Australian Women's Flying Club (AWFC) in Australia during WW2

AWFC metal Badge with gilded outspread wings which doubled as a hat
badge for the forage cap and as pilot's wings worn above left breast pocket

Australian Aviatrix, Nancy-Bird Walton returned to Sydney after failing to obtain Government financial backing to continue her air ambulance service. She met up with a number of women pilots at an afternoon tea on the 10 May 1938. Other ladies there were Margaret Adams, Nancy Edwards, Dorothy McMahon, Thyne Reid and Helen Tout. They formed a sort of social club for female aviators. At the same time Nancy Bird and Margaret Adams were playing a major role in the formation of the Australian Women's Flying Corps (AWFC).

Betty Mullins an office worker in Sydney was the driving force behind the establishment of the Australian Women's Flying Corps (AWFC). She first announced her plan to establish such a club in the Sunday Sun and Guardian on 19 June 1938 under the article title of "Women as War Birds if Wanted". Betty's aim was:-

Her concept that although it was a civilian volunteer organisation it would be available in the event of a national emergency such as war. She hoped to gain support from H.C. Thorby, the Minister for Defence. Unfortunately the Minister wrote back in the Telegraph the following day:-

Debate continued in Parliament and in the newspaper. The following comment from Nancy Bird was published:-

The first meeting of what was initially called the "Australian Women's Flying Corps (AWFC)" was held with over 80 women in attendance in the Feminist Club of New South Wales at 77 King Street, Sydney on 6 July 1938. One of those women was Florence McKenzie who also established and directed the Women's Emergency Signalling Corps (WESC) in 1939.

The name of the group changed to the "Australian Women's Club for the Encouragement of Aviation", then to the "Australian Association for the Advance of Aviation" and finally to the "Australian Women's Flying Club (AWFC)".

The AWFC had its first General Meeting on 23 August 1938 with over 200 women in attendance. The first Committee was elected as follows:-

The newly elected President of the Club, 22 year old Miss Margaret Adams, said “Members can learn to fly at less than half price.” Twenty new members joined the AWFC at that first meeting and 180 other women took home Application Forms. After a short while some 200 girls had joined the newly formed AWFC.

The AWFC aimed to bring a complete program of aeronautical training within the reach of any girl who was prepared to pay the annual subscription. Aviation lectures were given by university lecturers and trained engineers. The girls not only learnt to fly an aircraft but also to service it mechanically. The one-year course included physical culture, first aid and home nursing. It was hoped to spread the movement to other large cities.

The Annual Subscription for the AWFC was 10 shillings and six pence plus 1 shillings for attendance at the weekly meetings. After a short time operating out of the Feminist Club they established there own rooms at 8 Young Street, Sydney.

The uniform of the AWFC comprised dark blue serge tunic and skirt with blue forage cap, with a pale blue shirt, black tie, gloves and shoes. Members of the AWFC had to purchase their own uniforms.

Embroidered Badge which most likely
preceded the above metal badge

Betty Mullins resigned by February 1939 and Barbara Hitchins was elected as the new Secretary. As the threat of war increased membership of the club increased. Additional rooms were acquired at 9 Clarence Street, Sydney and Fort Street Girls High School grounds was used for parade drill and their hall was used for classes.

Gwen Starke or "Starkie" as she was known, a well known Girl Guide member, and kindergarten teacher, was a Squadron Commander in the AWFC. She also served as President of the AWFC for a short period.

With a membership of more than 300 girls, the Sydney Branch of the AWFC opened its spacious new headquarters at 221 George Street in about June 1940. Although they had received hundreds of new applications at that time, they were unable to absorb any new members. The Aero Section of the Sydney Branch had a dismantled aircraft engine in their workshop to work on, under their instructor Miss A. H. Ray from the Royal Aero Club. Several of the girls in this section had their pilot’s licences and had already passed preliminary examinations in engineering.

In early June 1940, ten girls from the Sydney Branch of the AWFC took over aircraft jobs at the de Havilland factory at Mascot with only a few hour’s notice. Another girl had already been working in an aircraft factory for some time. As more girls were trained, the club hoped to be able to supply semi-skilled workers for aircraft workshops to replace men and boys who were called up for military service.

Fifty members of the transport section of the Sydney AWFC who were advanced car drivers, were given elementary mechanical knowledge to enable them to work at RAAF stations. The girls went into camp on Sunday 9 June 1940 at St. Ives Showground. The transport section arranged their transport to St Ives and their meals were organised by the cookery, canteen and stores section.

