase a small run-about car; but that only enabled mo to stay longer at the shops and become later at the office. Naturally, the breaking point was ad-, vacing. I could , see that something would have to go. One occupation I loved; but the other I needed and loathed. Unable to solve the problem, I ran home one week-end and like a mild prodigal daughter, confessed to him. We talked things over, and as he declared (at least until I reached Australia), persuaded him against his better judgment that my vocation was flying. The entire family was converted, and then my enthusiasm carried them oft: their feet. To enable me to complete the necessary flying period to gain my commercial pilot's licence, father gave me £.100 and another £50 for my expenses, with an allowance of about £2 a week. Everyone changed. The engineers hailed me as a born pilot, and were proud to show mo off, something like "Exhibit One" at an. inquest. Back to town I raced, threw in my resignation, and cheerfully said "Cheerio! I'm glad to bo gone." Certain am I that the reply was mumbled, "We reciprocate your sentiments." For all that, my employers were very kind and tolerant. Now, I appreciate that fully, and somo day will thank them. What a wonderful feeling it was to go out to the aerodrome, knowing I could stay there all day! The engineers welcomed me with a great cheer. I jumped into overalls and set to work beside my workmates. They had become enthusiastic, and wanted the honour of having turned out the first woman ground engineer from their shops. It all sounded as though they were anxious to market me in much the same way as they would a new type of engine; but I knew they meant more than that. They urged me to write little essays, pushed me off to lectures, and lectured me themselves. At last the testing time came. Early in the morning I went down, and as I did not want to look too dirty I dressed as though I were going for a clerk's examination. In a nice little office frock

I paraded before the examiners from the Air Office. The rest of the story I heard afterwards. They did not like the look of me and wero not very keen on setting any tasks while I was "so prettily rigged," as they termed it. Hatred for persons possessed only of book knowledge was inherent in them. They did not know whether I had 'had practical experience or not; and they could not find out as I was attired. Thcu one of them whispered to tho others, and casually walking up to mo said, "Have a cigarette" I took one, and the sedate board of examiners burst into a merry laugh. You see, my hands were filthy dirty and covered with grease. Without ado, they told me to get into overalls. Perhaps it was fortumito that I did not wish to impress by neatness and femininity, because their amusement relaxed the nervous tension, and I found they were not the ogres which examiners seemed to be in my youth. So I got my ground engineer's "licence, the first to be won by a woman in England, and we celebrated the honour with gusto. The licence was for the Gipsy Cirrus, and Hermes types of engines. Next I got my rigging aircraft certificate. ' About this time the British insurance group, anxious to arrange a standard, had announced a courso of lectures in air navigation. Lady Bailey was attending, and with Miss Wood, lecturer of mathematics at the London University, I was permitted to attend. Everybody urged me to take the exam-, ination, but I did not take it, us I had not completed the necessary 300 hours' flying, nor had I the time, as the lectures extended from November to March of this year. Neither did I take my commercial pilot's licence, as I had not done 100 hours' flying. I was very anxious to get this later, on, because I visualised myself landing in Australia, lonely and almost penniless, and I had anticipated using it to earn a livelihood. How vastly different are conditions in Australia to what I had pictured them. The Australians have swept me off my foet in a more enthusiastic manner than that in which I carried father out of his conservative shell; but without the aid of father and mother my flight now would have been a dream.