Description
Object description
British NCO served as instrument repairer with Women's Auxiliary Air Force in GB, 1941-1944
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of period as civilian in GB, 1939-1940: joining and reasons for sack after eight weeks; employment on farm; pilots from nearby aerodrome that visited farm for breakfast; further details of dismissal from Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI); move to Leeds, late 1940. Recollections of enlistment and training with Women's Auxiliary Air Force in GB, 1941: medical; educational background of recruits; question of racial discrimination; uniform; kit; question of equality.
REEL 2 Continues: basic training; first posting. Recollections of period with Women's Auxiliary Air Force in GB, 1941-1944: posting to York on general duties; move to RAF Melksham for training; training in instrument repair; relations with fellow trainees; increase in pay; posting to RAF Shawbury; uniform; accommodation; living conditions; assignment of accommodation; question of class, rank and race; receiving nickname 'Cherry'; duties as instrument repairer; ranks; adequacy of pay.
REEL 3 Continues: pay; differences between pay for men and women; relations between Women's Auxiliary Air Force personnel and white and black American servicemen; contrast in attitude between coloured Americans and coloured Britons; issue of race in Britain; issue of race in armed forces; husband Ramsay Bader experiences with regards to race; husband's family background.
REEL 4 Continues: social life; leave; relationship between male and female personnel; hygiene lectures on joining up; question of sexual relations between servicemen and women; fate of pregnant Women's Auxiliary Air Force personnel; working relationship between servicemen and women; question of bad language; story of how she met her husband, Ramsay Bader; death of brother James Bailey aboard SS Western Chief in North Atlantic, 14/3/1941.
REEL 5 Continues: descriptions of duties as instrument repairer; length time taken to service aircraft; working hours; types of aircraft worked on; duties; food rations; leaving Women's Auxiliary Air Force, 2/1944; impact of period serving with Royal Air Force on life.