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I was just sixteen when I joined the WAAF in 1941. I didn't mind what kind of job I was given so long as I could get through the initial interview. I was more concerned someone would find out I'd put my age up by one year. I was posted to 32 MU St Athan, South Wales, as a parachute repairer. After three months in the workshop waiting for a posting to go on the course, I was told there were no more vacancies and I had to re-muster. I had a choice of workshop - armoury or electrics - I chose the electrical workshop.
There were other WAAFs working there, and we worked side by side with the RAF electricians. Our job was to dismantle, clean and repair, then reassemble and test generators, motors, magnetos, bomb-release switches, etc, whatever was needed.
The Warrant Officer in charge of our workshop was of the opinion that WAAF personnel should be able to claim pay on a par with the airmen because we were doing the same job, but the electrician course was not open to the WAAF, so we had the pay of aircraft hand (Group V as compared with electrician - Group II).

While we girls could do nothing about it, our Warrant Officer did.
It wasn't long before six of us were called to his office and asked if we would like to become electricians. He told us we would not be posted on a course because none was available, but he was willing to arrange lectures in the evenings and weekends with officers and instructors who would be willing to teach us. It would mean we would have to give up a lot of our free time if we took the job on, and we would have to work hard to make the grade. It wouldn't be easy. We were given a couple of days to think things over.
And so it was agreed. All of us decided to give it a go. We wondered what we had let ourselves in for. The men went on course, full-time, for sixteen weeks. We were going to learn in our spare time - it was going to take us years I thought!
After a month we were given a preliminary test to assess our progress, if any — amazingly
we all did well - but after only two months of this haphazard training, we were scheduled to take our 'Tradeboard'. This was to be held at Sealand, just outside Chester. We were nervous and not at all confident. This was it. Pass or fail, this was the crunch. We returned to base and waited - at last came the news - our Warrant Officer came strutting down the aisle of the workshop, waving this piece of paper and shouting "You've all passed!". It was a wonderful day for us all.
It wasn't long before we satfor our 'First Class' Trade and then again to get our 'Props' (leading aircraft woman). We continued working as usual, doing the same work as the men, but now we were being paid as electricians. I sometimes think of our Warrant Officer and of the faith he had in us girls. It couldn't have been easy for him at the time. I understand the trade of electrician was opened up to W AAF personnel later on.
I am still in touch with two of my fellow pioneers and would love to hear from anyone else who remembers me.

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