The U.S. Women's Auxiliary Air Force was created in June of 1939. They were allowed to everything a man could do, except for flying and combattant duties, but their main duty concerned barrage balloons.
With an initial force of 8,800 they were faced with many doubts as to a woman's usefulness on the battlefield, but by the end of the war they had convinced even the most diehard critics, including Dwight D. Eisenhower. By 1949 their numbers had increased to 153,000.
Compare to WAVES, Women's Army Corps and Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs)
