Women of the Air Force Timeline
1 April 1918
Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) formed (Chief Superintendant Lady Gertrude Crawford)
1918
Introduction of 'air force blue' uniform
1919
WRAF serving in France and Germany
1920
WRAF disbanded
28 June 1939
Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) formed (Director Dame Katherine Trefusis-Forbes)
22 December 1939
First regulation for the WAAF issued, relating to terms of service, ranks, discipline, uniform and leave
1940
Flf Off Elspeth Henderson, Sgt Joan Mortimer and Sgt Helen Turner awarded the Military Medal for bravery during the Battle of Britain
25 April 1941
Defence (Women's Forces) Regulations declared all personnel enrolled in the WAAF members of the Armed Forces of the Crown
18 December 1941
National Service Act No. 2 issued, allowing the conscription of women
4 October 1943
Air Commandant Lady Mary Welsh appointed Director of the WAAF
1949
Women's Royal Air Force established within the RAF (Director Dame Felicity Peake)
1952
Jean Lennox Bird of the WRAFVR becomes the first woman to be awarded RAF pilot's badge
1990
Flt Lt Julie Gibson became RAF's first operational female pilot
January 1991
Plt Off Anne-Marie Dawe became first female navigator of Hercules aircraft at RAF Lyneham
1994
WRAF disbanded upon merger with RAF
Flight Lieutenant Kirsty Moore
© MOD Crown Copyright
1994
Flt Lt Jo Salter became RAF's first female fast jet pilot, flying Tornado GR1Bs operationally with No.617 Squadron
March 2008
Flt Lt Michelle Goodman became the first woman to be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
May 2009
Flight Lieutenant Kirsty Moore appointed first female pilot to serve with the Red Arrows. She will fly with the team from 2010 to 2012, including the Olympics' Opening Ceremony of 2012.
