Wikipedia

Women's Auxiliary Air Force

The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF), whose members were referred to as WAAFs (/ˈwæfs/), was the female auxiliary of the British Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Established in 1939, WAAF numbers exceeded 181,000 at its peak strength in 1943, with over 2,000 women enlisting per week.

WAAF recruitment poster

History

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A Women's Royal Air Force had existed from 1918 to 1920 but had been disbanded in the wake of the end of the First World War,[1] alongside the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (1917–1921) and the first iteration of the Women's Royal Naval Service (1917–1919).[2]

In 1938, RAF companies began to be raised within the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS).[3]

The Women's Auxiliary Air Force was created on 28 June 1939,[4][5] absorbing the forty-eight RAF companies of the ATS, following the Munich Agreement.[6][7][8] The WAAF was called up to service on 28 August 1939, to begin to free up the RAF for the impending war.[8] Conscription of women did not begin until after December 1941 when the UK Government passed the National Service Act (No. 2),[9][3] which was issued by Royal Proclamation on 10 January 1942. It only applied to those between 20 and 30 years of age and they had the choice of the military auxiliary services, the civilian Women's Land Army or factory work in support of the war effort.[10]

By August 1939, the WAAF had 234 officers and 1,500 other ranks.[8] The number of women in the WAAF peaked in 1943 at 181,835 (15.7% of the RAF),[11][10] with over 2,000 women enlisting per week.[12] By the end of the Second World War, around 250,000 women had served with the WAAF.[13][3] By this point, WAAF enrolment had declined, and demobilisation saw over 100,000 women leave the WAAF.[3] The remainder, now only several hundred strong, was renamed the Women's Royal Air Force on 1 February 1949.[14][15]

Training

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A WAAF corporal serving as an air traffic controller during the Second World War. Many jobs formerly held by men were filled by WAAFs due to wartime labour shortages.

On initial formation, WAAF companies were affiliated with squadrons in the Auxiliary Air Force, who were to provide training to WAAF officers and non-commissioned officers to prepare them administer the WAAF and lead airwomen should the WAAF be called up.[8][16] After the WAAF was called up in August 1939, women recruited into the WAAF were given basic training at one of five sites, though not all of the sites ran training simultaneously. The five sites were at West Drayton, Harrogate, Bridgnorth, Innsworth and Wilmslow.[17] All WAAF basic recruit training was located at Wilmslow from 1943.[18]

Roles

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The Operations Room at RAF Fighter Command's No. 10 Group Headquarters, RAF Rudloe Manor (RAF Box), Wiltshire, showing WAAF plotters and duty officers at work, 1943

When the WAAF was established 10 roles were available: driver; cook; clerk; mess orderly; equipment assistant; fabric worker; teleprinter operator; telephonist; plotter; radio operator.[7] WAAFs did not serve as aircrew, with the use of women pilots being limited to the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA),[3] which was civilian organisation, but 30 WAAFs did transfer to serve as pilots in the ATA.[10] As the war progressed more officer branches and airwomen trades were opened up to WAAF personnel due to shortages in male officers and aircraftmen,[19] where at the end of the war there were 24 branches for WAAF officers, and 93 trades for airwomen.[7] These additional roles included the crewing of barrage balloons, radar operation, aircraft maintenance, transport, meteorology,[20][21] and policing.[22][13]

WAAFs were a vital presence in the control of aircraft, both in radar stations and iconically as plotters in operation rooms, most notably during the Battle of Britain.[23] These operation rooms directed fighter aircraft against the Luftwaffe, mapping both home and enemy aircraft positions.[24][page needed]

Although WAAFs did not participate in active combat, they were exposed to the same dangers as any on the "home front" working at military installations, such as the bombing raids at Biggin Hill.[25]

Additionally WAAFs worked in intelligence operations, working with codes and cyphers,[26] analysing reconnaissance photographs,[citation needed] with several WAAFs also being selected to engage in special reconnaissance and espionage as part of the Special Operations Executive.[27]

From 1940, WAAF officers could serve overseas, and from 1943 aircraftwomen began serving overseas as well.[3]

While the official terminology for the WAAF at barrage balloon sites was barrage balloon operator, they were often referred to in the press as the balloon girls.[28]

Air Force nurses belonged to Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service instead. Female medical and dental officers were commissioned into the Royal Air Force and held RAF ranks.[citation needed]

