A Blog About Women Who Were Homefront Heroines: the WAVES of World War II
Here’s another photo of the “Firecracker War Bond Booth,” this one in color, from June 26, 1944 (70 years ago this week), set up to sell War Bonds in advance of the July 4th holiday at Naval Air Station Seattle. The goal was to earn enough to fund two PT Boats; the boats cost about $300,000 each. 
The photo comes from the National Archives.
WAVES were part of War Bond Campaigns at bases around the nation. This one at the Naval Air Station in Seattle was dubbed the “Firecracker War Bond Booth.” Given that the photo was first published on June 26, 1944 (70 years ago today!), we wonder if it had anything to do with the upcoming July 4th holiday?
Here, Mary Lindenmuth and Mary Daily, two WAVE officers, buy the first bonds for sale at the booth. Lindenmuth was Executive Officer of the WAVES at NAS Seattle and Daily was the 13th Naval District Director of the WAVES.
The photo comes from the National Archives.
WAVE Alice T. Hunter, a Pharmacist’s Mate 3rd class, helps a sailor with physical therapy at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Oakland, California in May 1943.
The photograph comes from the National Archives.
This is pretty serious stuff. Published 71 years ago today, these are the punishments WAVES could receive for various offenses during boot camp at the Naval Training Center in the Bronx. Disobedience of Shore Patrol? That S.C.M stands for “special court martial.” D.C? Detention Center.
Shape up, ladies!
The schedule comes from the special collections in the Schlesinger Library at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study.
Navy WAVES raise the flag outside of their Quonset hut barracks c. 1944. It seemed an appropriate image for this Flag Day.
The photo comes from the special collections in the Schlesinger Library at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study.
Admiral Ernest J. King greets WAVES Lt. Commander Mildred McAfee at a breakfast given by WAVES by high-ranking Naval officers, members of Congress, and other dignitaries at the Hotel Statler, Washington, DC.
The photograph comes from the National Archives.
Two WAVES on duty in the Link trainer of the Navy Department, Washington DC, c. June 1943.
The photograph comes from the National Archives.
From 70 years ago this month.
It comes from the special collections in the Schlesinger Library at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study.
WAVES Director Mildred McAfee is promoted to Captain, November 13, 1943. She’s being congratulated by Rear Admiral Randall Jacobs, Chief of the Navy Bureau of Personnel.
McAfee was the first Director of the Women’s Reserve. She took command on August 3, 1942.
The photo comes from the National Archives.
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.
Hinges of History 