BRITISH WOMEN'S AIR FORCE [Main]
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Year: 1918
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Runtime: 11 mins
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Description: Two women volunteers go along to the recruiting centre, emerging in WRAF uniform. There is a parade at the station, after which the women depart to their various duties. Some work as clerks, some as waitresses in the officers' mess, some sewing fabric (described as "sail-making"). Others strip and repair the wings of damaged aircraft. One group holds on to a Bristol Scout D while the engine is run up, then remove the chocks to let it taxi. It comes back to land and the rotary engine runs to a stop. They take it up by its balance points and wheel it away. A group of the women bring airship SSZ13 out of its shed. Some work in a repair "shop" on wheels. After work those who drive lorries and motor-cycles have their vehicles inspected. Early in the morning the women go sea-bathing. Others play tennis, hockey, go boating with friends, or practise waltzing with each other. They take part in sports on the seafront at Hastings. A final shot of "the boys they're helping to win this war", two RAF fliers starting up an Armstrong Whitworth FK3.
Everyday life for WRAF members at a coastal RAF station, probably Hastings area, summer 1918.
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Keywords: EFG1914 / World War I / Royal Air Force, Women's Royal Air Force, / Royal Air Force / Air warfare / recruitment, British air: Women's Royal Air Force / operations, British air - routine / aircraft, British - combat: Bristol Scout D / operations, British air - return / aircraft, British naval - airship: SSZ13 / operations, British air - maintenance / recreation, British air - casual: swimming / recreation, British air - sport: tennis / recreation, British air - sport: hockey / recreation, British air - sport: athletics / aircraft, British - combat: Armstrong Whitworth FK3 / 31/3(41) / Hastings area, Sussex, England, UK / sex
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Collection:
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Provider: Imperial War Museums
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Rights: In Copyright / Imperial War Museums
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Colour: Black & White
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Sound: Without sound
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Date:
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Document type: