The Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) was the first and largest of the wartime Australian women’s services. About 27,000 women enlisted between 1941 and 1946. It paved the way for other women’s service organisations.
Recruits worked in a variety of clerical, medical, professional and other roles, freeing up men for combat overseas. They were often paid half to two-thirds of the salary of men in similar roles.
At its peak size, in October 1944, the WAAAF had around 18,670 serving members.
Like most historical projects, this has been a collaboration of many researchers and passionate historians.
The information and photographs were sourced from all over Australia, primarily from Joyce Thompson’s The WAAAF in Wartime Australia and from the History and Heritage Section of the RAAF.
Invaluable assistance has been received from many online enthusiasts and WAAAF family members. This important researching and cataloguing is often underestimated by the bigger institutions, and without their knowledge and tenacity, this collection would not be as extensive as it is.
If you can contribute in any way to expanding this collection, either with photographs, documentation or knowledge, please get in touch, we would love to hear from you.