WAAFs were paid two-thirds of the pay of male counterparts in RAF ranks.[13]

Flying Nightingales

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Leading aircraftwoman Myra Roberts, corporal Lydia Alford and leading aircraftwoman Edna Birkbeck, the first WAAF nursing orderlies selected to fly on air-ambulance duties to France, 1944

Nursing Orderlies of the WAAF flew on RAF transport planes to evacuate the wounded from the Normandy battlefields. They were dubbed the Flying Nightingales by the press.[29][30] The RAF Air Ambulance Unit flew under 46 Group Transport Command from RAF Down Ampney, RAF Broadwell, and RAF Blakehill Farm.[31] RAF Dakota aircraft carried military supplies and ammunition so could not display the Red Cross.[32]

Training for air ambulance nursing duties included instruction in the use of oxygen, injections, learning how to deal with certain types of injuries such as broken bones, missing limb cases, head injuries, burns and colostomies; and to learn the effects of air travel and altitude.[33] Although supplied with parachutes, they were instructed not to use them if the plane was shot down on its return from Europe and instead stay with the wounded soldiers onboard and provide medical support should anyone survive the crash.[34]

The first three Flying Nightingales to arrive in France, a week after D-Day, were corporal Lydia Alford, leading aircraftwoman Myra Roberts and leading aircraftwoman Edna Birkbeck.[35][32]

In October 2008 the seven known nurses still living were presented with lifetime achievement awards by the Duchess of Cornwall.[31]

Directors

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WAAF Recruitment poster, 1941

On 1 July 1939, Jane Trefusis Forbes was made director of WAAF, with the rank of senior controller, later, air Commandant.[36][7] On 1 January 1943 she was appointed to the rank of air chief commandant with its creation.[citation needed] On 4 October 1943, while Forbes toured Canada, assessing the Royal Canadian Air Force Women's Division, she was relieved by Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, who had been commandant of the WAAF since 1939, again with the rank of Senior Controller, then, air Commandant,[37] being gazetted to air chief commandant on 4 March 1943.[citation needed] The post of director was given to Mary Welsh, who was appointed air chief commandant.[38] Forbes later retired in August 1944.[39] After the war, the rank of air chief commandant was suspended and in October 1946, the final director of WAAF, Felicity Hanbury, was appointed.[15]

Director of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force
Image Name Rank Years
Jane Trefusis Forbes Senior controller 1 July 1939–January 1940[36]
Air commandant January 1940–1 January 1943
Air chief commandant 1 January 1943–4 October 1943[39]
Mary Welsh Air chief commandant 4 October 1943[38][40]–November 1946[41][verification needed]
Felicity Hanbury Air commandant 12 October 1946–January 1949[15]
Commandant of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force
Image Name Rank Years
Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester Senior controller 1939–12 March 1940
Air commandant 12 March 1940[37]–4 March 1943
Air chief commandant 4 March 1943–August 1944

Ranks

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Initially, the WAAF used the ATS ranking system, although the director held the rank of senior controller (equivalent to brigadier in the British Army and air commodore in the RAF) instead of chief controller (equivalent to major-general or air vice-marshal) as in the ATS.[citation needed] While the rank names were different, the rank insignia used were the same as those used by the RAF.[7] In December 1939 the title of senior controller was changed to air commandant, when all ranks in the WAAF were renamed and reorganised.[citation needed] Other ranks now held identical ranks to male RAF personnel, but officers continued to have a separate rank system, although now different from that of the ATS. From February 1940 it was no longer possible to enter directly as an officer; from that time all officers were appointed from the other ranks. From July 1941 WAAF officers held full commissions. On 1 January 1943, the rank of air chief commandant (equivalent to air vice-marshal) was created with the director's appointment to that rank.

