Browse Items (827 total)

  • Tags: Women’s Auxiliary Air Force

PLairdCraig1701.jpg
Mary Stanley Foister grew up in Buckinghamshire, where her father's farm was taken over as Bomber Command Headquarters. After leaving school, she served in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. Following training, she had a variety of administrative posts…

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Muriel Blake was born in 1922 in Oakham, Rutland. Being interested in flying and aeroplanes from an early age, Muriel volunteered when her job prospects ended. Called up in 1944, she joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. Being too short for driver,…

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BBrabinHWBrabinHWv1.pdf
Harry joined the Royal Australian Air Force on 25 June 1942 as a wireless operator/air gunner and received his initial training in Australia before going to Canada for his trade training.

He sailed on the SS Johan Van Barneve to San Francisco and…

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Three-page handwritten letter from Harry Redgrave to his wife Jessie. Harry writes about life in the RAF at his station in Yorkshire including observers being posted to Scotland, training and his social life in Doncaster.

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ATurnerB150602.mp3
Betty Turner served in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force with Bomber Command at 92 Group Headquarters, RAF Winslow, and later at RAF Great Massingham, reaching the rank of leading aircraftswoman. She recalls living in chilly stables, being quite…

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AMawdsleyT150507.mp3
Ted grew up in Essex. Before the war he worked for the Marconi Wireless and Telegraph Company. He joined the Royal Air Force in 1940 and became an instrument mechanic. He was posted to RAF Elsham Wolds in 1942 and overseas the following year. After…

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Vera Willis.jpg
Vera Willis volunteered for the Women's Auxiliary Air Force because she wanted to be a driver. Her driving career in the RAF involved driving driving aircrew to dispersal.This content is available as embedded video:

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Alma Leedham grew up in London and worked for Hawker aircraft on the Hurricane at the start of the war . She later trained as a driver in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. She served at RAF Scampton driving tractors taking bombs to the aircraft.…

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Vera Willis.jpg
Vera Willis nee Tomlinson volunteered for the Women's Auxiliary Air Force because she wanted to be a driver. Her driving career in the RAF involved driving long distances as well as driving aircrew to dispersal. Some crew gave her letters for…

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Fiona mainly lived in Southampton. On leaving school she had a job for two years but as soon as she was 17 and a half she volunteered for the Women's Auxiliary Air Force and became a wireless operator. She was posted to the far north of Scotland…

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Vera was born in the Myrtha Tydfil area of Wales. Vera went to the grammar school at Chepstow before getting work in the cashier’s office at the Royal Navy Propellant Factory. After joining the Women's Auxilliary Air Force, Vera was posted to…

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PPickeringE1701.jpg
Eileen Pickering, from Sheffield, was conscripted in to the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force. She was posted to Grantham and after working in the Orderly Room she re-mustered to work on the teleprinters. She was in post on D-Day when she describes how…

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Joyce Clayton was born in Lincoln and served with the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, where she was first assigned to barrage balloons before becoming an equipment officer at various stations. Whilst based at RAF Sutton-on-Hull she witnessed the bombing…

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APriceF170522.mp3
Fay Price was nine at the outbreak of the Second World War living in Grimsby. A twin, they were the youngest of six siblings. Her memory of the start of the war was the ending of birthday parties. Her father was a fish merchant and was able to…

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Henry, volunteered for the RAF and learned to fly Tiger Moths at Brough. He then was transferred to South Africa on a troopship. His flying training came to an end after a poor solo flight. He was retrained as a navigator. On completion of his…

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From David's brother thanking him for birthday telegram and relating current activities. Catches up with family news. Tells an amusing story about two Women's Auxiliary Air Force members.

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BUreILUreILv1.pdf
A detailed autobiography by Ivan Ure.

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24 Women's Auxiliary Air Force personnel with one Royal Air Force sergeant. He sits in between eight women on the front row with two rows, each of eight, standing behind. Annotated 'Ivor E Lewis' 'Penarth'.

The reverse has short messages and a…

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MNichollsJEK2011088-200201-01.pdf
Includes don'ts for MT drivers, technical terms, notes on vehicle chassis and drive shafts, brakes, bearings, care and maintenance, inspections, controls and engines. Goes on with using maps and routes. Continues with lubricating systems, accident…

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EDarbyCAHWellandJ430206.pdf
He has moved to Blackpool from Manchester. He complains about prices and how mean his landlady is. Jean is about to become a WAAF. He has been to a dance at the Winter Gardens.

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EDarbyCAHWellandJ430501.pdf
They have raised $20000 for the War Loan Victory effort with dances, boxing matches, films and variety shows. They marched through Moncton. He talks about his impressions of Canada.

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EDarbyCAHWellandJ430606.pdf
He is still waiting but is working in the camp post office. He has been on parade in Moncton and walking in the countryside.

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EDarbyCAHWellandJ440805.pdf
He thanks he for his birthday card. He describes his return trip to camp. The next day he had exams which he thinks he passed. They have had no luck getting a new wireless operator. They had a home guard training attack on the base. They had a couple…

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EDarbyCAHWellandJ441226.pdf
He thanks her for two letters and a Christmas card. Christmas dinner was very good, followed by a dance.

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PClachersV1802.jpg
Vera Clachers volunteered for the WAAF for the experience and the adventure. She was selected for training as an electrician and was trained at RAF Melksham. She was posted to RAF North Coates. At first she was given the poorest jobs but then began…

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