A Blog About Women Who Were Homefront Heroines: the WAVES of World War II
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.
Evelyn Wiley, a WAVE stationed at NAS Los Alamitos in California, hangs a parachute in the dry locker room. This allows the parachute to unfold and keep its elasticity. The life of a parachute is seven years.
The photograph comes from the National Archives.
A salute from WAVE Genevieve Sullivan on this Veterans Day, taken 70 years ago this month. Veterans Day honors the armistice signalling the end of hostilities during World War II, which began on the 11th hour of the 11th of the 11th month in 1918. Hence the celebrating of Veterans Day on November 11th – to help us remember when “The War to End All Wars” ended.
Of course, there have been (too) many other wars since then. But on this day, we give honor to the men and women who have served.
Happy Veterans Day!
The photo comes from the National Archives.
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.
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.
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.
Hinges of History 