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Us Air Force Air Combat Command
Women’s Auxiliary Air force – History 1939 – 1949
During the war the women of Britain joined many organisations and various armed services, wheras before the war women had not been able to join the sevices. One of the Corps especially created for women was the “Women’s Auxilliary Air Force”. The Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) was formed in June 1939. The main reason for this service was to release men for combat posts.
A Womens Royal Air Force had existed from 1918 to 1920. The WAAF was created on 28th June 1939, absorbing the forty-eight RAF companies of the Auxillary Territorial Service which had been formed since 1938. Conscription of women did not begin until 1941. It only applied to those between 20 and 30 years of age and they had the choice of the auxiliary services or factory work.
Women were accepted between the ages of 17 and 44. By the year 1943 there were 180,000 women in the WAAF. The work done by the WAAF covered virtually every activity carried out by men including Intelligence Operations.
WAAFs did not serve as aircrew. The use of women pilots was limited to the Air Transport Axillary (ATA – which was civilian) which delivered aircraft to the various RAF bases. Neither did they participate in active combat, though they were exposed to the same dangers as any on the “home front” working at military installations.
WAAF’s were also active in the following:
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Parachute Packing
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Manning of The Barrage Balloons
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All types of Catering
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Meteorology
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Radar
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Transport,
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Communications duties including wireless Telephonic and Telegraphic operations.
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Intelligence Operations using Codes and Ciphers
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Analysis of reconnaissance photographs Operation Rooms controlling Radar, Aircraft and Plotters.
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Nurses belonged to Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Nursing Service
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Medical and Dental officers were commissioned into the Royal Air Force and held RAF ranks.
Alas, WAAFs were paid two-thirds of the pay of male counterparts in RAF ranks.
By the end of World War II, WAAF enrollment had declined and the effect of demobilisation was to take thousands out of the service. The remainder, now only several hundred strong, was renamed the Womens Royal Air Force on 1st February 1949.
Nursing Orderlies of the WAAF flew on RAF transport planes to evacuate the wounded from the Normandy battlefields. They were dubbed Flying Nightingales by the press. The RAF Air Ambulance Unit flew under 46 Group Transport Command from RAF Down Ampney, RAF Broadwell and RAF Blakehill Farm. RAF Dakota aircraft carried military supplies and ammunition so could not display the Red Cross.
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.
In October 2008 the seven nurses still living were presented with lifetime achievement awards by the Duchess of Cornwall.
Please visit my Funny Animal Art Prints Collection @ http://www.fabprints.com
My other website is called Directory of British Icons: http://fabprints.webs.com
The Chinese call Britain ‘The Island of Hero’s’ which I think sums up what we British are all about. We British are inquisitive and competitive and are always looking over the horizon to the next adventure and discovery.
Copyright © 2010 Paul Hussey. All Rights Reserved.
About the Author
My family tree has been traced back to the early Kings of England from the 7th Century AD. I am also a direct descendent of Sir Christopher Wren which has given me an interest in English History and Icons which is great fun to research.
I have recently decided to write articles on my favourite subjects: English Sports, English History, English Icons, English Discoveries and English Inventions.
At present I have written over 100 articles which I call “An Englishman’s Favourite Bits Of England” in various Volumes.
Please visit my Blogs page http://Bloggs.Resourcez.Com where I have listed all my articles to date.
Copyright © 2010 Paul Hussey. All Rights Reserved.
America’s Arsenal Part IV ☆ United States Air Force
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Premieres $14.98 “Premieres” features music composed for and premiered by the Air Combat Command Heritage of a America Band. It represents a performance tradition that maintains and enriches world cultures, but also fosters and promotes the development of our legacy, the heritage of American music. Military bands have always played an integral role in the relationship or maintaining traditions and looking forwar… |
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The Chamber Winds $8.99 … |
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Emblems $9.92 “An emblem stands for something- it is a symbol. I called the work ‘Emblems’ because it seemed to me to suggest musical states of being: noble and aspirational feelings, playful and spirited feelings. The exact nature of these emblematic sounds must be determined for himself by each listener.” This quote by Aaron Copland not only describes his compositions ‘Emblems,’ but was also the vision of … |
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Historic WWII Bombers & Aviation Weaponry Films (1940s) ~ 3 DVD Collection $18.99 Table of Contents: (1) “Target for Today” explains the bombing runs the high fliers of World War II participated in and why they are necessary to win the war. Actual recordings from the Eighth Air Force and graphic scenes of bombs reigning down victory add a sense of tragedy with honor – 93 Minutes (2) “Japanese Paper Balloon” documents Japan’s attempt to send hot air balloons holding bombs across… |
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Platoon Leader: A Memoir of Command in Combat $7.99 A remarkable memoir of small-unit leadership and the coming of age of a young soldier in combat in Vietnam.’”Using a lean style and a sense of pacing drawn from the tautest of novels, McDonough has produced a gripping account of his first command, a U.S. platoon taking part in the ‘strategic hamlet’ program. . . . Rather than present a potpourri of combat yarns. . . McDonough has focused a seasone… |
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Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII $10.58 In Blazing Angels Squadrons of WWII players test their air-combat skills as they experience the most famous battles of World War II. As a squadron leader players can fly up to 38 WWII aircraft in both single-player and multiplayer missions. The game features squadron-based combat in which each artificial intelligence wingman’s specialized skill can be used to the pilot’s advantage.As a squadron le… |
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Battlefield 2 The Complete Collection DVD $8.95 Battlefield 2: The Complete Collection PC… |
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