Hill, Felicity Barbara (Oral history)

British officer served with Women's Auxiliary Air Force in GB, 1939-1945; served with Women's Auxiliary Air Force and Women's Royal Air Force in Germany, Far East and GB, 1945-1969

REEL 1: Family background; education in GB and France; reaction to outbreak of war, 9/1939. Aspects of period with Women's Auxiliary Air Force in GB, 1939-1941: reason for joining WAAF; question of patriotism; attestation; uniform; morale; description of duties as Equipment Assistant, RAF Farnborough, 1939-1940; promoted to corporal; story of applying for commission and selection board. Aspects of training as officer with WAAF in GB, 1940-1941: description of officer training; opinion of food; physical fitness and sporting activities; drill; relations with male colleagues; messing arrangements and accommodation. REEL 2 Continues: posted under training to RAF Watton, Bomber Command; description of administrative duties in cyper office. Recollections of period as Section Officer at WAAF Inspectorate of Recruiting in London, 1941-1942: role of women in RAF; description of duties; trade tests; criteria for selecting recruits; quotas; interviewing procedure; security clearance; age limits; application form; attestation and oath; induction of recruits; story of interviewing Sarah Churchill. REEL 3 Continues: memory of South American recruits; description of recruit training and selection for trades; question of women adapting to RAF life and discipline; dress and appearance; rules and regulations; attitude to drill; comparison of status of men and women in RAF; accommodation; description of daily life and living conditions in London during Blitz; effects of air raids; civilian morale; social life; daily routine; food; pay; question of wearing uniform; ration cards; relations with press. REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of period as Flight Officer in WAAF Directorate, Air Ministry, London, 1942-1943: description of duties devising training programmes for WAAF; syllabus of programmes; comparison of WAAF and RAF training programmes; story of being posted to RAF Kirkwall, 1943. Aspects of period as Flight Officer with WAAF at RAF Kirkwall, Orkneys, GB; 1943-1944: description of role as officer in charge of WAAF recruits; opinion of Station Commander; relations with male colleagues; messing arrangements; role of WAAFs on station; daily routine; night duty; enforcement of discipline; punishments; promotions; question of censorship of letters and security; social life; relation with Station Commander. REEL 5 Continues: leave; question of rationing. Aspects of period at RAF Turnhouse, Edinburgh, 1944: description of duties supervising WAAFs; accommodation; night duty; daily routine and living conditions for WAAFs; drill and parades; attitude of RAF officers to WAAF. Aspects of period as Squadron Officer at 16 Maintenance Unit RAF, Stafford, 1944: duties as officer in charge of WAAFs; description of role of 16 Maintenance Unit; opinion of Station Commander; morale; living and working conditions for WAAFs. Aspects of period as Squadron Officer at Directorate of Allied Air Forces Liaison, London, 1944-1945: function of Directorate. REEL 6 Continues: description of duties as adviser on employment of women in Polish Air Force; recruitment and training; role in visiting RAF stations in GB; story of trip to France to recruit Polish women released from German camps; description of K rations; question of security clearance; description of camps for displaced persons; attitude to war; memory of VE Day celebrations, 8/May/1945. Aspects of period as Group Staff Officer at HQ 2 Group RAF, British Air Forces of Occupation, Hamburg, Germany, 1945-1946: description of Hamburg and war damage; question of fraternization; description of duties as Group Staff Officer visiting WAAFs on RAF stations in Germany. REEL 7 Continues: duties of WAAFs on RAF stations; returned to GB, 1947; reason for volunteering for overseas service; question of integration of WAAF and RAF; career opportunities for women; promoted to Wing Officer. Aspects of period as Command Staff Officer at HQ Flying Training Command in GB, 1947-1949: description of duties; story of being posted to Far East Aspects of period as Command Welfare Officer and WRAF Staff Officer at HQ Far East Air Force, Singapore, 1949-1951: description of journey to Singapore; opinion of station and accommodation; role of station; description of duties as Command Welfare Officer; daily life and living conditions; role of station in evacuating casualties by air during Korean War. Summary of various administrative posts with Women's Royal Air Force in GB, 1951-1966. Promoted Air Commodore and served as Director of Women's Royal Air Force in GB, 1966-1969. Opinion of RAF as employer of women.