Hazel Jane Raines perfected her piloting skills as a barnstormer in Georgia air shows during World War Two. Raines first served the Allied cause as an Air Transport Auxiliary pilot for the RAF in England. When the U.S. military finally accepted women pilots. Raines returned to the states and joined the Wasps, pulling targets for gunnery trainees, a pilot of extraordinary skill.

Raines flew 44 types of airplanes and was the first female reserve pilot called to active duty during the Korean War. Here, Diane Cooper Gould reads from Raines letters home from wartime England.

Sunday morning, March 28th, 1943. Dearest mother. Now that it’s all over, I’ll tell you all about a funny experience I had sometime ago. I would have told you sooner, but I was afraid you would worry. Now there’s nothing to worry about. On March 2nd, I had a Spitfire to deliver from A to B, but after leaving and getting half way to be the thing got tired and just refused to run any longer.

So not having enough altitude to jump. I stayed with it and had quite an interesting ride through my house and wound up in somebody’s front yard, right in the middle of their newly planted flower garden. No one was hurt except me, and I only got a bump on my head and two beautiful blue knees. The people that live in the house were thrilled to death over the fact of having a Spitfire take off the top of their house, and were yet more excited and pleased when they saw it was a girl fly on the machine and an American at that.

They were certain real to me. They took me and what was left of the house and cleaned me up a bit, and sent for an ambulance to take me to a nearby hospital. I was only in the hospital ten days, an English hospital. And to top it all off, they put me in a maternity ward because they had a full house and couldn’t accommodate otherwise.

I’ve never had so much fun in all my life. You should have heard me, gave an advice and comfort to expectant mothers. You are right. I will have lots to tell you when I get back up.

Saturday night, April 3rd, 1943. Dearest Martha, I guess I have neglected you lately. Have. So sorry, but the reason has been a good one. I wasn’t quite sure what to do about Rat and Mother about the accident I had last month, but finally decided I had to mention it to her just in case it got back to the States and got in the papers.

Of course, I didn’t tell her what actually happened for fear she would worry unduly. Yes, yes, I was sure. As we say in the Air Force over here, I had heard it, but Lady Luck was truly with me. On March 2nd I was flying a Spitfire when the engine quit, went through a house, lost my wings, airplane, a complete rat off.

Of course, I don’t remember anything after seeing the houses coming up in my face until I waked up in the hospital. I was darn lucky they had to take 13 stitches in my forehead above my right eye, and I thought I had a fractured skull, but I didn’t. Thank goodness the stick beat up my knees rather badly and my right one is still stiff and sore, but will be okay in time if they decide I won’t be able to fly again for a few months.

I guess I’ll come home. It sure is a tough blow for me, but I guess I can take it if I do get okay. I’m planning to renew my contract for another year. If I do, I hope to get a few weeks vacation and try to arrange to fly back home. I’m not too keen on going back on a boat.

Lots of love. Always. Hazel.

Tags: Letters Home