Sheila K. Smith Collection

Details

Who's responsible?: Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives, UNCG University Libraries (Repository)
How much has been digitized?: This collection has been digitized in its entirety.
Where can I find more information?: https://uncg.as.atlas-sys.com/repositories/2/resources/1415
What's in the full collection?: 24 January 2005 Oral History Transcript, portrait of Sheila in her British Women's Royal Air Force (RAF) uniform, circa 1943, photos of RAF servicewomen and men inflating barrage balloons and images from the sky, circa 1943, photos of Sheila during modeling career, undated.
Full biography: Sheila K. Rathbone Smith (b. 1924) of Oxford, England, served as a barrage balloon operator with the British Women's Royal Air Force during World War II. Sheila Katharina Rathbone Smith was born in England on 31 August 1924 to a British father and a German mother. She grew up in Hampstead and London, England, and attended high school in Oxford. Smith joined the British Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1942 and served as a barrage balloon operator in London and Newcastle for three years. She then worked in transportation, organizing the movement of British troops and prisoners of war in England. She was discharged in 1946 with the rank of leading aircraft woman (LACW). Smith modeled after the war, most notably for fashion designer Hardy Amies. She married in 1951 and relocated to the United States.
Topics: Women's History
Military
Branch of service: Other -- British RAF
Conflict: World War II era (1940-1946)
Subject headings: World War, 1939-1945
Contributing Institution: Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives, UNCG University Libraries

: Modeling photo including Sheila Smith; NULL

: Oral history interview with Sheila K. Smith; Primarily documents Sheila K. Rathbone Smith's service with the British Women's Royal Air Force (RAF) from 1942 to 1946 and her post-war modeling career in England. Smith discusses her service in the RAF with a detailed description of the living conditions; uniforms; and daily life of barrage balloon operators. Other significant topics include Smith's return to England from Germany when war was declared and a visit from American Red Cross "donut dollies." Smith also describes her transition to modeling after the war and her work with fashion designer Hardy Amies.

: Portrait of Sheila K. Smith; Portrait of Sheila K. Smith in British Women's Royal Air Force uniform, circa 1943.

: Portrait of Sheila K. Smith; Professional modeling photo of Sheila Smith with a ring prominent on her middle finger.

: RAF barrage balloons; Photo from an airplane of hundreds of barrage balloons floating in skies above England, circa 1943.

: Royal Air Force servicewomen inflate balloon; British Royal Air Force servicewomen and men inflate a barrage balloon, circa 1943. The balloons were used to interfere with low-level bombardment.

: Royal Air Force servicewomen pull balloon; Four British Royal Air Force servicewomen pull the strings of a barrage balloon, used to interfere with low-level bombardments in England, circa 1943.

: Two Royal Air Force servicewomen hold down balloon; Two British Royal Air Force servicewomen hold the strings of a barrage balloon, used to interfere with low-level bombardments in England, circa 1943.

: Two Women's Royal Air Force servicewomen; Two British Women's Royal Air Force servicemen appear to operate a machine from a caged station, circa 1943.

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Women Veterans Historical Project

Sheila K. Smith Collection

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