A Blog About Women Who Were Homefront Heroines: the WAVES of World War II
WAVES Florence Johnson and Rosamund Small walk out to the target range at the Naval Air Gunners School in Hollywood, Florida. They were among the first WAVES to qualify as instructors of electrically-operated 50 caliber machine gun turrets in April of 1944.
The photo comes from the National Archives.
It was a chilly day in March 1944 when WAVE Betty McIntire signals a plane to taxi out onto the runway at the Naval Air Station Anacostia. She’s an Aviation Machinist’s Mate.
The photo comes from the National Archives.
Here, WAVES Lt. Commander Mildred McAfee inspects the WAVES on duty at the NAS Brooklyn with Captain Newton White.
The photo comes from the National Archives.
WAVES Lt. Commander Mildred McAfee inspects personnel at NAS Brooklyn in July 1943. She’s joined by Captain Newton White.
The photo comes from the National Archives.
Get your mail! WAVES pick up their mail at the naval post office at WAVES Quarters D in Washington, DC from (left to right) Ruth Carter, Patricia V. Campbell, and Marion Eastman.
The 1944 photograph comes from the National Archives.
Navy WAVES do maintenance on Navy aircraft c. 1944. Happy Labor Day!
The photograph comes from the National Archives.
Just how friendly are the WAVES in Texas? Let this story in the WAVES Newsletter answer that question for you.
Oh, and be sure to check out the announcement at the bottom of the page for the WAVES exercise gear.
From the Navy-provided caption:
Sk3C Sharlene Osler models the new uniform, consisting of dungarees slacks and chambray shirt, which will replace the present aviation coverall worn by members of the Women’s Reserve engaged in work requiring protective covering. The slacks are Navy blue denim with pockets on each side. The cotton chambray shirt is a lighter blue, with short sleeves and one patch pocket. The wrap-around turban is of Navy blue material.
The photo comes from the National Archives.
Here’s a sample of the type of barracks where WAVES lived. This facility is from Washington, DC.
The photo comes from the National Archives.
Here’s an example of how the WAVES photographs were used in Navy publications, in this case the monthly WAVES Newsletter. Here, hospital corps workers (aka pharmacist’s mates) are at work at the Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland.
Hinges of History 