Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) and Women's Royal Australian Air Force (WRAAF)

Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) 

Women's Royal Australian Air Force (WRAAF) 

Collection Item C291700

Accession Number: VIC0380

Two WAAAF flight mechanics checking aircraft engine components at No. 7 Aircraft Depot, RAAF Station Tocumwal, NSW, circa 1944. Unknown RAAF Official Photographer, VIC0380

The Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) was first formed in March 1941, to release male personnel serving in Australia for service overseas. Women Australia-wide were keen to serve. The WAAAF became the largest of the Second World War women's services before it disbanded in December 1947.

A new Australian women's air force was formed in July 1950, and in November became the Women's Royal Australian Air Force (WRAAF). The WRAAF was integrated into the RAAF from 1977, and Australia's first female air force pilots graduated in 1988. Today, every role in the Air Force is open to women.

Founding a women’s air force

In 1938 with the threat of war looming in Europe, there was a general understanding that women would be needed to help supplement the workforce. However, many wanted to do more than just the previous wartime roles in agriculture, nursing and at home.

Several women’s organisations were established to release men for active service should a war arise. The Women’s Emergency Signalling Corps (WESC) was formed in 1939 by Mrs Florence Violet McKenzie. Mrs Mac, as she was affectionately known, was a qualified electrical engineer and amateur wireless station operator. She provided training for women in telegraphic and visual signalling. The skills of these women became highly valued by the defence forces and many from the WESC would end up enlisting. By the end of 1939, the Minister for Air, James Valentine Fairbairn had returned from Britain and announced that Australia, like Britain, would have women in the air force.

This same kind of foresight was also reflected in the establishment of the Women’s Air Training Corps (WATC). It was formed in February 1940 by Mary Bell, a trained pilot and ground engineer. The WATC provided training in motor mechanics, map reading, fire-drill and the drill of parades, among other things. Their instructors were drawn from the air force, army, fire brigade, and technical schools. Flight Officer Mary Bell would go on to be the first WAAAF officer and be integral to the initial recruitment and training of WAAAF enlistees.

The Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force was officially announced in March 1941 with the first recruits to start in roles such as wireless operator, clerk, teleprinter operator and cook.

Collection Item C96658

Accession Number: ARTV01114

Walter Jardine, Keep Them Flying, c. 1942, offset lithograph on paper, ARTV01114

Recruiting began at No. 1 RAAF Recruit Centre in Melbourne. Recruits had to be single, between the ages of 18 and 40, and had to pass a medical exam. They were drawn from a range of careers including typists, teachers, dressmakers, bookkeepers, textile workers, salesgirls and more.

The first 26 women were enrolled as Aircraftwomen (ACW), with several given immediate leave to finish up their civilian jobs. Aptitude testing for WAAAF enlistees was introduced the following year.

To bring these recruits in line with RAAF standards, further training was needed. Technical training in teleprinter operation provided by the RAAF began in late March. Administrative training was also conducted for officers, starting in April, after inspections found the WAAAF’s lacking in this area.

Collection Item C292519

Accession Number: VIC1177A

A group of WAAAF trainee flight mechanics working on an aircraft engine under the supervision of RAAF fitters at RAAF Station Laverton, VIC, c. 1942, unknown RAAF photographer, VIC1177A

Getting started

The newly enlisted WAAAFs’ first tasks were perhaps the most challenging, as they adjusted to the rigid discipline of military life. Officers spent their first days allocating duties and finalising uniform design. Other ranks were set to scrubbing the barracks from top to bottom. Drill instruction also took place daily, and the airwomen attended lectures on RAAF rules, regulations and traditions.

WAAAFs filled positions in a wide range of jobs throughout the Second World War. These included clerical administration, wireless operation, technical work on aircraft and transportation duties to name a few. Each position they filled released their male counterparts for active service either in Australia or overseas. Over 18,000 women were serving with the WAAAF at its peak in October 1944. Altogether approximately 27,000 women had enlisted between 1941 and 1947, making it Australia’s largest women’s service during the Second World War.

Collection Item C176144

Accession Number: ART24393

Nora Heysen, Transport driver (Aircraftwoman Florence Miles), 1945, oil on canvas, ART24393

Disbandment and re-establishment

With the end of the Second World War, demobilisation began in October 1945, but the last airwoman was not discharged until late 1947. With the war in Korea, the strain on manpower once again became a major issue. In June 1950 the federal government approved in principle the re-formation of the women’s services in the army, navy and air force. In November King George VI approved the title Women’s Royal Australian Air Force (WRAAF) and the first women were enlisted.

Obstacles

The women of the WRAAF faced much the same obstacles as those who served with the WAAAF during the Second World War. They were immediately discharged if they were pregnant, were paid significantly less than airmen, and were generally not permitted to serve overseas. Additionally, by 1952 married airwomen were also not permitted to serve, something that had previously only been discouraged but not regulated.

These regulations began to soften starting in 1969 when married women were allowed to serve. By 1977 equal pay was achieved with the transfer of officers and airwomen to the RAAF. Full integration took several years to complete, and the full disbandment of all women’s auxiliaries was achieved by 1985. Today almost every role in the Air Force is open to women and they face the same enlistment standards and conditions as men.

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