Aircraftwoman Joan Charlotte Mathew

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ACW1 Joan Mathew

RSL (Port Pirie Sub Branch) Inc.

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Joan enlisted in the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) on the 29th December 1943 aged 18 years and 1 month.  She was the eldest daughter of William and Hilda Mathew of Nairne, South Australia and was born in nearby Mount Barker on the 24th November 1925.

Joan attended school at Nairne and lived at home with her family and after leaving school worked at George Chapman’s Smallgoods Factory in Nairne until she enlisted into the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)on the 29th December 1943.  

Upon enlistment Joan was posted to No. 4 Initial Training School located at Mount Breckan, in Victor Harbor in South Australia. Approximately 5,595 RAAF and WAAAF personnel graduated from Mount Breckan during World War 2.

Aircraftwoman 1(ACW1) Joan Charlotte Mathew,Service Number 111675, was then posted to No. 4 School of Technical Training in Adelaide where she remustered as a Flight Rigger. Flight Riggers were charged with looking after airframe and related components, including the important task of fuelling the aircraft.

WAAAFs served in 273 RAAF units located in all parts of Australia including Port Pirie; where in June 1943 there were just over 100 WAAAF attached to No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School; by January 1945 there were 148 WAAAF as part of No. 3 Aerial Observer School(3AOS) personnel strength. Joan served with 3AOS from August 1944 to July 1945.

Joan discharged from the Air Force on the 11th July 1945 and married Max Norman of Alberton, South Australia on the 28th July 1945.  A family of three sons and one daughter followed.  Her husband Max and sons Rodney and Peter all served in the Australian Army.

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