The Story of ‘Spitfire Girl’ Jackie Moggridge, a True Pioneer in Aviation

Jackie Moggridge (1922–2004) was a South African-born aviator who became one of the most prolific female ferry pilots of World War II and a post-war pioneer for women in commercial aviation.

Born Dolores Theresa Sorour in South Africa in 1922, she renamed herself “Jackie” after her hockey heroine, Jackie Rissik. Her obsession with flight began early; she took her first lesson at 15 and became the youngest woman in South Africa to earn a pilot’s license. At 17, she achieved another milestone as the first woman in South Africa to perform a parachute jump.

When World War II broke out, Jackie moved to England to join the war effort. After a brief stint as a radar operator, she joined the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) in 1940. The “ATA girls” were a civilian group tasked with ferrying military aircraft from factories to front-line squadrons. She was one of the youngest and most prolific pilots in the ATA. She delivered more than 1,500 aircraft during the war, including 83 different types of planes (from heavy bombers like the Lancaster to agile fighters like the Spitfire).

Of all the aircraft she flew, she was most famous for her relationship with the Spitfire, delivering over 500 of them in her lifetime. She once described the Spitfire as a “lady’s aeroplane” – delicate, responsive, and a joy to fly. Ferrying was perilous; pilots flew without radios or ammunition, often in poor weather, navigating only by map and compass. Jackie herself had several narrow escapes and lost many friends during the “graveyard runs” of returning damaged aircraft.

Jackie’s determination didn’t end with the war. She continued to break barriers in a male-dominated industry. In 1953, she became one of only five women to be awarded full RAF wings, a significant achievement at a time when women were largely excluded from military flying roles. She famously campaigned to be the first woman to break the sound barrier, though the Air Ministry ultimately blocked her attempt due to the prejudices of the era.

In 1958, she applied to Channel Airways for a pilot position. By omitting her gender from the application and relying on her massive logbook of hours, she was hired and became the first female airline captain to fly passengers on scheduled flights in the UK.

Jackie Moggridge died in 2004 at the age of 81. In a final tribute to her life’s passion, her ashes were scattered from a Spitfire (ML407)—the very same aircraft she had delivered to a front-line squadron 60 years earlier during the war. Her memoir, originally titled Woman Pilot and later republished as Spitfire Girl: My Life in the Sky, remains a definitive account of the “Female Few.”

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35 Beautiful Black and White Portraits of Juliette Gréco in the 1950s and ’60s

Juliette Gréco (1927–2020) was the quintessential voice of post-war France and the dark-eyed muse of the Paris bohemian scene.

Rising to fame in the smoky underground jazz clubs of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, she became the living embodiment of Existentialism, counting intellectual giants like Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus among her closest admirers.

Known for her deep, husky voice and poetic delivery, Gréco transformed the “chanson” into a dramatic art form, breathing life into the lyrics of Jacques Prévert and Joseph Kosma. Her iconic look, characterized by kohl-lined eyes, straight black hair, and an all-black wardrobe, defined the “Left Bank” aesthetic and influenced fashion for generations.

Beyond her music, Gréco was a symbol of intellectual freedom and feminine rebellion, a woman who lived her life with unapologetic intensity and remains the timeless “Grand Dame” of French song. Take a look at these beautiful black and white photos to see portraits of a young Juliette Gréco.

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Two Young Lovers Kissing in a Pumpkin Patch, 1899

In this tender photograph from 1899, a young couple shares a kiss in a pumpkin patch, capturing a private moment against the backdrop of a world on the cusp of dramatic change. As the 19th century drew to a close, society was brimming with excitement over technological progress: steamships and railways had shrunk distances, electric lights were illuminating cities, and the telephone hinted at a future of instant communication. Dreams of flying machines and scientific breakthroughs filled the air, offering a sense of boundless possibility and optimism for the century to come.

