Nancy Salmon

Air Commandant Dame Nancy Marion Salmon DBE (2 May 1906 – 9 October 1999), also known after 1962 by her married name, Dame Nancy Snagge, was a senior British women's air force officer.^[1] She was Director of the Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) from 1950 to 1956.^[1]

Early life

Salmon was born in Hampstead, the daughter of a chartered accountant, and she was educated at Notting Hill High School.^[1] In 1938 she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service as a driver.^[1]

Women's Auxiliary Air Force

Salmon transferred from the ATS to the Women's Auxiliary Air Force in 1939 when it was formed, and her first posting was a barrage balloon unit.^[1] She later spent time as officer in charge of personnel at Fighter Command, RAF Stanmore, before becoming a staff officer at No 77 Signals Wing in Liverpool.^[1] She was later responsible for WAAF radar operators.^[1] At the end of the 1940s she helped with drafting regulations and a plan for more integration with the Royal Air Force, which ultimately led to the formation of the Women's Royal Air Force.^[1] In July 1950, Salmon went from a staff officer with the British Air Forces of Occupation in Germany to Director of the Women's Royal Air Force.^[1] Salmon retired from the WRAF in 1956.^[1]

Personal life

Following retirement from the WRAF, Salmon cared for her mother before becoming head of personnel in the John Lewis Partnership.^[1] It was there that she met company director Geoffrey Snagge, a widower, and they married in 1962.^[1] She died in Winchester on October 9, 1999.

Honours

Salmon was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1946, and elevated to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1955.^[2]