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The Women Behind the Few: The Women's Auxiliary Air Force and British Intelligence during the Second World War
This is the little-known story of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, the women’s branch of the Royal Air Force in the Second World War, and the vital work they did behind the scenes to ensure the success of some of the most important missions of the war. During the Battle of Britain, for example, WAAF personnel worked in the radar network and the Dowding system, the world’s most sophisticated air defence system, as well as in the Y listening service, intercepting German ground-to-air and air-to-air communications. During the Blitz, they worked with ground-controlled interception radar to aid Fighter and Bomber Commands in protecting Britain’s civilian population from German area bombing.
They assisted with the Allied offensive bombing campaign in various capacities, including working behind the scenes leading up to the ‘thousand-bomber raids’. It was WAAF personnel who were behind the discovery of the terrifying German V-weapons and jet-propelled aircraft and assisted with the sinking of German battleships such as the Tirpitz. The WAAFs collected and disseminated intelligence ahead of the Normandy landings in June 1944 and worked in signals intelligence throughout the landings and the Allied advance into Europe. They were also present in their hundreds at Bletchley Park, working with the Government Code and Cypher School on air intelligence and liaising with the RAF’s Y service.
Though the work and memory of the pilots of Fighter and Bomber Commands are rightfully revered and treasured, their success was made possible by the WAAFs working behind the scenes. This book aims to recover this missing piece of history, granting the WAAFs the recognition they deserve for their wartime contribution to British military intelligence.
347 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 9, 2023
8 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 30, 2024
The information in this book is interesting. However, the way it's written is awful.
The author states that it originally started out as a thesis for her masters degree. I can't help but wonder if this is why she constantly repeats herself. Is it to make up the word count required for the masters? In practically every other page she reiterates how women were seen to be too emotional, too gossipy to do the work required of them. To say it a couple of times is understandable but to keep repeating it, it becomes boring. Also, the author doesn't explain what for example 'Operation Sealion' was until nearing the end of the book.
A lot of sentences are way too long, one even being over 9 lines long!!
It spoiled what could have been a good book. I won't be reading anything else by this author.
The author states that it originally started out as a thesis for her masters degree. I can't help but wonder if this is why she constantly repeats herself. Is it to make up the word count required for the masters? In practically every other page she reiterates how women were seen to be too emotional, too gossipy to do the work required of them. To say it a couple of times is understandable but to keep repeating it, it becomes boring. Also, the author doesn't explain what for example 'Operation Sealion' was until nearing the end of the book.
A lot of sentences are way too long, one even being over 9 lines long!!
It spoiled what could have been a good book. I won't be reading anything else by this author.
August 14, 2025
Amazing and still relatively unknown history of the WAAF's role in WWII. Some incredible, awe-inspiring, humbling and stark stories of the bravery, skill and ability of Britain's women who were at last presented with an opportunity to prove themselves more than capable in a multitude of pivotal roles to aid the war effort. They grabbed that opportunity with both hands and through their efforts they started to deconstruct societal and in particular male views about gender. Particularly enjoyed the SOE stories, aka the work of the ministry of ungentlemanly warfare, towards the end.
August 10, 2024
This is a comprehensive and detailed account of women in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) who contributed to British Intelligence in WWII. The book covers the wide range of intelligence activities in which WAAF were employed. It provides good, first-hand accounts as well as analysis and statistics. Unfortunately, it often reads somewhat like a dissertation, and some points are belaboured, detracting somewhat from its readability. Nevertheless, I recommend it as a reference and to anyone interested in women's studies or the intelligence activities in WWII.
June 20, 2023
Fascinating look at the women of the WAAF and their contribution- overlooked for so many years.
September 17, 2023
Well researched and interesting. Covered a fair bit already in other books.
December 15, 2024
Dr Sarah-Louise Miller is a Second World War historian whose work tackles gender imbalances found in popular and official wartime narratives. In her new book, The Women Behind the Few, Miller focuses on the immense contribution of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) to British Intelligence, using personal testimonies and official histories to bring women’s voices to the forefront of British military Intelligence history.
British Intelligence history of the Second World War is relatively new, emerging in the 1970s, and predominantly focusing on the ground-breaking work conducted at Bletchley Park. As most official records have been sealed, lost or damaged, Miller faced a great challenge in finding the true role of the WAAF in British Intelligence and aerial warfare. However, her meticulous research and analysis of the official records available, as well as personal testimonies from members of the WAAF themselves, has meant Miller has succeeded in bringing women’s voices and experiences to light.
By 1943, the WAAF made up over 15% of the total strength of the RAF. Yet, the histories of the RAF during the Second World War, particularly the ‘Dambusters’ and the Battle of Britain, focus solely on the men. Whilst these men’s achievements are unquestioned, the women working tirelessly behind the scenes have been forgotten. The Women Behind the Few explores why women have been denied a place in British Intelligence and aerial warfare narratives. It also shows that women were present at numerous levels throughout the British Intelligence and Air Force Services, working hard operating radars, code-breaking, interpreting photographic intelligence, plotting maps, working behind enemy lines, and much more.
The Women Behind the Few focuses on a select few key military and Intelligence developments, manoeuvres and events that occurred during the Second World War, to provide an insight into just how vital women’s contributions were. Examples include the WAAF’s role in the Dowding System, Y Service, SOE, Normandy Landings, the Blitz, and intelligence gathering on German V-1 bombs. Each chapter is dedicated to a different way the WAAF contributed to aerial and intelligence warfare, with Miller carefully and cleverly balancing contextual knowledge, official narratives, anecdotes and recollections. Such an approach allows the reader to learn whilst also being immersed in the words and experiences of these women.
Dr Sarah-Louise Miller quotes Winston Churchill’s description of the Dowding system, which he describes as the ‘most elaborate instrument of war’, as it denied the enemy the element of surprise and facilitated the continuation of the RAF as a superior fighting force. I argue that Miller proves that the WAAF was just as vital as an ‘instrument of war’, enabling the same victories. The Women Behind the Few shows us how this is the case, and places the women of the WAAF back at the heart of their own stories. This book is a celebration of the bravery, intelligence, and determination of women, and encourages us to continue searching to uncover historic female silences.
- Review for Aspects of History magazine
British Intelligence history of the Second World War is relatively new, emerging in the 1970s, and predominantly focusing on the ground-breaking work conducted at Bletchley Park. As most official records have been sealed, lost or damaged, Miller faced a great challenge in finding the true role of the WAAF in British Intelligence and aerial warfare. However, her meticulous research and analysis of the official records available, as well as personal testimonies from members of the WAAF themselves, has meant Miller has succeeded in bringing women’s voices and experiences to light.
By 1943, the WAAF made up over 15% of the total strength of the RAF. Yet, the histories of the RAF during the Second World War, particularly the ‘Dambusters’ and the Battle of Britain, focus solely on the men. Whilst these men’s achievements are unquestioned, the women working tirelessly behind the scenes have been forgotten. The Women Behind the Few explores why women have been denied a place in British Intelligence and aerial warfare narratives. It also shows that women were present at numerous levels throughout the British Intelligence and Air Force Services, working hard operating radars, code-breaking, interpreting photographic intelligence, plotting maps, working behind enemy lines, and much more.
The Women Behind the Few focuses on a select few key military and Intelligence developments, manoeuvres and events that occurred during the Second World War, to provide an insight into just how vital women’s contributions were. Examples include the WAAF’s role in the Dowding System, Y Service, SOE, Normandy Landings, the Blitz, and intelligence gathering on German V-1 bombs. Each chapter is dedicated to a different way the WAAF contributed to aerial and intelligence warfare, with Miller carefully and cleverly balancing contextual knowledge, official narratives, anecdotes and recollections. Such an approach allows the reader to learn whilst also being immersed in the words and experiences of these women.
Dr Sarah-Louise Miller quotes Winston Churchill’s description of the Dowding system, which he describes as the ‘most elaborate instrument of war’, as it denied the enemy the element of surprise and facilitated the continuation of the RAF as a superior fighting force. I argue that Miller proves that the WAAF was just as vital as an ‘instrument of war’, enabling the same victories. The Women Behind the Few shows us how this is the case, and places the women of the WAAF back at the heart of their own stories. This book is a celebration of the bravery, intelligence, and determination of women, and encourages us to continue searching to uncover historic female silences.
- Review for Aspects of History magazine
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews