Western Memories – History and Recollections of the Western Australian WAAAF 1941 – 1946

Description

Title: Western Memories – History and Recollections of the Western Australian WAAAF 1941 – 1946

Author: Ferry, Doris

Condition: Very Good

Edition: 1st Edition

Publication Date: 1996

ISBN: 0646280740

Cover: Soft Cover without Dust Jacket – 132 pages

Comments: The history of the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) in Western Australia during World War II.

The Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) was formed in March 1941  after considerable lobbying by women keen to serve and by the Chief of the Air Staff who wanted to release male personnel serving in Australia for service overseas. The WAAAF was the first and largest of the World War II Australian Women’s Services. It was disbanded in December 1947.

Not long after World War II was declared in 1939, the Royal Australian Air Force had an urgent need for more skilled and semi-skilled signals and maintenance personnel to fulfil its wartime commitments to the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) for local defence in Australia.

On 4 February 1941, the formation of an air force women’s auxiliary was approved by the War Cabinet. It had taken 14 months of difficult discussion and opposition to achieve this final outcome.

The formation of the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) set a precedent for the formation of other women’s service organisations such as The Australian Women’s Army Service (AWAS) and the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS).

Approximately 27,000 women enlisted in the WAAAF between 15 March 1941 and 24 August 1945. In June 1941, Squadron Officer Clare Stevenson was appointed Director of the WAAAF.

Previous owner’s name on the front end paper else a very good copy.

Signed by the author on the title page.