.ltWOMEN AT WORK WITH R.A.F.

The Times,
12 March 1941

REPLACING MEN IN 25 TRADES

Members of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force are now engaged in 25 trades formerly followed only by men.

They are being trained as wireless telegraphy slip-readers and operators, instrument mechanics, fabric workers (aero), and fabric workers (balloon), sparking plug testers, equipment assistants, cooks; for administrative duties and various clerical duties; as teleprinter operators, radio operators and tracers, telephone operators, four kinds of aircraft hands, dental clerk orderlies, and sick quarter attendants. Some of the R.A.F. doctors are women, but they do not form part of the W.A.A.F.

Women who have been upholsterers, machinists, or tailoresses are found to be good at fabric work, while those who have had experience in factories or wireless shops usually make excellent instrument mechanics. Many former typists are employed as wireless telegraphy slip-reader operators, while among those whose task it is to trace in and colour maps are a number of women trained as commercial artists. The W.A.A.F. have their own officers. There is no direct entry for officers, all of whom are promoted from the ranks.

Generally speaking the age limit is 18 to 43, but there are exceptions in the case of women who served in the last War (maximum age, 50), for cooks (18-47), special duty clerks (18-35), administrative airwomen (21-43), radio operators (18-35), and sick quarter attendants (23-43).
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.llWar and peace: Second world war
War and peace: In the forces
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WR08:WR08_04S
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