The Women Who Flew for Hitler
Clare’s third book, The Women Who Flew for Hitler, tells the extraordinary story of the only two women to serve Nazi Germany as test pilots, both of whom received the Iron Cross, yet who ended their lives on opposite sides of history.
Brilliant pilot Hanna Reitsch was the world’s first woman to fly a helicopter, the first person to fly one inside a building, and later tested rocket planes and even a manned version of a prototype cruise missile – the V1 flying bomb or doodlebug. A fanatical Nazi, in the last days of the war she begged Hitler to let her fly him to safety from his Berlin bunker.
Her nemesis, Melitta von Stauffenberg, an exceptional aeronautical engineer and test pilot for the Stuka dive bombers that were synonymous with the Blitzkrieg, was part Jewish, and joined the clandestine German resistance. In July 1944 Melitta was at the heart of the most famous attempt on Hitler’s life, the Valkyrie bomb plot.
The Women Who Flew for Hitler was longlisted for the Historical Writers Association prize, and is under option for TV.

‘Vividly drawn… a thrilling story.’
Anne Sebba, Daily Telegraph
‘Popular history of a high order.’
Giles Wittell, The Times
‘A serious double biography of two of the most remarkable women in then history of aviation… well researched, beautifully written, and gives a perspective on the war that even seasoned students will find refreshing.’
Keith Lowe, The Spectator
‘The dominant story of the Second World War has been told by men. To hear from women on the front line is a revelation.’
Lucy Hughes-Hallett, New Statesman
‘Eye-opening dual biography.’
TLS
‘This compelling work has the drama and suspense of the best movie scripts.’
Library Journal, USA
‘Biographer Mulley comes through in a major way… absolutely gripping.’
Booklist, USA
‘Spellbinding… destined to be a movie, but read the book first.’
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, USA
‘A thrilling, moving insight into two very different but equally amazing women… an utterly compelling read.’
Historia Magazine, Historical Writers Association magazine
‘A real page turner, hard to put down… truly outstanding… utterly engaging and absorbing.’
Britain at War Magazine
‘Well researched… as exciting as a good thriller.’
Aerospace, the Magazine of the Royal Aeronautical Society
‘Superb… beautifully written, well paced and full of drama. The story of the two women’s rivalry will never be better told.’
The Literary Review
‘Enthralling.’
Sunday Telegraph
‘Struck gold again… gripping… the feel of a novel.’
FlyPast Magazine
‘An absolute ripsnorter… I strongly recommend that you buy at least two copies.’
Sam Leith, Literary Editor, The Spectator
One offered to fly Hitler to safety while the other plotted his assassination – yet both these women were German patriots‘ Daily Mirror
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‘Feud of Hitler’s Flying Frauleins’ Daily Mail
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‘One tried to kill him, one tried to save him: the women who flew for Hitler’ The Telegraph
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‘The Women Who Flew for Hitler’ BBC History Magazine
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‘The Women Who Flew for Hitler’ interview with Jenni Murray, BBC R4 Women’s Hour (from 13.24)
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‘Hitler’s Flying Femmes’, New York Post
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Dan Snow’s History Hit Podcast
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‘The Women Who Flew for Hitler by Clare Mulley’ Historia Magazine
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‘Hitler’s Valkyries: The remarkable story of two remarkable women, test pilots in the Third Reich’s struggle against the Allied cause’, Britain at War Magazine