		Women in the War WAAF - Women's Auxiliary Air Force
		Women in the War WAAF - Women's Auxiliary Air Force

The Royal Air Force (RAF) was created in April 1918 along with the Women's Royal Air Force (WAAF). Over the continuing months thousands of women were
recruited to work as clerks, fitters, drivers, cooks and storekeepers. By the outbreak of the Second World War, in 1939, there were approximately 1,700 members. By 1943 there were around 180,000 members. Duties ranged from catering to meteorology, transport and telephone switchboards, codes and ciphers, intelligence, security and the operations room (tasks included identifying enemy aircraft and plotting air and shipping movements on battle maps).

The government sought women to join the forces so that they could eventually replace men who were sent off to fight. Subsequently conscription was introduced in 1941 for all single women aged between twenty and thirty. Women had then to choose between working in the armed forces or industry and by 1942, there were over 200,000 women serving in the Auxiliary Services. As the war progressed the valuable contribution that women were making to the war effort was recognised and as a result women were given more dangerous work to do, such as crewing anti-aircraft guns and searchlights, using radar and code-breaking enemy messages.

The WAAF formed part of the RAF

"Members served in upto 15 types of duty, ranging from catering to meteorology, transport, telephony and telegraphy, codes and ciphers, Intelligence, Security and Operation Rooms. The WAAF re-formed into the WRAF in 1949, and fully integrated into the RAF in 1994."

Select one of the women below to hear and read about their experiences in the WAAF

Phyllis Bailey	A WAAF serving during the Second World War, she was involved with radar. As a radar operator on the blind bombing system known as Oboe she worked in association with the Pathfinder Force of Bomber Command on raids mainly to the Rhur and flying bomb sites in Northern France.
Kay Howker	Kay joined the WAAF in 1941- she initially trained to be a Charging Board Operator but later went on to work with electronics and circuitry. She worked in the hangers with the aircraft, charging accumulators, servicing generators and looking after motors.
Gretta Loveday	Gretta Loveday, a WAAF, worked as a radar operator at Bawdsey after training at Cranwell during the war. Her energetic and brave nature led her into exciting work, she never forgot. Read her story in a touching account written by her husband Knowler Edmonds.
Lady Renie Adams	Lady Renie Adams was a WAAF Officer chosen by Watson Watt from a group of about two-hundred science graduates to work on this special project. Lady Adams was sent on a training course in Loughborough to learn about RDF (Radio Direction Finding) and then onto a CH Station (Chain Home). Her written account follows her recollections of her time as a WAAF officer at TRE Worth Matravers in Dorset.
Pauline Walkinton	Pauline Walkinton felt it was a privilege to be a Radar Operator in the WAAF during World War II. Her written account follows the experiences she had whilst based at Romney Marshes during the summer of 1940.
Margaret Slater	Margaret volunteered to join the WAAF in June 1944. This written account follows her life and personal experiences in the WAAF as a Radar Operator on CH and CHL Stations. During her service, Margaret was stationed at various places in Britain, including both the most northerly and southerly points on the mainland between 1944 and 1947.
Anne Stobbs	Anne joined the WAAF as a Radar Operator. In her written account she recalls the experience of being in the WAAF and remembers the immense pride they all had at being involved in such a secret job as Radar.