General News
22 November, 2025
RAAF and RAF ground crews
When attached to an operational squadron, there is no doubting that the days of RAF or RAAF ground crews were long and arduous – they would say that they worked hard and played hard, although there was little time for play.
When aircraft needed to be prepared, aircraftmen were on the airfield for as long as it took to get the job done, grabbing a quick sandwich or a few minutes’ rest in the hangar or on the dispersal pan when they could.
Despite the intensity of the work, morale was good among the men and the entire network of trades worked like a well-oiled machine – they were a credit to the RAF and the nation as a whole.
When all the aircraft had left the airfield and everything had been tidied away, the erks would head for the NAAFI and a well-earned hot meal and some banter with their mates.
If they needed a little time on their own, it also offered dedicated reading and writing rooms which were a little less boisterous.
Camp life was rather mundane and the men had to make their own entertainment for the few hours they had to themselves.
Listening to the radio, playing cards, chatting or writing letters home usually filled their time before they turned in for some much-needed sleep.
Their accommodation could vary dramatically, dependant on their particular posting.
Many mainland RAF stations had stone barrack blocks which were heated and relatively comfortable.
Other stations and certainly overseas postings could involve sleeping in rudimentary huts or even tents which were heated by burning reclaimed engine oil from the machines they had been working on.
No matter what the accommodation, they would not be in it for long as the aircraft soon returned and their toils began again.
During hectic periods ground crews could find themselves working every day of the week, with little time to themselves.
If they were fortunate they may be allowed half a day off duty, which would usually be spent catching up on sleep.
All too rarely they were allowed to leave the camp and experience what it was like to be a civilian once more – these times were precious.
An enjoyable evening at the theatre or just a few drinks in the local pub were usually enough to recharge the batteries and ensure that the important work that these men were doing continued to be done effectively and to an extremely high standard.
Despite what they may have thought of themselves, the ground crews of the air force proved to be a decisive factor in the eventual Allied victory.
Unfortunately for ground crews posted overseas, they had to endure all the rigors of an erk’s existence, with fewer amenities and even less opportunity for off-camp diversions.
They had no indication of when they might expect to go home.
[CROSSHEAD]A dangerous life
Not only was the work of RAF and RAAF ground crews during WWII long and arduous but it was also extremely dangerous, and as a result many air personnel lost their lives or suffered significant injury in the execution of their duties.
By its nature, an operational airfield is a hazardous environment at the best of times, but in wartime conditions and working under extreme pressure, the possibility of accidents and injuries was greatly increased.
Aside from the hazards of working with highly flammable materials and dealing with live explosives and ammunition, there was a more deadly peril: tiredness.
Weary erks could quite easily walk into the path of a turning propeller or simply fall off the wing of the plane (such as a Lancaster) they were working on.
The work of an aircraftman was difficult and required great diligence – the lives of a great many flight crew depended on their professionalism.
The pressures under which they were required to work dictated that fatigue was a constant problem – it really is difficult to imagine how they managed to keep going.
Most days brought the latest, highly pressured deadline, with a line of aircraft that needed to be prepared for the next mission and the option of missing the deadline simply not being an option.
It is also significant to note that much of this highly technical work had to be completed on the open dispersals of airfield as there simply was not the hangar space available for the number of aircraft that needed to be prepared.
In all weathers and during every season, aircraftmen had to complete their work in some extremely challenging conditions, making the best of the situation and erecting rudimentary shelters to allow them to stay dry while doing their work.
The medical teams would regularly have to deal with cuts and crush injuries or have to tend to ground crew who had fallen from aircraft or scaffolding.
In extreme cases they would be forced to deal with people who had inadvertently walked into a turning propeller and had either suffered significant injury or worse as a result.
Even simply walking into an aircraft wing or static propeller could cause a nasty cut or concussion and despite the best efforts of the engineering officers, fatigue and pressured workloads continued to result in large numbers of injured aircraftmen.
With thanks: Sally Bertram, RSL Military History Library. Contact Sally at sj.bertram@hotmail.com or call 0409 351 940.