Royal Canadian Air Force Women's Division: Difference between revisions
m Quick-adding category "Military organizations established in 1941" (using HotCat) |
m it's -> its |
||
| Line 69: | Line 69: | ||
[[Image:WDposter.png|thumb|left|Part of a Royal Canadian Air Force Women's Division recruiting poster.]] |
[[Image:WDposter.png|thumb|left|Part of a Royal Canadian Air Force Women's Division recruiting poster.]] |
||
At the beginning of the war, the RCAF was experiencing a shortage of personnel. Men were needed for combat duties overseas and for training duties at [[British Commonwealth Air Training Plan]] schools across [[Canada]]. To allow as many men as possible to contribute to wartime operational duties, WDs took over many responsibilities once held by men. The original 1941 [[order-in-council]] authorized "''the formation of a component of the Royal Canadian Air Force to be known as the Canadian Women's Auxiliary Air Force, |
At the beginning of the war, the RCAF was experiencing a shortage of personnel. Men were needed for combat duties overseas and for training duties at [[British Commonwealth Air Training Plan]] schools across [[Canada]]. To allow as many men as possible to contribute to wartime operational duties, WDs took over many responsibilities once held by men. The original 1941 [[order-in-council]] authorized "''the formation of a component of the Royal Canadian Air Force to be known as the Canadian Women's Auxiliary Air Force, its function being to release to heavier duties those members of the RCAF employed in administrative, clerical and other comparable types of service employment.''"<ref>Ziegler 1973, p. 6.</ref> Duties, however, expanded as the war progressed. Among the many jobs carried out by WD personnel, they became clerks, drivers, fabric workers, hairdressers, hospital assistants, instrument mechanics, [[parachute]] riggers, photographers, air photo interpreters, intelligence officers, instructors, weather observers, pharmacists, [[wireless]] operators, and [[Royal Canadian Air Force Police|Service Police]]. Many WDs served overseas with [[No. 6 Group RCAF|No. 6 (bomber) Group]]. Over 17,400 women served with the Women's Division before it was discontinued in December 1946.<ref>Granatstein 1989, p. 36.</ref> Thirty WDs died during the war.<ref>Greenhous 1999, p. 120.</ref> |
||
During the war Princess [[Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone|Alice]], the then [[Viceregal consort of Canada|viceregal consort]] of [[Governor General of Canada|Governor General]] [[Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone|Alexander Cambridge, Earl of Athlone]], served as Honorary Air Commandant of the Women's Division. |
During the war Princess [[Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone|Alice]], the then [[Viceregal consort of Canada|viceregal consort]] of [[Governor General of Canada|Governor General]] [[Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone|Alexander Cambridge, Earl of Athlone]], served as Honorary Air Commandant of the Women's Division. |
||
Revision as of 01:29, 14 May 2009
| Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Women's Division | |
|---|---|
 RCAF Women's Division insignia | |
| Active | 1941-1946 |
| Disbanded | December 1946 |
| Country | Canada |
| Allegiance | Canada |
| Branch | Element of the Royal Canadian Air Force |
| Role | Operational support. Various duties. |
| Size | Approx. 17,400 personnel |
| Nickname(s) | "WD" |
| Patron | HRH Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone |
| Motto(s) | We Serve That Men May Fly |
The Royal Canadian Air Force Women's Division was an element of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) which was active during the Second World War.
The Women's Division was originally called the Canadian Women's Auxiliary Air Force (CWAAF), which formed in July 1941. The name change to Royal Canadian Air Force Women's Division occurred in February 1942. Women's Division personnel were commonly known as WDs.
At the beginning of the war, the RCAF was experiencing a shortage of personnel. Men were needed for combat duties overseas and for training duties at British Commonwealth Air Training Plan schools across Canada. To allow as many men as possible to contribute to wartime operational duties, WDs took over many responsibilities once held by men. The original 1941 order-in-council authorized "the formation of a component of the Royal Canadian Air Force to be known as the Canadian Women's Auxiliary Air Force, its function being to release to heavier duties those members of the RCAF employed in administrative, clerical and other comparable types of service employment."[1] Duties, however, expanded as the war progressed. Among the many jobs carried out by WD personnel, they became clerks, drivers, fabric workers, hairdressers, hospital assistants, instrument mechanics, parachute riggers, photographers, air photo interpreters, intelligence officers, instructors, weather observers, pharmacists, wireless operators, and Service Police. Many WDs served overseas with No. 6 (bomber) Group. Over 17,400 women served with the Women's Division before it was discontinued in December 1946.[2] Thirty WDs died during the war.[3]
During the war Princess Alice, the then viceregal consort of Governor General Alexander Cambridge, Earl of Athlone, served as Honorary Air Commandant of the Women's Division.
References
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Greenhous, Brereton; Halliday, Hugh A. Canada's Air Forces, 1914–1999. Montreal: Editions Art Global and the Department of National Defence, 1999. ISBN 2-920718-72-X.
- Granatstein, J.L.; Morton, Desmond. A Nation Forged In Fire - Canadians and the Second World War 1939-1945. Toronto: Lester & Orpen Dennys Ltd., 1989. ISBN 0-88619-213-7
- Ziegler, Mary. We Serve That Men May Fly - The Story of the Women's Division of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Hamilton: RCAF (WD) Association, 1973. No ISBN.