WAAFs at Exeter
June Squire
Here is our first featured Exeter WAAF. She was born 'June Squire' on June 30, 1932, on a farm in Uffculme, Devon. June joined the WAAF in Exeter in the early 1950s as a part-time member before she was married and became June Szypko. The WAAFs used to meet at Duryard in Exeter one evening a week and then go to RAF Hope Cove every Sunday by coach for radar practice. The group flew from Exeter to RAF Anstruther in Scotland, an early-warning radar station built by the RAF, for two weeks of additional training and recreation. June remembers sitting on a long wooden bench on the aircraft. Despite the aeroplanes lack of comforts, it was exciting because it was the first time June had flown.
Below left - A fine photo of June Szypko posing for the camera who worked in Radar at Hope Cove, Devon and in Scotland. Photo credited to original copyright. Below right - The happy WAAFs pose for this group photo which was either taken at Hope Cove prior to departure to Exeter Airport or at their final destination in Scotland. WAAF June Szypko is pictured second from the left. The buildings behind are not recognised as those of Exeter Airport. Photo credited to original copyright.
Below left - This photo of the WAAFs on parade was taken at RAF Anstruther, Scotland in the early 1950s. Below right - The happy WAAFs pose for this group photo which was either taken at Hope Cove prior to departure to Exeter Airport or at their final destination in Scotland. The buildings behind are not recognised as those of Exeter Airport. Photos credited to original copyright owners.
Below left - This photo of the WAAFs marching was taken at RAF Anstruther, Scotland in the early 1950s. Below Right - This photo of the WAAFs on parade was taken at RAF Anstruther, Scotland in the early 1950s. Photos credited to original copyrights.
Below - A Vickers Valletta of Royal Air Force Transport Command sits on the apron at Exeter Airport waiting to take the WAAFs who travelled up from Hope Cove, Devon, to catch this flight to Scotland. The original watch tower can be seen in the background above the terminal building (front left of aircraft). Photo credited to original copyright.
Below left - Royal Air Force Hope Cove ‘HOP’ GCI R6 ROTOR Radar Station & RGHQ 7.2, Devon. This photo shows the entrance to the WAAFs rest room. Below centre - Exeter based WAAFs pose for a photo. Image credited to Home Front History. Below right - Exeter based WAAFs pose for a photo. Image credited to Home Front History. Photos credited to original copyrights.
More information and memories of two Operations’ Room W.A.A.F Plotters, RAF Exeter 1941 -1945 is available at the following link South West Airfields Heritage Trust
Jacqueline Morgan
Exeter based WAAFs included Jacqueline Morgan who now lives in the West Midlands. Jacqueline was based at RAF Exeter for a time and started her RAF Career as an Aircraftwoman (ACW) in Cardiff, Gloucester and Morecambe. A move then took place to the Southwest to Exeter, Devon where Jacqueline was stationed at Brookfield House, Pinhoe, from March to May 1942. She then moved just around the corner to Playmoor Villas, Pinhoe with some twenty other women. They used both of these locations in Pinhoe for off duty respite playing games and drinking tea from a bucket!
She worked as a shorthand typist Clerk at Deer Copse in a Nissen hut for the Gunnery Research Unit (GRU) near to the aerodrome at Exeter. She would cycle on a bike with no gears and no lights from Pinhoe to the aerodrome ( 6 miles return journey) in all weathers. Jacqueline spent two years at Exeter before moving to her next deployment at RAF Collyweston and RAF Wittering. Whilst at Exeter Jacqueline took part in a victory parade at Exeter Cathedral where she provided a reading during the service. Jacqueline also carried out work for the Fleet Air Arm at Weston Super Mare and eventually transferred to the WRENS. Jacqueline ended the war as a Leading Aircraftwoman (LACW).
The photo below shows Exeter WAAFs pictured in the front garden of Playmoor Villas, Pinhoe and Jacqueline is pictured second from the left.
Below - WAAFs pictured we believe at RAF Culmhead. I was asked to post these to the website by Stuart Hayman from the RAF Culmhead Research Group. Stuart is trying to identify the ladies. If you have any information on these two photos, please advise me via my email chrisrafexeter@gmail.com
This page was last updated 16 January 2025.