National Women's Air Reserve - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

mike_vee · #1 30-12-23, 12:41 PM

Just reading an article from October 1938 edition of "Picture Post" about the National Women's Air Reserve titled "Girl Pilots"

Quote:

More than 300 women from all walks of life participate in a scheme, initiated in Romford, that will provide fully trained civil pilots during a national emergency.

I would guess that when war broke out a lot of them volunteered to join the ATA .

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mike_vee · #2 01-01-24, 01:52 PM

Found a photo of their badge and one of it being worn.

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BlueBadger · #3 24-03-24, 09:22 AM

Hello all,

The badge shown above is from my collection. The uniform consisted of a plain white boiler suit and a black beret with this badge affixed . In one photo I've spotted some cloth wings, but the detail is not good enough to interpret what wings they are. Perhaps CAG wings. I have a very few bits to them, mainly clippings and this badge. They seem to have disbanded at the outbreak of the war with many of their members joining the CAG (pre war) and the ATA during wartime. Still looking for a good photo of one in uniform that isn't a press clipping or magazine article.

Cheers,
Jeff

mike_vee · #4 24-03-24, 12:54 PM

I'll check what other photos were in the "Picture Post" article.

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BlueBadger · #5 24-03-24, 01:27 PM

Find attached the photo with the wings displayed that I referenced.

Cheers,
Jeff

mike_vee · #6 24-03-24, 03:25 PM

I checked the "Picture Post" article and although there are eleven photos none show the wings.

There's a Facebook post about "The First Eight" with a photo of Pauline Gower :

Quote:

As the threat of war increased, Pauline Gower was appointed as the second woman Commissioner for Civil Air Defense for London and the Southeast of England, based upon her considerable flying experience.

November 1939. Pauline Gower was asked to head up this effort.
Her initial charge was to recruit eight women flyers to deliver light training planes, such as Gypsy Moths, from the DeHaviland factory at Hatfield to RAF training bases in Northern England and Scotland.

https://www.facebook.com/99sinc/post...4258518530594/

Also , there is a photo of her on the National Portrait Gallery page (not posted due to copyright).

https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/s.../Pauline-Gower

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