A Blog About Women Who Were Homefront Heroines: the WAVES of World War II
WAVE Link Trainer Operator Sheila Macksey looks intently at the radio range chart on the Link flight simulation machine. The pilot is arriving at what is known as the “cone of silence” on his chart – indicating he’s almost at the end of his test.
The November 1943 photograph comes from the National Archives.
Aviation cadets at NAS St. Louis use the range finder and other gunnery equipment to become skilled marksmen. They’re learning from Navy WAVES, who are showing the fighter pilots how to estimate correct lead time before opening fire on an enemy bomber.
The photograph comes from the National Archives.
WAVE officers of the Bureau of Ships qualify for the Navy Expert Pistol Medal on the Marine Pistol Range at Quantico. The photograph comes from the National Archives.
WAVES Captain Mildred McAfee and Captain Gordon Underwood review the new WAVE officers during graduation ceremonies at Smith College, Northampton, MA, on November 16, 1943.
The photograph comes from the National Archives.
WAVES Captain Mildred McAfee addresses the new WAVE officers during graduation ceremonies at Smith College, Northampton, MA, November 16, 1943.
The Photograph comes from the National Archives.
WAVES pass in formation during graduation ceremonies for officers at Smith College in Northampton, MA, November 16, 1943. WAVE captain Mildred McAfee salutes as the officers pass.
The photograph comes from the National Archives.
WAVE Director (and new Captain) Mildred McAfee addresses a WAVE graduating class at Northampton, Massachusetts, 70 years ago today: November 16, 1943.
The photo comes from the National Archives.
From this November 1943 photograph at NAS Los Alamitos: Chow time affords the girls an opportunity to catch up on conversation and review the work of the day.
It comes from the National Archives.
WAVES Director Mildred McAfee is promoted to Captain, November 13, 1943. She’s being congratulated by Rear Admiral Randall Jacobs, Chief of the Navy Bureau of Personnel.
McAfee was the first Director of the Women’s Reserve. She took command on August 3, 1942.
The photo comes from the National Archives.
WAVES Enolia Wodfin (left) and Evelyn Wiley (right) fold a parachute at Los Alamitos Naval Air Station in California. They’re handling the silk ‘chute carefully, because silk was a precious commodity during World War II.
The photograph comes from the National Archives.
Hinges of History 