
In this photograph from the National Archives, WAVES at NAAF Treasure Island march in formation. The photo is from seventy years ago today.
A Blog About Women Who Were Homefront Heroines: the WAVES of World War II

In this photograph from the National Archives, WAVES at NAAF Treasure Island march in formation. The photo is from seventy years ago today.

In this photograph from 1943, WAVES are in the midst of a four-month training course at NATTC, Norman, Oklahoma. They are receiving training that will let them become Aviation Metalsmiths to maintain Naval airplanes.
The photograph comes from the National Archives.

WAVES at NATC Pensacola, Florida, work on their shooting skills. They’re using a .22 target pistol before advancing to larger guns. Upon completion of the course, they will be assigned to teaching male gunners marksmanship, using films and synthetic guns.
The photo comes from the National Archives.

In this photograph from the National Archives, WAVE Bette Board Brown airbrushes a photograph at the Navy’s Art and Animation Division, U.S. Naval Photographic Science Laboratory, Anacostia, D.C.

Here’s a word cloud of the terms we most frequently used in 2012. What would you like to see in 2013?

Here Come the WAVES debuted Christmas week, 1944. “Accentuate the Positive” was the musical number that was the biggest hit from the film. It was nominated for an Academy Award as best original song in 1945.

Betty Hutton as WAVE Rosemary Allison (she also played Rosemary’s twin sister Susie) in the film Here Come the WAVES. The film debuted during Christmas week 1944 and was shot on location at the Naval Air Station in San Diego. Rosemary was an air traffic controller in the film.

Betty Hutton as WAVE trainee Susie Allison (she also played Susie’s twin sister Rosemary) in the film Here Come the WAVES. The film debuted during Christmas week 1944 and was shot on location at the WAVES Boot Camp at Hunter College in the Bronx.

WAVE Dot Forbes remembers being disappointed when she finally saw her film debut in the movie Here Come the WAVES.
When we got to see the movie, there were a couple of little clips before the movie ever started and that was it! (laughs). I thought, “All of that and in that heat,” it was like 90 degree heat and you’re in wool serge, blue serge, it was just (laughs). Scottie and I shake our heads when we think back. But we did it, because you do what you were told and all.
The still of WAVES marching at Hunter College is from the Paramount picture Here Comes the WAVES. It premiered during Christmas Week, 1944.

WAVE Dot Forbes was in this sea of women during the filming of Here Come the WAVES at Hunter College in the Bronx.
This was June in New York City. We had to wear our Navy blue uniforms. Serge, wool serge. Marching. And I don’t — I hated the song that Johnny Mercer wrote. I thought I’ll never hear or listen to another one of his songs. We had to sing it over and over and over and over and over. Of course, I realize today what’s involved in editing and they had to do.
The still is from the Paramount picture Here Comes the WAVES. It premiered during Christmas Week, 1944.