Yet alongside this hope, there was palpable uncertainty. The rapid pace of change disrupted traditional ways of life, as rural communities dwindled and industrial cities expanded. Social structures, family routines, and local economies were being transformed, leaving many to wonder what stability and security might look like in the new century. Globally, empires were at their zenith, yet political tensions were quietly simmering, hinting at conflicts that could reshape nations.

Amid this mix of progress and apprehension, the couple’s intimate moment in the pumpkin patch embodies both the personal and the historical: a snapshot of human connection in a world poised between optimism and anxiety. Their embrace reflects timeless emotions – love, hope, and uncertainty – as they faced the unknown possibilities and challenges of the 1900s, much like everyone else at the turn of the century.

The 1957 Mercury Voyager: A Masterpiece of Jet-Age Design

The 1957 Mercury Voyager 2-Door Station Wagon stands as one of the most flamboyant and sought-after examples of American “Jet Age” styling.

Launched during a year of radical transformation for Mercury, the Voyager departed from traditional utility to embrace a bold, futuristic aesthetic. Its most striking feature was the “Hardtop” styling, a pillarless design that created an unbroken expanse of glass, giving the massive wagon a sleek, airy silhouette.

The exterior was a festival of chrome, featuring dramatic “V-angle” tail lights and the iconic “Dream Car” front grille. Under the hood, it boasted a powerful V8 engine, proving that a family vehicle could possess the soul of a muscle car.

Today, the 1957 Voyager is a rare gem among collectors, celebrated not just as a practical wagon, but as a rolling piece of art that perfectly captured the optimism and grandiosity of 1950s America.

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A Gallery of 50 Glamorous Photos of a Very Young and Beautiful Diane Lane in the 1980s

Diane Lane (born January 22, 1965) is an acclaimed American actress. Her accolades include nominations for an Academy Award, three Primetime Emmy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, several Screen Actors Guild Awards, several Satellite Awards, and an ICON Award. In the 1980s, Lane transitioned from a celebrated child actor to one of Hollywood’s most promising young stars. After her 1979 debut in A Little Romance, she began the decade on the cover of Time magazine, famously hailed as “the next great young actress.”

Lane’s work in the early 1980s was defined by her collaboration with director Francis Ford Coppola, who cast her in several high-profile projects. She played the female lead in both The Outsiders (as Cherry Valance) and Rumble Fish. These roles established her as a central figure among the era's young talent, often appearing alongside future “Brat Pack” members.

Lane took on the role of rock singer Ellen Aim in Streets of Fire (1984). Though the film was not a commercial success at the time, it became a cult classic, noted for its “New Wave” aesthetic and Lane’s “rock goddess” performance. At just 18, she played a world-weary gangster’s moll opposite Richard Gere in The Cotton Club (1984). The film’s disappointing performance led Lane to take a multi-year hiatus from acting to regroup and focus on her personal life.

After a period of living away from the spotlight, Lane returned to the screen in the late 1980s. While some of her film choices like Lady Beware (1987) received mixed reactions, she achieved major critical success on television. Her portrayal of Lorena Wood in celebrated Western miniseries Lonesome Dove (1989) was considered a major career comeback. It earned her her first Emmy Award nomination and proved her ability to handle mature, complex roles. Below is a gallery of 50 photos of a young and beautiful Diane Lane in the 1980s:

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Katherine Cassidy: The Grace of Mid-Century High Fashion

In the mid-20th century, Katherine Cassidy was a celebrated fashion model who epitomized the refined glamour of the 1940s and 1950s. Her portraits reveal the sophisticated aesthetic of the post-war era.

Cassidy was a favorite of high-fashion photographers, known for her swan-like poise, razor-sharp cheekbones, and an ability to showcase the architectural silhouettes of New Look fashion. Whether posing in elaborate evening gowns for Vogue or appearing in elegant commercial advertisements for luxury cosmetics, she embodied the “ideal woman” of the period: polished, mysterious, and effortlessly chic.

These glamorous photos capture fashion portraits of Katherine Cassidy in the 1940s.

