Air Force reaches its highest strength during World War II

The Air Force attained its highest strength during World War II of almost 184,000 personnel (165,365 males in the Royal Australian Air Force and 18,457 females in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force). Among the males, 20,691 were officers and 144,674 were other ranks; among the women, 657 were officers and 17,800 were other ranks. 3,472 of the RAAF personnel were listed as missing or prisoners of war. In addition to the RAAF and WAAF personnel, the RAAF Nursing Service had a strength of almost 500 nurses. The Air Force declined in size from this point and, by the Japanese surrender in August 1945, was down to 173,622 personnel.