Lt. Cmdr. Mildred H. McAfee, USNR, Director of the Women’s Reserve, christens the USS Franklin at its launching at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry dock in October 1943.
The photo comes from the National Archives.
The Gift
Lt. Cmdr. Mildred H. McAfee, USNR, Director of the Women’s Reserve, shows the gift she received during the USS Franklin ship christening ceremony to a group of WAVES who were there.
The October 1943 photo comes from the National Archives.
Ship Ahoy!
Lt. Cmdr. Mildred H. McAfee, USNR, Director of the Women’s Reserve, is at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry dock for the christening of the USS Franklin in October 1943. She’s receiving a gift for her participation.
The photo comes from the National Archives.
Photo Op!
WAVES at Port Magu, California, shoot photographs of the LST landing there 70 years ago today, October 15, 1943.
The photo comes from the National Archives.
New Construction
70 years ago today, October 14, 1943, WAVES commander Mildred McAfee was on an inspection tour of the Norfolk Naval Base. Here, she inspects construction plans for the new Women’s Reserve barracks at the receiving station. Left to right: Capt. Thomas S. McCloy, McAfee, WAVE Grace Dimelow, and Micajah Boland.
The photo comes from the National Archives.
The Plane!
Mildred McAfee went on an inspection tour of the Norfolk Naval Base 70 years ago this week, October 13, 1943. Here, she arrives at the Norfolk Municipal Airport via Pennsylvania Central Airlines.
The photo comes from the National Archives.
Can I Help You?
In this day of automated answering services, it seems almost quaint to think that a real live person might answer the telephone at a Navy base. But WAVE S.M. Pugh had that duty during World War II at the Acorn Training Detachment, Port Hueneme, California.
Here, she learns the ropes on the base switchboard in October 1943.
The photo comes from the National Archives.
Shopping Duty
WAVES worked in a variety of jobs. Here, a WAVE is on duty at the ship’s store, working as a cashier. The photograph from October 1943 was taken at Port Huenume, Acorn Training Detachment.
It comes from the National Archives.
New Uniforms, Part 3
October, 1943 saw another uniform addition for the WAVES. Dorothea Jameson models the working smock for pharmacists, laboratory technicians, parachute riggers, and other technical specialists. It would only be worn by enlisted officers.
The photographs come from the National Archives.
New Uniforms, Part 2
Here’s another view of the new Mainbocher-designed summer uniform for the WAVES, released in October 1943. This view shows the uniform without the jacket. It’s modeled by yeoman Marion Pearson
The photo comes from the National Archives.
Hinges of History 