FLIGHT MECHANICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24244, 9 April 1942, Page 2

FLIGHT MECHANICS

36 W.A.A.F. CHOSEN Seven months ago, Miss Jessie Sneddon, aged 24, was a sewing machinist. To-day, as a W.A.A.F. lead-ing-aircraftwoman, she is one of the first 36 women in Britain to take over what has always been essentially a man's job—that of an aerodrome flight mechanic. .An R.A.F. pilot's life depends on the accuracy with which she overhauls a machine. When she sat for her flight mechanic's examination she topped the list of 150 men and 39 other women. Miss Sneddon's duties include making a microscopic examination of every part of an aeroplane except the engine. If she finds any form of damage or flaw in anything from rudder to landing wheels she makes the necessary repairs. This introduction of an initial batch of 36 women flight mechanics is the start of a new R.A.F. drive to replace men by women, wherever possible. Scores of other W.A.A.F. members in various parts of the country are now undergoing the same training from which the first 36 girls have emerged so successfully.