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Photo Album of the WAAAF Page
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| "Starkie".....Sq/Off. Gwen Stark, staff officer in charge of W.A.A.A.F. in Townsville during the raids. who wrote
t0 D/W W.A.A.A.F. at that lime. . . . "We haven't had much sleep the last few nights, but the personnel have
behaved first-class . . . my A.C.W's are the tops!" |
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| The Lady Gowrie, wife of the Governor-General of Australia, was appointed Hon. Air Commandant of the W.A.A.A.F. in September, 1942. Here she is shown during an
inspection of units in North-Eastern Area, admiring one of those "beaut. shirts" that northern
W.A.A.A.F. used to lake such pride in laundering. Remember the old arguments of cold starch v.
boiled starch? |
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| W.A.A.A.F. 2nd birthday, 15th March, 1943.
W.A.A.A.F. from R.A.A.F. Station, Geraldton, W.A., marching through township. Later in the day girls were addressed by the late
Sq/Ldr. "Bluey" Truscott, who was visiting the station with some of his crews. That night an airwoman wrote . . . "These were certainly great men. It was a great day and we loved it..." |
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| "Taking the oath of enlistment . . . " It was not until 23rd March, 1943, that regulations were passed setting up the
W.A.A.A.F. as a branch of the Permanent Air Force. All over Australia, airwomen put on their hats or caps, placed their right hands on the Bible and became enlisted
members |
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| Mrs.
Eleanor Roosevelt, who visited Air Force Headquarters in September, 1943, is seen here with the Chief of Air Staff
and D/W.A.A.A.F. Mrs. Roosevelt was shown an exhibition of work done by women in the ground
staff of the R.A.A.F. |
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| Looking left to right you see Under Officer R. Hudson (only W.A.A.A.F. cook to visit New Guinea). Matron A.
J. Wheatley (first member of the R.A.A.F. Nursing Service to receive the A.R.R.C.) and
S/O. A. Allen (first food specialist outside the mainland). In January, 1944, these two W.A.A.A.F. went to New Guinea to help the
boys make the best of their dehydrated meat and vegetables. They gave demonstrations and advice to male messing personnel. A padre said, "Those girls of yours did an enormous amount of good-send them
again-there should be more of it." |
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| Third birthday, March 15, 1944. Celebrations like this (at
R.A.A.F. Station, Richmond) took place all through Australia. The men graciously waited on the girls. No meal line that night, and "cookie" and her assistants sat down with
the others. Congratulations on excellent service record came from the Prime Minister, General MacArthur, the Minister for Air and the Chief of Air Staff. |
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