A Blog About Women Who Were Homefront Heroines: the WAVES of World War II
WAVE Petty officers receive their ratings in November 1943 after going through specialized training. If you look closely at each woman’s arm, you’ll see she has a different insignia, indicating her rating.
The photograph comes from the National Archives.
This November 1943 photo shows a high tech assignment: The WAVE is working an International Business Machine (IBM). Check out the punchcards – an early form of computer coding.
The photo comes from the National Archives.
In this November, 1943 photograph, a WAVE recruit reviews her clothing issue at the Hunter College training school in the Bronx, New York. Notice the multiple hats, jackets and blouses – but only one set of shoes!
The photo comes from the National Archives.
Upon graduation from the Hunter College boot camp, women had lots of options as to what path to follow during a Navy career. Here, women look at some of the choices in November 1943.
The photograph comes from the National Archives.
Headlines from the IOWAVE, the official newspaper of the U.S. Naval Training School in Cedar Falls, Iowa, from November 5th, 1943. Top news? The Moscow conference looking ahead to peace agreements after World War II, Christmas mailing instructions to send gifts to troops, and a change in uniforms for enlisted WAVES.
The image comes from the University of Northern Iowa’s archives and special collections.
WAVES at Hunter College Training School in the Bronx, New York, stand at attention for their graduation review, November 1943. New groups of WAVES would start classes every two weeks for their boot camp training.
The photograph comes from the National Archives.
WAVES on guard patrol at the Naval Air Technical Training Center, Norman, Oklahoma.
The photo comes from the National Archives.
Remember the photograph we posted a couple of weeks ago of the launch of the USS Franklin? By November 1, 1943, the same photograph was gracing the cover of the WAVES Newsletter.
The photo comes from the Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Studies, Harvard University.
Captain Kenneth G. Castleman and WAVES Captain Mildred McAfee hear an explanation of how a Browning machine gun works from Specialist Margaret Forbes. She’s stationed at the NAS New York, at the WAVES at War show held at Radio City Music Hall in New York, October 1943.
The photo comes from the National Archives.
Parachute Rigger Myra Clarke explains some of the intricacies of packing chutes at the WAVES at War show held at Radio City Music Hall in New York, October 1943. In the group are, left to right: Capt. Kenneth Castleman; WAVES Captain Mildred McAfee; Miss Clarke; Mrs. James V. Forrestal, wife of the Undersecretary of the Navy; and Lt. Marion Enright.
The photo comes from the National Archives.
Hinges of History 