Officers

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Rank group Air officers Field officers Junior officers
Women's Auxiliary Air Force
(1939–1940)
Senior controller Controller Chief commandant Senior commandant Company commander Deputy company commander Company assistant
Women's Auxiliary Air Force
(1940–1949)[42]
Air Chief Commandant[note 1] Air Commandant Group Officer Wing Officer Squadron Officer Flight Officer Section Officer Assistant Section Officer
 Royal Air Force[43]
Marshal of the RAF Air chief marshal Air marshal Air vice-marshal Air commodore Group captain Wing commander Squadron leader Flight lieutenant Flying officer Pilot officer
/acting pilot officer
NATO codeOF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1

Other ranks

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Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
Women's Auxiliary Air Force
(1939–1940)
 No insignia
Senior Section Leader Section Leader Assistant Section Leader Aircraftwoman 1st Class Aircraftwoman 2nd Class
Women's Auxiliary Air Force[44]
(1940–1942)
 No insignia
Under officer Senior sergeant Sergeant Corporal Aircraftwoman 1st Class Aircraftwoman 2nd Class
Women's Auxiliary Air Force[45][46]
(1942–1949)
 No insignia
Warrant officer Flight Sergeant[note 2] Sergeant Corporal Leading Aircraftwoman Aircraftwoman 1st Class Aircraftwoman 2nd Class
 Royal Air Force
(1939–1950)		 No insignia
Warrant officer Flight sergeant Sergeant Corporal Leading aircraftman Aircraftman 1st class Aircraftman 2nd class
NATO codeOR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1

Notable members of WAAF

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WAAFs serving with SOE

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Noor Inayat Khan in WAAF uniform, 1943

Several members of the WAAF served with the Special Operations Executive during the Second World War.[27]

Other notable WAAFs

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ↑ created 1943 with first appointment.
  2. ↑ also called Senior Sergeant

References

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  1. ↑ Philpott 2005, p. 279.
  2. ↑ Miller 2023, Setting the Precedent: Women in the First World War.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) 1939 – 1949". Royal Air Force Museum. Archived from the original on 25 February 2026.
  4. ↑ Crang 2020, p. 20.
  5. ↑ Moulard 2012, p. 72.
  6. ↑ Narracot 1941, p. 108 (n115).
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Mills 2006, p. 99.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Welsh 1946, p. 376.
  9. ↑ Harris 2011.
  10. 1 2 3 Miller 2023, The Second World War Women's Auxiliaries.
  11. ↑ Mills 2006, pp. 99–100.
  12. ↑ Moulard 2012, p. 332.
  13. 1 2 3 Mills 2006, p. 100.
  14. ↑ Crang 2020, pp. 225–226, 228.
  15. 1 2 3 "Air Commandant Dame Felicity Peake". Royal Air Force Museum. Archived from the original on 13 February 2026.
  16. ↑ Crang 2020, pp. 20, 27–28.
  17. ↑ Escott 1989, p. 131.
  18. ↑ Pitchfork 2008, p. 258.
  19. ↑ The Aeroplane 1943.
  20. ↑ Hall 1985, pp. 74, 183; Crang 2020, pp. 91, 135, 150; Welsh 1946, pp. 377–378
  21. ↑ "Team Lossie marks 85th anniversary of WAAF arrival". RAF Lossiemouth News. Royal Air Force. 21 October 2024. Archived from the original on 15 January 2025.
  22. ↑
  23. ↑ Turner 2011, pp. 17–20.
  24. ↑ Younghusband 2011.
  25. ↑ Turner 2011, p. 17.
  26. ↑ Welsh 1946, p. 377.
  27. 1 2 Foot 1966, p. 48.
  28. ↑ "girl handles one of the barrage balloons used as a deterrent against..." Getty Images. 10 March 2004. Archived from the original on 6 June 2026. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  29. ↑ Retter 2024.
  30. ↑ Nursing Standard 2008, p. 7.
  31. 1 2 Harby 2015.
  32. 1 2 Stokes 2024.
  33. ↑ Simpkin 2006.
  34. ↑ Harby 2017.
  35. ↑ Dennis & Nally 2024.
  36. 1 2 RUSI Journal 2017, p. 67.
  37. 1 2 "No. 34810". The London Gazette. 12 March 1940. p. 1472.
  38. 1 2 Wadge 2003, p. 172.
  39. 1 2 "Air Chief Commandant Dame Katherine Trefusis-Forbes". Royal Air Force Museum. Archived from the original on 13 April 2025.
  40. ↑ "Timeline | Women of the Air Force". Royal Air Force Museum. Archived from the original on 19 July 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  41. ↑ Sherit 2020, p. 22.
  42. ↑ Talbot-Booth, E. C., ed. (1943). Rank and Badges in the Navy, Army, RAF, and Auxiliaries (PDF). London: George Philip and Son Ltd. p. 31. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 April 2024.
  43. ↑ "RAF Ranks". raf.mod.uk/. Royal Air Force. Archived from the original on 6 June 2026. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  44. ↑ Air Ministry Order A.212/40, Air Ministry, 11 April 1940
  45. ↑ "badge, rank, Women's Royal Air Force, other ranks". Imperial War Museum. Archived from the original on 4 February 2017.
  46. ↑ Air Ministry Order A.104/42, Air Ministry, 29 January 1942
  47. ↑ "No. 38578". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 April 1949. p. 1703.
  48. ↑ Kramer 1995, p. 135; Foot 1966, p. 466; Turner 2011, p. 75
  49. ↑ "Yvonne Burney, SOE agent and concentration camp survivor – obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 31 October 2017. Archived from the original on 21 March 2025. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  50. 1 2 3 Foot 1966, p. 467.
  51. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Turner 2011, p. 75.
  52. ↑ Vigurs 2021, p. 21.
  53. 1 2 3 4 Foot 1966, p. 466.
  54. ↑ Turner 2011, p. 84.
  55. ↑ Smith 2015.
  56. ↑ Levine n.d.
  57. 1 2 3 Foot 1966, p. 468.
  58. 1 2 Escott 1991.
  59. ↑ Turner 2011, p. 82.
  60. ↑ Foot 1966, p. 469.
  61. ↑ Turner 2011, p. 105.
  62. ↑ Masson 1975, p. 219.
  63. ↑ Turner 2011, p. 109.
  64. ↑ Berg 2023.
  65. ↑ Turner 2011, p. 102.
  66. ↑ Escott 2010, p. 104.
  67. ↑ Sloan 2016, pp. 240–241.
  68. ↑ Turner 2011, p. 97.
  69. ↑ Field, Grehan & Mace 2012.
  70. ↑ Kramer 1995, p. 76.
  71. ↑ Escott 2004.
  72. ↑ "Commonwealth War Grave Commission Website". Commonwealth War Grave Commission. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  73. ↑ Turner 2011, p. 78.
  74. ↑ Foot 1966, pp. 467, 549.
  75. ↑ Miller 2023, The Secret Weapons Threat.
  76. ↑ "Churchill daughter's WW2 colleagues sought by Cambridge archive". BBC News. 22 February 2020. Archived from the original on 6 December 2022.
  77. ↑ "WWII RAF Casualties buried in Ireland". Archived from the original on 26 March 2022.

