WAVE Gladys McCullough shows 2 visiting WAVES to NAS NOLA how a PRY gun turret works during the station’s open house for the WAVES second anniversary in 1943. It comes from the National Archives.
Tag Archives: navy
Packing a ‘Chute
In this photo from the National Archives, two enlisted WAVES at NAS NOLA pack a parachute during an open house held as part of the WAVES 2nd anniversary celebration in 1942. Everyone in the audience is paying close attention to the audience, except for the little girl in the lower right, who noticed the presence of a camera.
Hospital Ward
Imagine being WAVE Harriet Stewart! She’s the woman on the hospital bed (lower right) under covers , playing “sick” for a demonstration during the open house at the first anniversary of the WAVES in 1943. The open house for invited guests by the WAVES hospital corps school. Ensign Dorothy Smith is addressing the class on the technique of giving proper care to a bed patient is delivered. The photo comes from the National Archives.
On Display
The WAVES anniversary celebrations offered more than just cake, marching and excursions for the women. WAVES also did informational displays for visitors during the anniversary, such as this in this National Archives photograph, where WAVE Anna Martinez shows visitors a photo mural made at NAS NOLA during open house on the WAVES second birthday in 1943.
Sailing!
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.
Shipshape
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.
Yachting Parties
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.
Drum Parade
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.
Birthday Inspection
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.
A Company of Two
Only two Navy WAVES were qualified to wear victory medal of World War I. Joy Bright Hancock (left) and Eunice Whyte (right) both served as Yeomanettes during World War I. About 25,000 Yeomanettes (from Yeomen-F, or Yeoman-Female) were part of the regular Navy because of loophole – the military act at the time didn’t specify that only men could serve. The loophole was closed after the war, and women wouldn’t become an official part of the Navy, other than nurses, until 1942.
This image come from the National Archives.
Hinges of History 