The Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) was the women's branch of the

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...

, existing from 1 April 1918 until 1 April 1920, when it was disbanded. Its original intent was to provide female

mechanic A mechanic is a skilled tradesperson who uses tools to build, maintain, or repair machinery, especially engines. Formerly, the term meant any member of the handicraft trades, but by the early 20th century, it had come to mean one who works w ...

s in order to free up men for front line service in

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. However, the organisation saw high enrolment, with women also serving in a number of other non-combatant roles, including drivers, caterers, clerks and tailors, as well as filling other wartime needs. Its last veteran was for a time thought to be Gladys Powers, who died in 2008, but Florence Green, who died in February 2012, was subsequently found to be the last-known surviving WRAF veteran. The name was revived in 1949 for the regular women's branch of the RAF. The auxiliary organisation in the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

had been called the

Women's Auxiliary Air Force The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF), whose members were referred to as WAAFs (), was the female auxiliary of the British Royal Air Force during the World War II, Second World War. Established in 1939, WAAF numbers exceeded 181,000 at its peak ...

Strength

The target strength had been a force of around 90,000. Figures are unreliable until 1 August 1918, when the strength was 15,433, approximately 5,000 recruits and 10,000 transferred from the predecessor organisations, mainly the

Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps The Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), known as Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps (QMAAC) from 9 April 1918, was the women's corps of the British Army during and immediately after the First World War. It was established in February 1917 and d ...

, but also the

Women's Royal Naval Service The Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS; popularly and officially known as the Wrens) was the women's branch of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy. First formed in 1917 for the World War I, First World War, it was disbanded in 1919, then revived in ...

. The organisation never exceeded 25,000.

Depots

Depots were opened in 1918 at Handsworth College, in Glasgow, at

RAF Flowerdown Royal Air Force Flowerdown, or more simply RAF Flowerdown, was a Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force and finally Royal Navy non-flying station located in Hampshire, England. The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) School for Wireless Operators moved fr ...

and at York.

List of Commandants

* Gertrude Crawford, 1918 * Violet Douglas-Pennant, May–September 1918 *

Helen Gwynne-Vaughan Dame Helen Charlotte Isabella Gwynne-Vaughan, (née Fraser; 21 January 1879 – 26 August 1967) was a prominent English botanist and mycologist. During the First World War, she served in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps and then as Commandant ...

, September 1918 – 1920

Notable members

* Muriel Thompson

Notes

External links

Search and download Service records of women who joined the WRAF, 1914–1919 from The National Archives.
{{Use dmy dates, date=August 2019 Military units and formations of the Royal Air Force in World War I 1918 establishments in the United Kingdom 1920 disestablishments in the United Kingdom All-female military units and formations Military units and formations established in 1918 Women's organisations based in the United Kingdom