page_title: RAF Innsworth
section_title: Second World War
hierarchical_section_title: RAF Innsworth / History / Second World War
caption_attribution_description: English: The Womens' Auxiliary Air Force, 1939-1945. Queen Elizabeth chatting with a WAAF sergeant during a visit to an early training establishment at Innsworth, Gloucester. The WAAFs, with the exception of Assistant Section Officer G H Caffin standing behind the Queen, are wearing 'emergency' uniforms consisting of overalls and berets, which were issued pending the arrival of the WAAF service dress.
context_page_description: RAF Innsworth was a non flying Royal Air Force station, located on the north side of the city of Gloucester in England. The station closed in March 2008 and for the last 13 years of its life it was the headquarters of Personnel and Training Command. The site was transferred to the British Army and renamed Imjin Barracks becoming the home of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps in 2010.
context_section_description: The station opened in 1940, the first unit based there being No 7 School of Technical Training who trained engine and airframe fitters and mechanics.  More than 2,000 officers and men were based at Innsworth by the time training began in earnest in 1941, this being delayed due to the arrival of 1500 RAF evacuees from Dunkirk.
  In December 1941, No 2 WAAF Depot was opened at Innsworth and from then on the Station became increasingly associated with the Women's branch of the service. By the end of 1941 the strength of the Station had risen to more than 4,000 including trainees. Eventually it was decided to reserve the Station almost exclusively for WAAF training, including barrage balloon training amongst other vital roles.
caption: Queen Elizabeth chatting with a WAAF sergeant whilst visiting RAF Innsworth during the Second World War.
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