Description
Object description
British section officer served with Women's Auxiliary Air Force in GB, 1940-1943
Content description
REEL 1 Background in GB, 1917-1939: family; education; time spent in Germany, 1930s. Aspects of enlistment and training as aircraftwoman with Women's Auxiliary Air Force in GB, 1940: training at RAF Harrogate; accommodation and conditions at RAF Harrogate; rules regarding make up; attitude of male sergeant-major towards Women's Auxiliary Air Force personnel; training. Recollections of period as section officer with Women's Auxiliary Air Force in GB, 1940-1943: posting to RAF Stanmore Park; plotting duties; obtaining commission; uniform; rules regarding make up and hair styles; smoking; posting to RAF Manby; attitude towards first posting as officer; duties.
REEL 2 Continues: meeting future husband Pilot Officer Patrick Hancock; reasons for getting married; situation in Women's Auxiliary Air Force regarding marriage and pregnancy; wedding 1942; attending gas course at Rolleston including training to lecture on gas; attitude towards training; training other women lecturers; obtaining compassionate posting to be near husband; posting to Weston-super-Mare; further recollections of period as gas instructor including types of gasses and first aid treatment; attitude of Women's Auxiliary Air Force towards sexual activity amongst personnel; attitude towards senior officers; witnessing aircraft crash; dealing with two pregnant aircraftwomen; social background of Women's Auxiliary Air Force personnel.
REEL 3 Continues: detecting gas by smell; question of mixed mess for male Royal Air Force and Women's Auxiliary Air Force personnel; social life; relations with American servicemen; impact of American culture on Great Britain; pregnancy, 1943; attitude towards leaving Women's Auxiliary Air Force, 1943; impact of war on women's emancipation; pay on leaving Women's Auxiliary Air Force; attitude towards service wives; responsibility for welfare of Women's Auxiliary Air Force personnel under her charge; discipline; relations between Royal Air Force and Women's Auxiliary Air Force personnel; memories of VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1945.