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Thread: Help with identifying WW2 uniform

  1. #1

    Default Help with identifying WW2 uniform

    Hi I was hoping that someone may be able to positively identify the uniform in this pic, we have tried the ATS, WRAF and womens Fire service and there are similarities but none 100%. The background may give a clue perhaps. Thanks in anticipation.




  2. #2
    Senior Member az_gila's Avatar
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    Taken at an airport - looks like the uniform of women in the Air Transport Auxiliary, but she doesn't have "wings" on the uniform. Perhaps a non-pilot officer for crewing larger planes.



    From here -

    http://www.battleofbritainbeacon.org...of-britain.cfm

    Perhaps she had just joined and was still in training? The caps certainly look the same.

    The link to an ATA staff picture shows the same uniforms without the wings. Check the woman on the left.



    From here - on women ferry pilots -

    http://www.haddenhamairfieldhistory....errypilots.htm

    My aunt was in the weather office at Speke in WWII, and I see the woman on the left is identified as "Met Office". I wonder if she had the same uniform...

    ----------------------------

    Other option is the ATS



    Which fits in with the two "thingeys" on the front of the cap - but the ATS badge over the left pocket seems to be missing...

  3. #3

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    Quote Originally Posted by az_gila View Post
    Taken at an airport - looks like the uniform of women in the Air Transport Auxiliary, but she doesn't have "wings" on the uniform. Perhaps a non-pilot officer for crewing larger planes.



    From here -

    http://www.battleofbritainbeacon.org...of-britain.cfm

    Perhaps she had just joined and was still in training? The caps certainly look the same.

    The link to an ATA staff picture shows the same uniforms without the wings. Check the woman on the left.



    From here - on women ferry pilots -

    http://www.haddenhamairfieldhistory....errypilots.htm

    My aunt was in the weather office at Speke in WWII, and I see the woman on the left is identified as "Met Office". I wonder if she had the same uniform...

    ----------------------------

    Other option is the ATS



    Which fits in with the two "thingeys" on the front of the cap - but the ATS badge over the left pocket seems to be missing...
    I don't think ATS wore forage caps my guess is ATA

  4. #4

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    Thank you both for your input much appreciated, a couple of possible clues the daughters of the lady pictured recall two things 'shunting' and possibly something to do with the fire service, love to get a positive ID. Once again many thanks.

  5. #5
    Came fourth...now what? Oudeis's Avatar
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    The picture 'sings' WAAF to me. I will have another look around later, but for now back to the hostilities...

    http://www.wartimememories.co.uk/allied/waaf.html

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    Martin hmtmaj's Avatar
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    Hi Lily, try this forum,

    http://www.ww2f.com/

    they should know for certain.

    Mart
    Started the Old Swan Website:

    http://oldswan.piczo.com/?cr=5

  7. #7

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    This is a hard task because the buttons on the upper tunic(not pockets ones)are larger than those for the military ones ie Army/RAF,the "coders uniform" had this style also ie large buttons.

    ---------- Post added at 08:53 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:27 AM ----------

    I would also go with the ATS uniform despite her not having a badge to define her role in the war.
    http://haslemerewardrobe.co.uk/costu...m-c-97_81.html

  8. #8
    Came fourth...now what? Oudeis's Avatar
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    There is this also...

    http://www.waafassociation.org.uk/

  9. #9

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    There is this also...
    Flat caps Sir,flat caps

  10. #10
    Came fourth...now what? Oudeis's Avatar
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    Wow, I mean WOW! This site should be familiar to all and useful too...

    http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums...pment-and-gear

    ---------- Post added at 09:35 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:18 AM ----------

    Don't mention the war?

    http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/

  11. #11
    Senior Member az_gila's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by GeorgePorgie View Post
    Flat caps Sir,flat caps
    Unless it was connected to the ATA part of the RAF....

  12. #12

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    Unless it was connected to the ATA part of the RAF....
    Nope,ATA(Air Transport Auxiliary) also had the wings ensign on their tunic.

  13. #13
    Senior Member grekko's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by lily8 View Post
    Thank you both for your input much appreciated, a couple of possible clues the daughters of the lady pictured recall two things 'shunting' and possibly something to do with the fire service, love to get a positive ID. Once again many thanks.

    Lily8, your mention of 'shunting' as a possible clue to AirTransportAuxilliary (ATA) identification matches with this reply in parliament in 1941
    Non flying ATA personnel:
    Shorthand typists employed by the Air Transport Auxiliary do not wear uniform. As regards the other non-engineering ground staff, uniform is worn by women drivers, security police and a number of the male administrative staff, including heads of departments, adjutants and operations officers.
    http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/w...y#column_1972w

    Hope it helps a bit in your quest.

    P.S All ex serving members of the ATA are entitled to:
    Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) Veterans Badge...... free of charge.

    http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governme...ards/DG_192496

  14. #14
    Senior Member az_gila's Avatar
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    Thumbs up

    Quote Originally Posted by GeorgePorgie View Post
    Nope,ATA(Air Transport Auxiliary) also had the wings ensign on their tunic.
    Nope... check out the second picture of my post #2.

    This is of ATA staff at a particular aerodrome, and the non-flying staff didn't get wings on their uniform, which makes sense.

    The two "thingies" on the cap seem to signify ATS.

    Is it possible that an ATS lady was assigned to work in an ATA group?

    ATS was pretty all-encompassing, right?

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