Today in History

1941 Women's Auxiliary Air Force founded

The War Cabinet approved the formation of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) to enable the Royal New Zealand Air Force to release more men for service overseas. Within 18 months a Women's Army Auxiliary Corps and Women's Royal Naval Service had been created.

The WAAF made an important contribution to the war effort by helping to ease the manpower problem. Originally, women were employed as cooks, mess-hands, drivers, clerks, equipment assistants, medical orderlies and shorthand typists. But by the end of the war they were found to be in many trades that were ‘not beyond their physical capabilities’.

From an initial draft of 200 women posted to Rongotai, Wellington, in April 1941, there were WAAFs on 21 stations by the end of the 1942. WAAFs were eventually posted to every major station in New Zealand, and a number served overseas in Fiji and on Norfolk Island.

In March 1941 Kitty Kain was appointed superintendent of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force. Kain was a dietitian with experience in a large hospital. She was seen as having the necessary management skills required to supervise a diverse workforce.

Women were not granted service ranks until 1942, when the Women's Auxiliary Air Force Emergency Regulations incorporated the WAAF as part of the RNZAF. As a result of this, members of the WAAF held ranks equivalent to those of the men.

At its peak in July 1943, the WAAF numbered over 3600. During the course of the war approximately 4750 passed through its ranks, with over a hundred being commissioned, mainly for cipher and administrative duties.

Image: WAAF wireless operators, 1942 (Timeframes)