aviator december february australian aviator founding leader volunteer organisation provided support royal_australian_air_force raaf world war helped establish women auxiliary australian air force largest women wartime service country grew number members born tasmania married raaf officer obtained pilot licence given temporary command formation passed inaugural director favour corporate executive bell refused post deputy director resigned subsequently rejoined served final months war husband later farmers nicknamed died age seventy early life born december tasmania daughter english born clerk wife emma attended commencing work solicitor office age fourteen married royal_australian_air_force officer world war veteran gallipoli andrew brighton victoria march daughter early bells lived britain john attended acted raaf liaison officer royal_air_force interested aviation teens mary learnt fly england april qualified grade private pilot licence returning australia female gain pilot licence victoria march following year australian woman qualify ground engineer bells moved brisbane john queensland manager having left raaf mary leader members volunteered assist aircraft maintenance times war determining objectives met existing organisation july formed new paramilitary group elected bell commander soon expanded national organisation leading state chapter australian commandant bell wrote air vice marshal acquainted husband aviation circles advocating establishment women branch raaf similar raf things pointed female volunteers supporting air_force driving nursing clerical duties women voluntary organisations members keen support military arguing personnel provided ready pool skilled staff auxiliary services saving government time money training labour world war australia having declared war september met november discuss letter postponed taking action bell continued lobby women groups seeking support war effort free male staff overseas july new chief air staff air chief marshal sir invited produce proposal women auxiliary supervised husband john rejoined air_force war outbreak wing commander raaf headquarters melbourne mary recommended forming new service air force act permit women enlist duration war conditions similar raaf members short term contractual basis radical idea time place suggested volunteer reserve citizen force augment enlisted women effectively existing seen placing emphasis personal command senior air_force officers including recently promoted director group captain opposed women service raf member appreciated proved worth championed establishment women auxiliary australian air force bell appointed raaf staff officer administrative rank section officer acting flight officer february order organisation going formally established march women branch armed service australia similar organisations army navy bell led months existence recruiting approximately women june officers appointed members corporate executive appointed director bell deputy director effective june air vice marshal chose basis management background notwithstanding aviation experience familiarity raaf considered bell flag obtained great deal publicity alienated including daughter founding member initial intake staff bell chose resign learning appointment stay report outside service fraternity later rejoined request condition received promotion higher flight officer original officer resigned bell passed later describing thorough effective obvious choice director bell returned october served mainly despite recommendation july enlisted permanent staff women enrolled month contracts benefits entailed pay thirds male organisation grew rapidly peaking strength members october cent raaf personnel end war total women served comprising thirty cent ground staff filling trades previously occupied men later life ranked flight officer discharged request april husband john acting air commodore left raaf october year largest australia wartime women services disbanded september bells farmers victoria tasmania retiring survived daughter died tasmania february buried memorial park cemetery near devonport husband died
Mary Bell (aviator)