Description
Object description
British aircraftswoman served Women's Auxiliary Air Force with No 2 Instrument and Repair Group, RAF at RAF Melksham, GB, 1941-1942; NCO served with Women's Auxiliary Air Force with No 2 Instrument and Repair Group, RAF at RAF Brize Norton and RAF North Luffenham in GB, 1942-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in GB, 1911-1941: family; education; death of father due to gassing during First World War; attitude of mother towards role of women; relations with husband and impact of war on that relationship. Aspects of enlistment and training as aircraftwoman with Women's Auxiliary Air Force, 1941: reasons for enlistment in Women's Auxiliary Air Force, 15/7/1941; recruitment procedure; assignment to No 2 Instrument and Repair Group; further reasons for joining Women's Auxiliary Air Force; training at RAF Innsworth; accommodation; types of female personnel at RAF Innsworth; uniform.
REEL 2 Continues: lack of social life; uniform; appeal of Women's Auxiliary Air Force; glamour surrounding Royal Air Force pilots especially during Battle of Britain; care of her son by grandparents. Recollections of period as aircraftwoman with No 2 Instrument and Repair Group, RAF at RAF Melksham, GB, 1941-1942: accommodation; training in instrument repair; training given by male personnel; attitude towards work; relations between sexes; attitude of aircraftwomen towards flying duties, 'Blood Chits'; spending leave with son; wages and pay parade; kit inspections.
REEL 3 Continues: inability of some Women's Auxiliary Air Force personnel to settle in; provision of sanitary towels; medical and welfare facilities. Recollections of period as NCO with No 2 Instrument and Repair Group, RAF at RAF Brize Norton, 1942-1944: accommodation and living conditions; inspecting and testing aircraft; issue of overalls and later battledress to Women's Auxiliary Air Force personnel; attitude of male personnel at RAF Brize Norton towards Women's Auxiliary Air Force personnel; issue of tool box; first flight and duties during flights; responsibilities as corporal; arrival of and attitude towards Glider Pilot Regiment; description of gliders and problems.
REEL 4 Continues: involvement with design to improve glider 'Angle Dangle'; attitude towards flying conditions of glider pilots; accidents on site; first flight in glider; glider pilots lack of experience and consequences; attitude of Royal Air Force towards glider pilots; administration training at RAF Wilmslow; social life; relations between Women's Auxiliary Air Force and Royal Air Force personnel; attitude towards public image of women in forces.
REEL 5 Continues: impact of her service on family life including estrangement from husband and spending leave periods with son; contact with American airmen; racial tensions among United States Army Air Force personnel; attitude of Royal Air Force towards United States Army Air Force personnel and contact Women's Auxiliary Air Force; witnessing first ever ejector seat test. Recollections of period as NCO with No 2 Instrument and Repair Group, RAF at RAF North Luffenham, 1944: reasons for transfer to RAF North Luffenham; attitude of pilots towards D-Day; increase in activity prior to D-Day; description of base.
REEL 6 Continues: learning of date for D-Day from American personnel; visit to RAF Brize Norton by Air Marshal Arthur Harris; attitude towards Operation Market Garden. Aspects of period as NCO with No 2 Instrument and Repair Group, RAF at RAF Brize Norton, 1944-1945: sense of anti-climax after D-Day; arrival and humiliation of the Royal Air Force Regiment; lack of work; memories of VE Day and going Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL) to visit son, 8/5/1945; handover of RAF Brize Norton by United States Army Air Force. Aspects of demobilisation in GB, 20/9/1945: demobilisation; lack of incentives to stay in Women's Auxiliary Air Force; attitude towards end of service with Women's Auxiliary Air Force.
REEL 7 Continues: desire to continue serving in Women's Auxiliary Air Force. Aspects of period of civilian life in GB from 1945: employment; second marriage, 1951; question of disappointed expectations after leaving Women's Auxiliary Air Force; impact of service in Women's Auxiliary Air Force on her personality; question of effects of war on womens' lives and roles; question of appreciation of women's contribution in armed services; joining Women's Auxiliary Air Force Association.