A Blog About Women Who Were Homefront Heroines: the WAVES of World War II
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.
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.
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.
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.
WAVES marching in formation at the 2nd anniversary celebrations at NAS Seattle, 1944. Note the two flags: the U.S. flag and the flag for NAS Seattle at right. The photo comes from the National Archives.
The drum corps were part of the WAVES marching formation. Note the drum corps members are wearing the blue uniforms, while the women marching behind wear the white dress uniform. This comes from the WAVES’ second anniversary celebration at NAS Seattle in 1944. The photo comes from the National Archives.
Part of the annual birthday celebration for WAVES included marching in formation at the various Naval Air Stations and other bases, such as this display for the WAVES’ third anniversary in 1944, at Seattle NAS. The photo is held by the National Archives.
Today we’re celebrating the birthday of the sister of the Homefront Heroines director (and daughter of a WAVE). Happy birthday, Sharon! And happy birthday cousins Karen and Melanie, also born on the same day.
In this photo from the National Archives, WAVES pose behind their 2nd anniversary birthday cake in New Orleans.
Secretary of Navy, Frank Knox, and Lt. Comdr. Mildred H. McAfee, with a group of enlisted WAVES following the WAVES’ first anniversary ceremony at Washington, D.C. July 30, 1943. From the National Archives.
Even though the WAVES were established on July 30, 1942, it would take a few days after that formal declaration for Mildred McAfee to be sworn in as leader. The official enlist date of the former Wellesley President was August 3, 1943.
In this image, Adm. Ernest King expresses his approval of the job being done by members of the Women’s Reserve to Capt. Mildred McAfee on the secondd anniversary of the WAVES. More than 70,000 were on duty at the time – nearly three times the number from just a year before. It comes from the National Archives.
Hinges of History 