Ground crew and two WAAFs at No. 463 Squadron RAAF, RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, England, c. November 1943–July 1945. The group is posed on a David Brown tractor tug, a vehicle which was a common sight on Bomber Command stations in World War II. Weighing nearly four tons, it was used for pulling aircraft and bomb trolleys. Members of the WAAF were a feature of all Bomber Command stations; they carried out administrative duties, drove David Brown tractor tugs; worked in the dining areas; and were always there to give out cups of tea or coffee when crews returned at all hours from 'ops'. Jose (Jo) O'Mahoney was a member of the WAAF at RAF Oakington, Cambridgeshire, where No. 7 Squadron (Pathfinders) RAF was stationed. She remembers the 'Aussies' as the most 'boisterous' of the nationalities and the amazing Australia versus New Zealand rugby matches: ' … they played that game like you have never seen before: shorts were pulled off during scrums and a general furore happened during the game'. [Jose O'Mahoney, personal contribution, online at www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar; AWM P02290.001]
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