Women's Auxiliary Air Force - Directors

Directors

On July 1 1939, Jane Trefusis Forbes was made Director of WAAF, with the rank of Senior Controller, later, Air Commandant. On January 1 1943 she was appointed to the rank of Air Chief Commandant with its creation. On October 4 1943, while Forbes toured Canada, assessing the Women's Division of the Royal Canadian Air Force, she was relieved by HRH Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, who had been head of the WAAF since 1939, again with the rank of Senior Controller, then, Air Commandant, being gazetted to Air Chief Commandant on March 22 1943. Forbes retired in August 1944, and the post of director was given to Mary Welsh, who was appointed Air Chief Commandant. After the war, the rank of Air Chief Commandant was suspended and in December 1946, the final director of WAAF, Felicity Hanbury, was appoi

• Air Chief Commandant Dame Jane Trefusis Forbes, June 1939 – 4 October 1943
• Air Chief Commandant HRH Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, 4 October 1943 – August 1944
• Air Chief Commandant Dame Mary Welsh, August 1944 – November 1946
• Air Commandant Dame Felicity Hanbury, December 1946 – January 1949