A Blog About Women Who Were Homefront Heroines: the WAVES of World War II
Every Saturday at the Treasure Island base, World War II-era WAVES were part of the “ship” inspection with the Captain (bases are known as ships in Navy parlance). Above is a description of a typical Saturday inspection, including a charming story at the end, as published in the WAVES Newsletter.
In this 1943 photograph, WAVES Jane Rosenbaum, June Davis and Thelma Stretch (left to right) do their laundry and write letters at night in the room at Yeoman School in Stillwater Oklahoma.
The photo by Wayne Miller comes from the National Archives.
From the Navy description of this photograph of WAVES in training at the Aviation Gunnery School in Pensacola, Florida:
This 3A-2 trainer shoots a beam of light at the moving picture of a pane projected on the screen. Movement of the place is controlled by the operator of the projector, a WAVE who completed the course 2 weeks earlier.
The photo comes from the National Archives.
Another in our summer travel series. Here, WAVES are at the Norman, Oklahoma train station buying tickets.
The 1943 photo comes from the National Archives.
Looks like here’s the answer to our question from yesterday. The WAVES are heading off to new adventures, bidding a fond farewell. That must be why those sailors looked so upset.
The August 1944 photo comes from the National Archives.
These sailors don’t seem to be too happy about what’s happening. Are the WAVES leaving? They have suitcases in tow in this August 1944 photograph.
It comes from the National Archives.
If you’re heading for a trip this summer, you’re likely taking a suitcase or two. Could you find yours in these stacks and stacks of bags? Hope the WAVES didn’t have any lost luggage as they were heading from training to their permanent stations!
The photo comes from the National Archives.
WAVES at the Naval Training Center in Norman, Oklahoma bundle up to do outdoor calisthenics in this photo from February 1943.
The photograph comes from the National Archives and was shot by Wayne Miller.
WAVES and their commander pose for a portrait. We don’t know much about this photo – the location even isn’t clear.
The photo comes from the National Archives.
WAVE recruits Joy Shrader, Winifred Smith and Estelle Slominski (left to right) heading to the showers before bedtime during boot camp at Cedar Falls , Iowa, early 1943. Boot camp would move to Hunter College in the Bronx by February of that year.
The photo comes from the National Archives.
Hinges of History 