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This story was submitted to the People’s War web site by a volunteer on behalf of Joyce Ray and has been added to the site with her permission. She fully understands the site’s terms and conditions.

My name is Joyce Ray (nee Voss). I enlisted in August 1942, as my friend who was six months older than me and would have been called up, so we both volunteered to go in the WAAF, so we could stay together. We only stayed together for the ‘Square bashing’ at Innsworth. Then we were both posted to RAF Thorney Island together, which was a Coastal Command Station. I remember the Australian Pilots in their deep blue uniform, when so many went missing. Then my friend was posted to MU Stafford and I went to Davidstow Moor, where there were a lot of Polish airmen and very few WAAF. We were in large Nissen huts with a big stove in the middle. A mist used to come down every day, it seemed about 4 o’clock. The local people were very kind to us. From here I went to Blackpool, bitterly cold, we were in civilian billets, sleeping six in a room. We were marched to Derby Baths once a week. It was 9d to go into the Tower ballroom to see the shows. I saw Issy Bonn there, lots of fun I remember too. From there I came to Boscombe Down. I can remember all Personnel to report to the Runway to help clear the deep snow off the runway. I made lots of friends and met my husband David Ray. Some ex WAAFs are still in touch with me.

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