Katherine Cassidy is wearing a summer hood with flying streamers of white rayon straw cloth by Suzy, U.S.A. at Saks Fifth Avenue, photo by Herbert Matter, Vogue, June 1, 1946

Katherine Cassidy in bare-shouldered afternoon dress of delicately tucked beige chambray by Mildred Orrick, photo by Herbert Matter, Vogue, December 1, 1946

Katherine Cassidy in burgundy wool jersey dress, buttoned in front, fitted smoothly by stitched pleats with full skirt by McMullen, photo by John Engstead, Harper's Bazaar, September 1946

Katherine Cassidy in full-skirted dress of navy-blue spun rayon with elasticized push-down neckline stitched in white by Claire McCardell, photo by John Engstead, Harper's Bazaar, February 1946

Katherine Cassidy in little black jersey top and black-and-white clan-plaided skirt by Troy Guild, photo by John Engstead, Harper's Bazaar, September 1946

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The Amazing Story of Adolf Galland’s “Lobster Flight” in 1941

Adolf Galland’s “Lobster Flight” (often referred to as his “Lobster Battle”) is one of the most eccentric anecdotes from the air war in 1941. It perfectly captures Galland’s reputation as a “dashing” and somewhat rebellious figure who prioritized chivalry and style as much as combat.

On April 15, 1941, Adolf Galland, then a Lieutenant Colonel (Oberstleutnant) and commander of the famed JG 26 fighter wing, wanted to celebrate the 49th birthday of his mentor and friend, General Theo Osterkamp. Instead of sending a telegram or a standard gift, he decided to personally deliver a gourmet feast. He had his crew chief, Gerhard Meyer, pack a basket with fresh lobsters, oysters and bottles of champagne. The basket was carefully stowed in the luggage compartment of his brand-new Messerschmitt Bf 109F-0.

Galland took off from Brest, France, accompanied by his wingman, Oberleutnant Westphal. Their destination was Le Touquet, where the birthday party was being held. However, Galland, ever the “hunter,” decided to take a detour over the English Channel toward the cliffs of Dover to see if any RAF pilots were out for a “morning stroll.”

Near Dover, they stumbled upon a large formation of British Spitfires from No. 602 Squadron on a training mission. Despite having a basket of seafood and expensive wine on board, Galland couldn’t resist the engagement.

During the heat of the dogfight, Galland ran into a technical issue. Because he was still unfamiliar with the new “F” model of the Me 109, he accidentally hit the wrong switch and lowered his landing gear in the middle of the combat.

Despite the immense drag and the vulnerability of having his wheels down, Galland managed to shoot down at least one Spitfire (he claimed three, though British records confirm one destroyed and two damaged). Maneuver his crippled-looking aircraft (with wheels down) through the RAF formation. The famous British ace Paddy Finucane actually spotted Galland’s plane with its gear down and claimed it as a victory, assuming the German pilot was either hit or attempting to ditch.

Once the skirmish ended, Galland retracted his gear and continued his flight to Le Touquet. He landed safely at the party, hopped out of his cockpit, and presented the (presumably shaken but intact) lobster and champagne to a delighted General Osterkamp.

Known for flying with a cigar in his mouth and decorating his plane with a cartoon mouse, he combined audacity with a flamboyant, almost theatrical approach to combat. When asked why he developed this style, he gave a simple answer: “I like Mickey Mouse. I always have. And I like cigars, but I had to give them up after the war.”

Galland’s career spanned over 700 combat missions, surviving multiple crashes and earning Germany’s highest military honors. Yet what made him memorable wasn’t just his combat record but his sense of honor and personality. He respected his opponents, famously arranging a ceasefire to allow British pilot Douglas Bader to retrieve his prosthetic leg.

Adolf Galland passed away in 1996, but stories of his daring exploits, gallantry, and rakish charm endure, illustrating a man who, even in the midst of war, lived with his own unique blend of skill, humor, and refinement.