Royal Air Force History

The WRAF -
Women in the Blue

Part 1 - The WRAF is formed

Prior to the First World War such organisations as the Women's League and other political groups had begun to change the way women were both treated and perceived in British society. However, these changes, slight as they were, really only affected the relatively well-off, and little change in living standards or employment prospects was felt by the majority of women working in the UK. What changed this and accelerated the process of integration of women in the workforce, and society as a whole, was war.

As the First World War ground into its third year, the mincing machine that was the Western Front was eating into the reserves of able bodied men available for service. Quite simply, there were more jobs than men, so more workers had to be found. Initially there was considerable opposition to using women in factories, let alone the services, but the reality, and desperation, of the situation dictated a new acceptance of women in the workplace. 1916 saw women enlist as drivers of the British Legion, soon after which they began to be enlisted in the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC). As drivers, the vehicle they were issued was the sole responsibility of the women, in terms of both maintenance and availability. However, this new attitude toward women in the forces was not quite fully voluntary, to encourage women to join up and help their country, the Government made it impossible for them to claim unemployment benefit!

By 1917, the Royal Flying Corps had all-female companies who lived at home and worked in the nearest RFC unit to them. This was to prevent any hint of impropriety from having the women billeted alongside the men, and also served to reduce costs significantly. The women in these companies were first enrolled in the RFC under Army Order 711 of 28th December 1917. The women worked alongside the men who were training them to take over their jobs.

On 1st April 1918, the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service were amalgamated and the Royal Air Force was born. It was now that women were encouraged to join the main forces organisations as opposed to the voluntary sectors. Under the terms of the new service, volunteers from the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps, The Women's Legion motor drivers and the Women's Civilian Subordinates joined forces to form the Women's Royal Air Force.

The main aim of the Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) was 'to train women to take over the work of the home based mechanics and so to free them for service in the combat areas'. It was soon decided that this program of replacement needed to be carried out as swiftly as possible to free up the RAF mechanics. The numbers of recruits increased rapidly, as enthusiastic young women, eager to learn a new and previously inaccessible trade, joined up from both civilian life and a variety of other uniformed organisations, one of these being the Royal Air Force Nursing Service.

Initially civilian recruitment was to take place at local Labour Exchanges, and women were under civil contract, not enlisted. The Defence of the Realm Act (DORA) backed the contract but the RAF did not find this arrangement satisfactory. The term of duty each recruit signed up for was a total of one year or the term of the war which ever was the greater. A woman had to be eighteen before she could even be considered for enlistment. 'Mobile' recruits were liable for service anywhere in the UK and 'Immobile' could only serve in local units. This system divided the recruits into areas prior to them being allotted to stations or squadrons.

During the first few months of formation, the WAAF were issued with uniforms from the Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps, with the words Royal Flying Corps on the sleeves. By November 1918 new uniforms were being issued, based on a tunic style uniform similar to that of the RAF. In 1919, it was decided that these uniforms should be replaced only when worn out, not on a yearly basis as with other ranks in the RAF. The WRAF aircraft fitters used to wear skirts; it still had not been accepted for women to wear trousers. Interestingly, they could do the jobs of the men but not dress like them!

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