WAAAF - WOMEN'S AUSTRALIAN AUXILIARY AIR FORCE

Hilda Harrison was only 19 years old when she died on active service in Queensland in 1943.

Hilda was a radio operator in the Women’s Australian Auxiliary Air Force. A military truck in which she was a passenger overturned on 22 February 1943 and Hilda was thrown from the vehicle. She suffered concussion and shock and died three days later in Nambour General Hospital.

Aircraftwoman Harrison is one of 57 women of the WAAAF recorded as casualties on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll for service during the Second World War.

The Women’s Australian Auxiliary Air Force was formed in 1941 at the request of the Chief of the Air Staff who wanted to release the men of the Royal Australian Air Force to serve at the front.

This was the first military service set up for women in Australia outside of nursing. It was quickly followed by the Army and Navy Women’s services. None of which were allowed to serve overseas.

From an early intake of 320, by 1944 the WAAAF had grown to 27,000 women serving in 73 different trades.

These included aircraft maintenance and construction, telegraphy, electricians, fitters, flight mechanics, fabric workers, instrument makers and meteorologists. They also served in clerical, transport, catering, equipment, signals, radar and medical roles.

In 1941 Dr Mildred Hutchings was the first female doctor to join the WAAAF as a medical specialist. She was also a qualified pilot but did not fly for the Air Force during her service.

The WAAAF was demobilised at the end of the war but re-emerged in 1951 as the Women’s Royal Australian Air Force (WRAAF). There were different conditions of service to the RAAF but pay rates were equalised in 1972.

Three years later female cadets were allowed to take up traditional male roles. In 1977 the WRAAF contingent was transferred and fully integrated into the Royal Australian Air Force.