WAVE Gladys McCullough shows 2 visiting WAVES to NAS NOLA how a PRY gun turret works during the station’s open house for the WAVES second anniversary in 1943. It comes from the National Archives.
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Prepping a Prop
Visitors to the WAVES’ open houses were sometimes other WAVES. In this photo from the National Archives, visiting WAVES are shown how to prepare a “prop” for service, during the second anniversary celebrations at NAS New Orleans in 1943.
Open Wide!
The open houses held in connection with the WAVES’ anniversary were designed to show people the extent of the work the women were doing. In this image, a WAVE shows her visitors the dental equipment. WAVES worked in Naval dental offices during the war. The photo of the second anniversary celebration at NAS New Orleans comes from the National Archives.
Packing a ‘Chute
In this photo from the National Archives, two enlisted WAVES at NAS NOLA pack a parachute during an open house held as part of the WAVES 2nd anniversary celebration in 1942. Everyone in the audience is paying close attention to the audience, except for the little girl in the lower right, who noticed the presence of a camera.
Hospital Ward
Imagine being WAVE Harriet Stewart! She’s the woman on the hospital bed (lower right) under covers , playing “sick” for a demonstration during the open house at the first anniversary of the WAVES in 1943. The open house for invited guests by the WAVES hospital corps school. Ensign Dorothy Smith is addressing the class on the technique of giving proper care to a bed patient is delivered. The photo comes from the National Archives.
On Display
The WAVES anniversary celebrations offered more than just cake, marching and excursions for the women. WAVES also did informational displays for visitors during the anniversary, such as this in this National Archives photograph, where WAVE Anna Martinez shows visitors a photo mural made at NAS NOLA during open house on the WAVES second birthday in 1943.
Sailing!
This is the closest many WAVES got to being on board a ship during the war. WAVES weren’t allowed to serve overseas until early 1945, a year and a half after this image was taken. It’s of WAVES on an excursion out of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. The photo comes from the National Archives.
Shipshape
Another 1st WAVES anniversary nautical celebration in 1943, launched from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. A little different from the boast used in the Olympics, no? The photo comes from the National Archives.
Yachting Parties
Given how the Olympics are about to wrap up, we thought we’d return to the sporting theme. This image shows WAVES out on a cruise in a sailboat, which launched from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. It comes from the National Archives.
Hup Two Three
Another shot of the WAVES marching in formation at NAS Seattle, in celebration of the WAVES’ second anniversary. Not the drum corps at the lower right of the image, which comes from the National Archives.
Hinges of History 