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15 airwomen and a sergeant airman
A group of 15 Women's Auxiliary Air Force women of different ranks and a Sergeant airman arranged in two rows. The front row is seated on deckchairs and the second row is standing. Kathleen Croft is front row, third from the right. Behind are bushes…
Kathleen Croft and another airwoman
Full length portrait of Kathleen Croft and another Women's Auxiliary Air Force woman on a seafront promenade. Both are wearing long coats, one is carrying a folded newspaper. Kathleen Croft is on the left. Behind is a bench and railings. It is…
Kathleen Croft
A portrait of a woman in Women's Auxiliary Air Force uniform seated on a small table. Her hands are folded in front of her on top of her hat. On the reverse '[undecipherable] Taken at Ely June 1940' and '1-11-6'.
Eight Women's Auxiliary Air Force officers
Eight Women's Auxiliary Air Force officers wearing greatcoats and gloves arranged in two rows. Five are seated on chairs and three are standing behind. Kathleen Croft is in the middle, front row. In the distance are trees.
Letter to Miss K R Croft from the Air Ministry
Approval of the appointment of Miss K R Croft to the Women's Auxiliary Air Force in the rank of Section Officer.
Royal Air Force Police
Group of 53 airmen and airwomen arranged in four rows. Some are wearing Royal Air Force Police armbands and belts. Behind is a leafless tree and building.
Interview with Margaret Hourigan
Margaret Hourigan grew up in and around Nottingham. Despite holding Labour principles she volunteered for the WAAF’s as soon as War was declared and was called up in January 1940. She Hourigan served in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force as a…
Flight Lieutenant Mercer and crew
Flight Lieutenant Mercer and crew and ground personnel in front of their Lancaster. On the reverse:
'March 1944 X for Xray
Dunholme Lodge
Bomber Command
Left to right
Isot Pratt. (mid upper) F/lt Mercer D.F.C. (pilot) Sgt Fallan (fit.…
'March 1944 X for Xray
Dunholme Lodge
Bomber Command
Left to right
Isot Pratt. (mid upper) F/lt Mercer D.F.C. (pilot) Sgt Fallan (fit.…
A member of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force
A women wearing tunic standing in a garden in front of a house window. On the reverse 'With all my love to my faithful pal Charles'.
Nine members of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, four airmen and one officer in front of a building
One airman and four members of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force standing, four airmen and an officer sitting on chairs and five members of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force sitting on the ground. All are wearing tunic and some rank badges are visible. …
A large group of airmen and one Woman's Auxiliary Air Force member in front of a Halifax
A large group of airman standing and sitting in rows in front of the port wing of a Halifax. There is a single Women's Auxiliary Air Force member sitting in the middle of the front row. There is one officer with peaked cap sitting behind and slightly…
Interview with Lillian Margret Bailey
Lillian Margaret Bailey volunteered for the Women's Auxiliary Air Force and after a brief time in RAF Balloon Command was trained as a driver. She served at RAF Elsham Wolds driving aircrews out to their aircraft.
Interview with Winifred Barker
Winifred Barker grew up in Yorkshire and worked in an office before she volunteered for the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. She served as a clerk at RAF Oakley, an operational training unit.
Interview with Bessie Birkby
Bessie Birkby grew up in Sheffield and volunteered for the Women’s Auxilliary Air Force in 1942. She first worked in Balloon Command in Scotland and then trained to be a driver in North Wales. She was then posted to 625 Squadron at RAF Binbrook but…
Interview with Charles Bland
Charles Bland joined the Royal Air Force in February 1942 and went to RAF Halton as an Aircraft Apprentice.
He tells of his training at Halton, and describes the different trades and his exams to become an Leading Aircraftsman 1st Class, where he…
He tells of his training at Halton, and describes the different trades and his exams to become an Leading Aircraftsman 1st Class, where he…
Daphne Brownlie Interview
Daphne Brownlee joined the Royal Air Force and joined a Bomber Command Operational Training Unit at Kinloss, and worked in Flying Control.
She tells of the hours she and her colleagues worked and also what life was like on the base, including her…
She tells of the hours she and her colleagues worked and also what life was like on the base, including her…
Interview with Jane Carrington
Jane Carrington joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force in 1942 at the age of 18. She served as a cook, and volunteered to join the band as a drummer. She discusses her time in the kitchens, the menus and the equipment they used.
Interview with Tom Coles
Tom Coles was born in Watford and signed up for the Royal Air Force at the age of 18. He went to Canada for training, a period saddened by the loss of his sister who was in the Womens Auxilliary Air Force. Tom flew Manchesters, then went to 158…
Interview with William Arthur Coulton
William Coulton was born in Derbyshire and worked as an errand boy for the Co-Op until he joined the Royal Air Force in 1943, aged 18. He trained as a flight mechanic and was posted to 115 Squadron at RAF Witchford where he worked on Lancasters. He…
Interview with Richard Curnock
Richard Curnock was born in Grantham and joined the Royal Air Force in 1941. He achieved the rank of warrant officer and served in 425 Squadron. Richard tells of how he followed his two older brothers into the services, and his time serving in the…
Interview with Vera Willis
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:
Interview with Margret Young
Margaret Young grew up in Scotland and worked in a ladies shoe department. She volunteered for the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force at the age of 18 and served as a wireless operator. She talks about the medical and reception centre and training,…
Interview with Alma Leedham
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.…
Interview with Vera Willis
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…
Interview with F N Larard
After being called up, Larry was assessed as pilot, navigator, bomb aimer but changed to rear gunner to avoid the delay in pilot training. He was trained at RAF Dalcross on Wellingtons before moving to RAF Lindholme to convert to the Halifax and then…