Women's Royal Air Force, Officers Gold Mess Dress Handbag

RAF personnel are issued with a variety of uniforms to be worn on specific occasions. Mess Dress is the most formal wear worn at special dinners and events.

This bag belonged to Flt Lt Julie Gibson, who in 1991 became the first female regular officer to graduate as an RAF pilot. She specialised in flying multi-engine aircraft and became a Captain on Lockheed Hercules aircraft, based at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire. She delivered personnel and equipment to locations around the world.