The Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) was the women's branch of the Royal Air Force, existing from 1 April 1918 until 1 April 1920, when it was disbanded.[1] Its original intent was to provide female mechanics in order to free up men for front line service in World War I. However, the organisation saw high enrolment, with women also serving in a number of other non-combatant roles, including drivers, caterers, clerks and tailors, as well as filling other wartime needs.[2]
The WRAF on parade in London at the end of World War I, 1918
Its last veteran was for a time thought to be Gladys Powers, who died in 2008, but Florence Green, who died in February 2012,[3] was subsequently found to be the last-known surviving WRAF veteran.[4]
The target strength had been a force of around 90,000. Figures are unreliable until 1 August 1918, when the strength was 15,433, approximately 5,000 recruits and 10,000 transferred from the predecessor organisations, mainly the Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps, but also the Women's Royal Naval Service. The organisation never exceeded 25,000.[5]
Depotsedit
Depots were opened in 1918 at Handsworth College, in Glasgow, at RAF Flowerdown and at York.
^Philpott, Ian M. (2005). "9. Personnel". The Royal Air Force: An Encyclopedia of the Inter-War Years. The Trenchard Years, 1918–1929. Vol. I. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen and Sword Aviation. p. 279. ISBN1-84415-154-9.
^"Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) 1918-1920". rafmuseum.org.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
^World's last' WWI veteran dies, BBC News, 7 February 2012
^Britten, Nick (16 January 2010). "108-year-old woman emerges as Britain's oldest first World War veteran". Daily Telegraph.
^Escott, Beryl E. (1989). Women in Air Force Blue. Stephens. p. 21. ISBN978-1852600662.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Women's Royal Air Force.
Search and download Service records of women who joined the WRAF, 1914–1919 from The National Archives.
April 12, 2024
women, royal, force, world, women, royal, force, wraf, women, branch, royal, force, existing, from, april, 1918, until, april, 1920, when, disbanded, original, intent, provide, female, mechanics, order, free, front, line, service, world, however, organisation,. The Women s Royal Air Force WRAF was the women s branch of the Royal Air Force existing from 1 April 1918 until 1 April 1920 when it was disbanded 1 Its original intent was to provide female mechanics in order to free up men for front line service in World War I However the organisation saw high enrolment with women also serving in a number of other non combatant roles including drivers caterers clerks and tailors as well as filling other wartime needs 2 The WRAF on parade in London at the end of World War I 1918Its last veteran was for a time thought to be Gladys Powers who died in 2008 but Florence Green who died in February 2012 3 was subsequently found to be the last known surviving WRAF veteran 4 The name was revived in 1949 for the regular women s branch of the RAF The auxiliary organisation in the Second World War had been called the Women s Auxiliary Air Force Contents 1 Strength 2 Depots 3 List of Commandants 4 Notes 5 External linksStrength editThe target strength had been a force of around 90 000 Figures are unreliable until 1 August 1918 when the strength was 15 433 approximately 5 000 recruits and 10 000 transferred from the predecessor organisations mainly the Queen Mary s Army Auxiliary Corps but also the Women s Royal Naval Service The organisation never exceeded 25 000 5 Depots editDepots were opened in 1918 at Handsworth College in Glasgow at RAF Flowerdown and at York List of Commandants editGertrude Crawford 1918 Violet Douglas Pennant May September 1918 Helen Gwynne Vaughan September 1918 1920Notes edit Philpott Ian M 2005 9 Personnel The Royal Air Force An Encyclopedia of the Inter War Years The Trenchard Years 1918 1929 Vol I Barnsley South Yorkshire Pen and Sword Aviation p 279 ISBN 1 84415 154 9 Women s Royal Air Force WRAF 1918 1920 rafmuseum org uk Retrieved 3 November 2020 World s last WWI veteran dies BBC News 7 February 2012 Britten Nick 16 January 2010 108 year old woman emerges as Britain s oldest first World War veteran Daily Telegraph Escott Beryl E 1989 Women in Air Force Blue Stephens p 21 ISBN 978 1852600662 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Women s Royal Air Force Search and download Service records of women who joined the WRAF 1914 1919 from The National Archives Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Women 27s Royal Air Force World War I amp oldid 1173589915, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
