WRAF
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I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Joined: Dec 2002
Aviation Qualifications: Military (Retired)
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From: Lincolnshire
WRAF
Inspired from a different thread, when the WRAF changed ranks from flt and sqn officer to lieutenant and leader etc, were they known as flt it (W)?
When the WRAF was subsumed into the RAF, did the ACW, LAC(W) etc get dropped at that time?
When the WRAF was subsumed into the RAF, did the ACW, LAC(W) etc get dropped at that time?
Joined: Mar 2010
Aviation Qualifications: ATCO
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From: Often in Jersey, but mainly in the past.
She remembers the (W) suffix for a while, but no recollection of dates.
Same with my recollections ... it was an admin thing that finally disappeared, possibly when equal pay came in?
Same with my recollections ... it was an admin thing that finally disappeared, possibly when equal pay came in?
Last edited by MPN11; 18th August 2018 at 18:07.
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,858
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From: SW England
Answering your first question I am pretty sure the answer is no. After flight officers became flight lieutenants (in 1968) I dont think there was ever a "W" after the rank, as was still the case with ORs (SACW) etc. This seems logical as in the latter case the abbreviations stood for aircraftwoman etc. The abbreviation "WRAF" did however appear after their names in the RAF lists of the period
I am not sure what happens with ORs now, but one day in Tescos I did ask a female naval rating who was wearing a "killick's" anchor on her sleeve what her rate was called now. In the days of the WRNS she would have been a leading wren, but as she could hardly be called a leading seaman, I wondered what the new terminology was. The very sensible reply was that they are all called "leading hands", whether male or female. Thank goodness they didn't decide on "leading person"!
I am not sure what happens with ORs now, but one day in Tescos I did ask a female naval rating who was wearing a "killick's" anchor on her sleeve what her rate was called now. In the days of the WRNS she would have been a leading wren, but as she could hardly be called a leading seaman, I wondered what the new terminology was. The very sensible reply was that they are all called "leading hands", whether male or female. Thank goodness they didn't decide on "leading person"!
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Sneaking up on the Runway and leaping out to grab it unawares
It started to change when we got female aircrew; they were transferred fro the WRAF into the RAF.
The WRAF continued to exist (with Officers having the WRAF suffix, although this was often shortened to (W) ) IIRC until 1994 when the WRAF was absorbed into the RAF and the (W) suffix was dropped.
The WRAF continued to exist (with Officers having the WRAF suffix, although this was often shortened to (W) ) IIRC until 1994 when the WRAF was absorbed into the RAF and the (W) suffix was dropped.