On the night of Thursday 1 August 1940, the AWFC held their second annual Club Ball at Horden Brothers’ ballroom. The girls of the AWFC, in their trim blue uniforms, formed a guard of honour for the presentation of the debutantes at the ball, and then hurriedly changed into their evening gowns to join in the dancing. There were many Air Force uniforms among the 500 dancers at the ball. The proceeds from the ball went to the RAAF Comforts Fund.

The Newcastle Branch of the AWFC had their headquarters in Wheeler Place. They had vacancies for 10 girls in their Transport Section in August 1940. Girls who held a driver’s licence and who wished to join the AWFC were encouraged to contact their Secretary, Miss Laureen Brahe. Mrs A. E. Mood was the Branch President. The Newcastle Branch comprised four flights of 20 girls divided into the following work:-

A new Squadron of the New South Wales Division of the Women’s Air Training Corps, which was affiliated with the Australian Women’s Flying Club was formed at Windsor in mid-September 1940. During the long weekend, girls from the club went into camp at a site near the river at Windsor. Miss Gwen Stark, the Assistant State Commandant of the Women's Air Training Corps WATC said there were 40 new members in the new Squadron at Windsor. Miss Stark left for Tamworth the following week to form a new Squadron there.

By August 1940, the AWFC was also well established in Victoria and Queensland. In Victoria, Mrs Bell, who started the club in Brisbane, was head of the organisation. In Sydney, Mrs. Charles Walton, better known as Miss Nancy Bird, was the State Commandant.

On 13 November 1940, the Newcastle AFWC decided to suspend functioning as a club for the duration of the war and become a branch of the Australian Women’s Air Training Corps. The Australian Women’s Air Training Corps was the outcome of a recent conference in Melbourne, attended by delegates from flying clubs in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, Queensland and South Australia. The scheme was placed on a Commonwealth footing, with its headquarters in Melbourne to work in cooperation with RAAF Headquarters. Following this conference, the NSW AWFC became the NSW section of the Australian Women’s ATC with Squadrons in Sydney, Newcastle, Tamworth and Windsor. The new uniform, planned at the Melbourne conference, comprised a khaki jacket and skirt with navy blue collar and wrist bands, navy blue beret, on which appeared the new badge and black shoes and stockings. A navy blue shirt and tie completed the outfit.

On Friday 17 January 1941, fifty blue uniformed members of the AWFC headed by Mrs. Charles Walton (“Lady Bird”), marched to St. James Church in King Street to attend a memorial service for Amy Johnson, one of the world’s best known woman aviators, who was killed the previous week on active service. Also in uniform at the service were Mrs. F. V. McKenzie, leader, and six other women signallers.

In about May 1942, four Australian States nominated Mrs Charles Walton (“Lady Bird”) as the Commandant of the Australian Women’s Flying Club succeeding the Countess of Bective who planned to return to England. Mrs. Walton and the Assistant State Commandant of the AWFC, Miss Val Morgan, travelled to Melbourne to attend the WATC Conference on 23 May 1942. With the election of Mrs Charles Walton as the new Australian Commandant, the headquarters of the WATC transferred from Melbourne to Sydney.

Intending applicants for the WAAAF were invited in September 1942 to attend the Sydney AWFC Drill meeting at 7:30pm each Thursday night at their club rooms at 221 George Street, Sydney and at 1:45pm every third Saturday at Darlington RAAF Depot. The AWFC were urgently looking for persons willing to train as WAAAF drill instructors and storekeepers.

Members of the Ambulance Squadron of the Sydney AWFC held their Christmas party on the evening of 21 December 1943 at the Australian Women’s Weekly Club for Servicewomen in Sydney. A program of sketches, songs and a ballet were presented by the girls under the direction of Miss Edith Mountford.

The AWFC held an Extraordinary General Meeting at their club rooms at 221 George Street, Sydney on Monday 6 January 1947 to pass a Resolution “That the Australian Women’s Flying Club Limited be voluntarily wound up.” The Resolution was passed and Miss Audreye Roxborough Clarke (Honorary Secretary) and Miss Eleanor Mary Platt of 63 Pitt Street, Sydney were appointed as Liquidators for the purpose of winding up the AWFC.

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President	Margaret Adams
Vice Presidents	Barbara Hitchins Thea Hughes Elwy Price
Secretary	Betty Mullins
Assistant Secretary	Yvonne Wurth
Treasurer	Florence Violet McKenzie