RCAF veteran hopes to show war efforts of women at museum

After a placement at the Canadian Historical Aircraft Association, one Windsor woman realized there was something missing from their displays.

The stories of women who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. 

Candace Spencer is working on her third degree at the University of Windsor. As part of her program, she had a placement at the CH2A museum.

"I took a tour and they told me that the women packed parachutes," said Spencer. "I thought, 'I know women did more than that.'"

Spencer set out to find out what local women did during the war.

"They had 65 different trades, everything from training pilots to cooks and entertainers," said Spencer. Women weren't allowed to actually fly for combat — the auxiliary force could ferry planes from the factory to Europe.

As a medical assistant stationed in Canada during the war, Spencer enlisted in 1961. She was only in uniform for about a year because she got married. 

"When you married back then, you weren't necessarily stationed the same place as your husband, so they advised you to take early retirement."

Inspired to join the fight

Spencer was inspired to join the RCAF because of family friends with the last name 'Bishop' — as in Billy Bishop. 

"The Billy Bishop," said Spencer. "He was tall and gruff and very strict."

Now, as part of her degree, Spencer is looking for stories and photos of local women who served in the RCAF. 

"I've got a lot of information on [people from other places]," said Spencer — her final project is due at the end of June and she hopes to produce a five-minute video which will play on a loop at the CH2A.