Works cited

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Further reading

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  • Escott, Beryl (1995). Our Wartime Days, The WAAF in World War II. Sutton Publishing. ISBN 0-7509-0638-3.
  • Escott, Beryl (2003). The WAAF: A History of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. Shire Publications. ISBN 0-7478-0572-5. (also quoted at [dead link] in context of Czech WAAFs)
  • Gane Pushman, Muriel (2006). We All Wore Blue: Experiences in the WAAF. Tempus. ISBN 978-0-7524-4130-6.
  • Halsall, Christine (2012). Women of Intelligence. Winning the Second World War with Air Photos. The History Press. ISBN 978-0-7524-6477-0.
  • Manning, Mick; Granström, Brita (2010). Taff in the WAAF. Janetta Otter-Barry Books (Frances Lincoln). ISBN 978-1-84780-093-0.
  • Rice, Joan (2006). Sand In My Shoes: Coming of Age in the Second World War: Wartime Diaries of a WAAF. Harperpress. ISBN 0-00-722820-1.
  • Settle, Mary Lee (1966). All the Brave Promises: The Memories of Aircraft Woman 2nd Class 2146391.
  • Watkins, Elizabeth (2008). Cypher Officer. Brighton: Pen Press Publications. ISBN 978-1-906206-27-7. A first-hand account by a young WAAF cypher officer on active duty in the Egypt, Kenya, the Seychelles and Italy in World War II.
  • Wyndham, J. (1986). Love is Blue. Heinemann. ISBN 0-00-654201-8.
  • Younghusband, Younghusband (2009). Not an Ordinary Life: How Changing Times Brought Historical Events into my Life. Cardiff: Cardiff Centre for Lifelong Learning. ISBN 978-0-9561156-9-0. (Pages 36–70, 251–55 and 265–67 describe the experiences of a WAAF radar Filterer in World War II.)
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