WAAAF winter service dress tunic : Corporal V M Smith, RAAF Meteorological Service

Blue woollen Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force winter service dress tunic. The tunic has black RAAF buttons with a King's crown and a belt with a black plastic buckle fastening. On each sleeve is an embroidered eagle shoulder title, chevrons denoting the rank of corporal and on the lower right sleeve three red service chevrons. A maker's label sewn below the collar reads 'ELLINSON BROS PTY. LTD. 1939 SIZE'. The tunic has oxidised brass meteorological service badges on the lapels. These badges are a circle pierced by a horizontal arrow. Within the circle are the raised letters 'MS', below is a scroll with 'RAAF', and above is a crown.

Associated with the service of 91716 Corporal Vera May Smith, born 18 March 1921 in Black Forest, South Australia. Enlisting on 4 January 1942 with the rank of aircraftwoman, Smith initially served as an office orderly. A few months later she was serving as a meteorological charter and involved in coding and decoding weather information and plotting synoptic maps. In January 1943 Smith undertook further training and qualified as a meteorological assistant. During her service with the RAAF Meteorological Services, Smith was based in Port Pirie, Laverton and Canberra. She was discharged from Air Force Headquarters on 10 July 1946 with the rank of corporal.