The Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force

The Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) was formed in March 1941. It was instrumental for changing the role of Australian women in war. With the creation of the WAAAF, women were no longer restricted to voluntary support activities and nursing. The WAAAF opened the door for women to participate directly in military tasks, albeit in a supporting capacity.

Fig.1 Recruitment Poster 

Fig.2 WAAAF recruits Adelaide, South Australia.

Initially the main employment for the women was in the area of wireless telegraphy, but once Japan entered the war in December 1941 increasing demand for men to take on operational tasks forced the recruitment and re-muster of WAAAFs into an increasing range of categories.

Of 120 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) trades existing during World War 2, women were employed in 72; WAAAF officers and airwomen performed such diverse functions as flight mechanics, armament fitters, aerial cinematography, chemical warfare research as well as the more conventional roles of mess steward, cook, administrative officer and clerk. They performed aerodrome soil testing, carried out mustard gas decontamination trials and acted as landing control officers for parachute training. WAAAFs were aircraft fabric workers, flight riggers, stores hands, aircraft plotters, and they taught aircraft recognition to aircrew trainees.

WAAAFs served in 273 RAAF units located in all parts of Australia including Port Pirie; where in June 1943 there were just over 100 WAAAF attached to No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School; by January 1945 there were 148 WAAAF as part of No. 3 Aerial Observer School personnel strength.

The women of the WAAAF were in fact mostly young girls, more than two thirds of them were below the age of 21 when they joined. They came from all walks of life; they were city and country girls. Although the majority came from the more populous states, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, 2,651 came from South Australia, 3,345 from Western Australia and 836 from Tasmania.

They served almost exclusively in Australia, although a very small number of them transited through New Guinea and the Solomon Islands for a limited period of time carrying out their duties.

Numbers increased from 1500 women at the end of 1941 to over 18,000 in late 1944. With the end of the war, the WAAAF was demobilised. 

Sources:

The Age, Melbourne, Vic, Wednesday 26 February 1941 

RAAF Air Power Studies Centre, The Home Front. Mainland Australia and the Southwest Pacific Area 1939- 1945