The Aviation Historian — January 2018

Issue No 22 THE AVIATION HISTORIAN 103

the journey of Sqn Ldr Charles Maughan, CO of
the RAF’s No 60 Sqn. Using a motorcycle and a
Bristol Sycamore helicopter, then a Hunter T.7 to
cross the Channel, then another Sycamore and
motorcycle, he managed it in just under 41min.
Janet also competed in the 1960 London—
Cardiff Air Race, in Turbulent G-APMZ, but
had to make a forced landing after engine
trouble. In the same race Sheila Scott came fifth,
accompanied by her instructor as passenger in
her Thruxton Jackaroo. Several of Janet’s racing
mounts were Tiger Club Rollason Condors.
She took part in the 1967 Manx Air Derby in
G-ASEU, the 1968 National Air Races in G-AVCZ
and the 1969 Manx Air Derby flying G-AWSO.
In November 1961 Janet, her sister Pauline
and their mother decided to up sticks and live

in San Francisco. She found work instructing,

flying charters and ferrying and there was time

for air racing too. Janet took part in the 1962

All-Woman Transcontinental Air Races (better

known as the Powder Puff Derby), flying

Aeronca Champion N7479B and was placed 37th

out of 52, winning the prize for the best-placed

foreign pilot — albeit the only foreign pilot. She

entered the same event the following year, flying

a Morrisey 2150.

To West London...

On Janet’s return to England in November 1963,

a period of intermittent instructing at Elstree

followed. Here she got checked out on the LSF’s

Avro 19 Anson G-AGWE. Armed now with

twin- and multi-engine ratings, Janet decided

to go freelance. Her first job involved a dozen

trips flying prize Jersey cows (either three cows

or seven calves per load) to various parts of

Europe, including Alghero in Sardinia in Anson

G-AHYN. On advertising her availability and

skills in Flight magazine, she received just one

reply — from none other than Peter Nock, with

whom she had shared the Trenton—Tripoli DC-3

ferry flight in 1958.

Nock had joined the RAF in 1940 aged 19,

and had flown ten missions in Handley Page

Hampdens before being involved in a serious

ABOVE & LEFT In July 1959 Janet participated in

the Daily Mail Blériot Anniversary Race, cycling from

Marble Arch in central London to Croydon, where she

hopped into the Tiger Club’s Druine Turbulent G-APTZ,

as seen above. After landing at Moisselles, she then

jumped on another bicycle, as seen at left, to pedal the

15 miles (25km) to the Arc de Triomphe.