Description

Description: WATC (Womens Air Training Corps) Brass and Enamel Wings – World War 2

Maker’s Name: Stokes

Condition: Very Good

Comments: WATC (Womens Air Training Corps) Brass and Enamel Wings – World War 2. Complete with single pin.

The Women’s Air Training Corps was a voluntary civilian organisation which was established at Archerfield in Brisbane, Queensland  on 17 July 1939 by Mrs Bell, the wife of Group Captain J.R. Bell. The group comprised a number of local girls who were attempting to train themselves at Archerfield airfield to be ready to undertake aircraft work in the event of a war. The Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force was not approved by the Australian War Council until 9 January 1941.
Flying Officer M.T. Bell was the Commanding Officer of the WATC from 1939 to 1941. When Mrs Bell moved to Melbourne when her husband was transferred she was asked by the Women’s Voluntary National Register to establish a WATC group in Melbourne. In no time Mrs Bell had established 10 Squadrons each of 100 girls. Two of these squadrons trained on motor transport and one each in wireless telegraphy, stores, cooking, photography and draughting, clerical work, as aircraft hands, on aero engines, and on miscellaneous duties.
More Divisions of the WATC were then formed in Tasmania, then New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia. Mrs. Bell then went on to become the Australian Commandant of the WATC.
The WATC provided voluntary service to the RAAF as drivers, clerks, etc.