Can anyone identify these uniforms?

[library]

I'm attaching a photo of two women (one of who was my aunt) in uniform one of which shows several badges. I would be pleased to find out what they signify in order to try and identify the regiment/rank/service. Many thanks.

[Commodore Armiger]

They are both British WAAF (Women's Auxiliary Air Force) from WW2. The seated person was a Senior Section Leader (flight sergeant equivalent); the standing person was an Aircraftwoman 1st class and as far as I can tell a radar operator.

The high-tech machinery which the SSL is demonstrating appears to be a sewing-machine!

[doug.birch]

Hi library,they members of the Women's Royal Air Force,the one sitting at the machine is a sergeant,the other looks like a leading air woman,I might be wrong,good luck. Doug. Birch

[Joseph]

Im with the WAAF, looks like making parachutes, there is one hung up behind the girl standing.

Regards Charles

[Commodore Armiger]

Not WRAF during WW2. The original WRAF founded 1918 lasted to 1920. WAAF founded 1939 lasted until 1949 when it became WRAF, which in turn lasted to 1994 when women were incorporated fully into the RAF.

It certainly looks as though the SSL could be showing the ACW how to sew a parachute. But this begs the question as to why. As far as I know that was a civilian occupation not one carried out by uniformed servicemen/women. And where was the picture taken? There are some distinctly unmilitary looking pictures in the background behind the window.

[Joseph]

Could it be mending the ones used on station? or simple a poseur.

Archieved maybe at the Imperial war museum.

Regards Charles

[Commodore Armiger]

Posed I think. The RAF didn't have that many trained RDF (radar) plotters that they could lend them out as parachute repairers.

[library]

Thanks everyone for this. It does indeed look very posed. After the war my aunt worked as a journalist in London so perhaps her Fleet St connections may have had something to do with the photo being taken. Am slightly confused though about WAAF and WRAF as her mother had been a forewoman in the WAAF in 1917. I believe this later became QMAAC.

[Commodore Armiger]

I suspect that you need to do a bit more family research as there does not seem to have been a WAAF in 1917 and I cannot work out what "QMAAC" might have been.

There was (and is) Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service

http://www.pmrafns.org/HISTORY.HTM

which was founded as the RAF Temporary Nursing Service in 1918.

[library]

I think I have confused the Army and Airforce. The Women's Auxiliary Army Corps came into existence in 1917 (I think I put a photo of my grandmother as a forewoman with the service, based at Romford OTC, Hare Hall on the WW1 page). This then became the Queen Mary's Auxiliary Army Corps shortly after. I admit I don't have much information on the women's services of WW2 which is why I submitted the photo of my aunt and the other servicewoman. However, the information which has been supplied by you and others on this thread has been most helpful.

[library]

I forwarded everyone's replies to my sister who tells me that the photo was taken at a demonstration (?of a sewing machine?) held at Harrods department store.

[MartinH-K]

I can tell you that the standing woman is indeed an LAC. A senior aircraftsman (SAC) would have had a three bladed propellor. The badge denotes 'signals'. a hand holding lightning bolts. I know! I'm late to the party.;)
The Flt Sgt has additional stripes which I believe denoted length of service- not used anymore.:)

[Commodore Armiger]

My reply of 26 June last gave the correct WAAF ranks. Flight Sergeant and LAC were the male equivalents.

They are both British WAAF (Women's Auxiliary Air Force) from WW2. The seated person was a Senior Section Leader (flight sergeant equivalent); the standing person was an Aircraftwoman 1st class and as far as I can tell a radar operator.