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The '''Women's Royal Air Force''' ('''WRAF''') was a women's branch of the [[Royal Air Force]] which existed in two separate incarnations. |
The '''Women's Royal Air Force''' ('''WRAF''') was a women's branch of the [[Royal Air Force]] which existed in two separate incarnations. |
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| − | The first WRAF was an auxiliary organization of the Royal Air Force which was founded in 1918. The original intent of the WRAF was to provide female |
+ | The first WRAF was an auxiliary organization of the Royal Air Force which was founded in 1918. The original intent of the WRAF was to provide female mechanics in order to free up men for service in [[World War I]]. However, the organization saw huge enrollment, with women volunteering for positions as drivers and mechanics and filling other wartime needs. This first WRAF was disbanded in 1920. The last veteran from this era was for a while thought to be [[Gladys Powers]], who died in 2008, but [[Florence Green]], who died in February 2012 <ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-16929653 World's last' WWI veteran dies], BBC News, 7 February 2012</ref> was subsequently found to be the last-known surviving WRAF veteran.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/6996800/108-year-old-woman-emerges-as-Britains-oldest-first-World-War-veteran.html 108-year-old woman emerges as Britain's oldest first World War veteran], Nick Britten, Daily Telegraph, 16 January 2010</ref> |
On 1 February 1949, the name was revived when the [[Women's Auxiliary Air Force]], which had been founded in 1939, was renamed the Women's Royal Air Force. The WRAF and the RAF grew closer over the following decades, with increasing numbers of trades opened to women, and the two services formally merged in 1994, marking the full assimilation of women into the British military and the end of the Women's Royal Air Force. |
On 1 February 1949, the name was revived when the [[Women's Auxiliary Air Force]], which had been founded in 1939, was renamed the Women's Royal Air Force. The WRAF and the RAF grew closer over the following decades, with increasing numbers of trades opened to women, and the two services formally merged in 1994, marking the full assimilation of women into the British military and the end of the Women's Royal Air Force. |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/ww1airwomen.asp Search and download Service records of women who joined the WRAF, 1914-1919 from The National Archives.] |
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/ww1airwomen.asp Search and download Service records of women who joined the WRAF, 1914-1919 from The National Archives.] |
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| + | {{Wikipedia|Women's Royal Air Force}} |
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[[Category:Royal Air Force]] |
[[Category:Royal Air Force]] |
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[[Category:All-female military units and formations]] |
[[Category:All-female military units and formations]] |
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Latest revision as of 00:21, 28 September 2019
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The WRAF on parade in London at the end of World War I, 1918
The Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) was a women's branch of the Royal Air Force which existed in two separate incarnations.
The first WRAF was an auxiliary organization of the Royal Air Force which was founded in 1918. The original intent of the WRAF was to provide female mechanics in order to free up men for service in World War I. However, the organization saw huge enrollment, with women volunteering for positions as drivers and mechanics and filling other wartime needs. This first WRAF was disbanded in 1920. The last veteran from this era was for a while thought to be Gladys Powers, who died in 2008, but Florence Green, who died in February 2012 [1] was subsequently found to be the last-known surviving WRAF veteran.[2]
On 1 February 1949, the name was revived when the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, which had been founded in 1939, was renamed the Women's Royal Air Force. The WRAF and the RAF grew closer over the following decades, with increasing numbers of trades opened to women, and the two services formally merged in 1994, marking the full assimilation of women into the British military and the end of the Women's Royal Air Force.
The Central Band of the WRAF, one of only two all-female bands in the British Armed Forces, was disbanded in 1972. Some of its musicians transferred to the Band of the Women's Royal Army Corps.
Ranks
Other Ranks held standard RAF ranks, but officers used a separate ranking system until 1968, when they too adopted RAF ranks.
| WRAF rank | Equivalent RAF rank |
| Pilot Officer | Pilot Officer |
| Flying Officer | Flying Officer |
| Flight Officer | Flight Lieutenant |
| Squadron Officer | Squadron Leader |
| Wing Officer | Wing Commander |
| Group Officer | Group Captain |
| Air Commandant | Air Commodore |
| Air Chief Commandant[3] | Air Vice-Marshal |
These ranks were introduced in 1949. The First World War service used different ranks.
List of Commandants WRAF
- Gertrude Crawford, 1918
- Violet Douglas-Pennant, May–September 1918
- Helen Gwynne-Vaughan, September 1918–1920
List of Directors WRAF
- Air Commandant Dame Felicity Hanbury, 1949–1950
- Air Commandant Dame Nancy Salmon, 1950–1956
- Air Commandant Dame Henrietta Barnet, 1956–1959
- Air Commandant Dame Anne Stephens, 1959–1962
- Air Commandant Dame Jean Conan Doyle, 1962–1966
- Air Commodore Dame Felicity Hill, 1966–1969
- Air Commodore Philippa Marshall, 1969–1973
- Air Commodore Molly Allott, 1973–1976
- Air Commodore Joy Tamblin, 1976–1980
- Air Commodore Helen Renton, 1980–1986
- Air Commodore Shirley Jones, 1986–1989
- Air Commodore Ruth Montague, 1989–1994
See also
Notes
- ↑ World's last' WWI veteran dies, BBC News, 7 February 2012
- ↑ 108-year-old woman emerges as Britain's oldest first World War veteran, Nick Britten, Daily Telegraph, 16 January 2010
- ↑ An honorary rank held only by Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, who held it as a rank (until 1968) and later an appointment throughout the WRAF's existence. On 1 April 1994 her title changed to Air Chief Commandant for Women, RAF, by which time she held the rank of Air Chief Marshal.
External links
The original article can be found at Women's Royal Air Force and the edit history here.