Record revealed
Operations record book featuring the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
This record explores how airwomen spent their work and leisure time at a Royal Air Force base during the Second World War.
Images
Image 1 of 6
Cover and spine of record AIR 29/687/4
Image 2 of 6
A page from the Operations Record Book (Form 540) of 84 Operational Training Units (OTU) Desborough, February 1944, noting the opening of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) arts and crafts exhibition.
Transcript
February 1944
W.A.A.F.
No items of unusual interest have arisen in the WAAF section during the month. Sister MADGWICK of the P.M.R.A.F. Nursing Service spent three days on the Station. An airwoman Chiropodist was attached from Headquarters No.92 Group for fifteen days.
The Arts and Crafts Exhibition which was opened on the 27th February, by AIR VICE-MARSHAL HK THOROLD, O.B.E., D.S.C., D.F.C., A.F.C., Air Officer Commanding, No.92 Group, was very successful.
Image 3 of 6
Appendix to the Operations Record Book (Form 540) of 84 OTU Desborough, February 1944, with photographs from the WAAF arts and crafts exhibition.
Transcript
Appendix 5 to form 540.
Desborough
Photographs of the W.A.A.F. handicraft Exhibition of Desborough opened by vice-marshal H.K Thorold C.B.E., D.S.C., D.F.C., A.F.C., Air Officer Commanding 92 Group.
Image 4 of 6
A page from the Operations Record Book (Form 540) of 84 OTU Desborough, July 1944, noting the WAAF fifth anniversary.
Transcript
2 July 1944
This Sunday marked the 5th anniversary of the formation of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force.
The W.A.A.F. unit on this station celebrated the occasion by a parade and a special Church service at St Giles Church, Desborough. The Station Commander, Group Captain G. Lowe D.F.C., A.F.C., took the Salute at the March Past and Group Captain the Reverend JF Cox, M.C, M.A, K.H.C., Assistant Chaplain-in-Chief, gave the address.
Image 5 of 6
Appendix to Operations Record Book (Form 540) of 84 Desborough, July 1944, with photographs from the WAAF fifth anniversary parade.
Transcript
Appendix No. 20 to form 540. R.A.F. Desborough.
W.A.A.F. Anniversary
2nd July 1944.
Image 6 of 6
Appendix to Operations Record Book (Form 540) of 84 OTUs Desborough, October 1944, with a photograph taken inside the station theatre.
Why this record matters
- Date
- September 1943 – June 1945
- Catalogue reference
- AIR 29/687/4
During the 20th century, Royal Air Force (RAF) stations and units were required to keep monthly operations record books. These documented the day-to-day activities of each unit in the RAF, including the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) and Operational Training Units (OTUs).
The WAAF was formed in 1939 to support the war effort, and airwomen were employed in a variety of non-combatant roles including clerks, cooks, drivers and mechanics. Operational Training Units were responsible for the final stage of aircrew training, though they could also participate in real missions.
Thousands of operation record books are preserved at The National Archives. The record shown above comes from the 84 OTU based in Desborough, Northamptonshire. It was under the command of the 92 Group Bomber Command (which also covered several other OTUs in the midlands), and the station commander was Group Captain G. Lowe.
The 84 OTU was formed in September 1943 and, by the end of October, over 200 airwomen were working at the Desborough station. At first there was not enough accommodation for all the new personnel, so a few airwomen had to be transferred to a nearby satellite station at Harrington, or to Bruntingthorpe in Leicestershire.
The first and second images of this operations record book (above) discuss a WAAF arts and crafts exhibition, which opened in February 1944. Within the second image, photographs of artwork made by the servicewomen can be seen as part of the exhibition. This includes an aircraft model which seems to represent a Handley Page Hampden bomber. The book also shows that there were more crafting activities later in the year, including toys and goods made for sale in a bazaar.
The third and fourth images date from July 1944, when events were arranged to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the creation of the WAAF. This included a parade and a church service in the town.
The last image dates from October 1944, following the opening of the station theatre the previous month. It was developed from a Nissen hut (a prefabricated steel building) with a stage and dressing room installed.
Other WAAF activities at Desborough included gardening, netball trials, welfare lectures and discussion groups. The mixture of recreational activities and events shown in this record provide an interesting insight into how the women of the WAAF were able to find moments of joy and comradeship during wartime.
This section of the document ends with the disbandment of the 84 OTU in June 1945, after the war in Europe ended. After this time, the WAAF personnel remained at Desborough while awaiting transfer to the 44 Group Transport Command.
This record highlights what the WAAF wartime experience was like, alongside the activities of the airmen flying from Desborough. It is possible that many airwomen elsewhere in Britain had similar experiences during the conflict too.