The Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) in the Great War

[ejwalshe]

The Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) created on 1 April 1918. 32,000 WRAFs proved a major asset to the RAF providing mechanics and skilled workers to ensure more RAF pilots saw front line service in the Great War. Essentially, the WRAF became the backbone of the Royal Air Force (RAF), also created on 1 April 1918.

 

 

 

The majority of women employed as clerks, with shorthand typists the most highly paid of all airwomen. Women allocated to the Household section worked the longest hours, for the lowest pay. The Technical section covered a wide range of highly-skilled trades, including tinsmiths, fitters and welders. Civilian enrolment swelled WRAF numbers as they were dispatched to RAF bases in Britain, and then later in 1919 to France and Cologne, Germany.

 

When the order came to finally close down the WRAF contingent on the Rhine in August 1919, RAF sections, unwilling to lose their airwomen delayed the disbandment until the last possible moment. The WRAF would disband in April 1920. CEFRG (Canadian Expeditionary Force Research Group) cefrg.ca

[Marilyne]

Thanks for sharing!!! 

 

M.