WAVES at Port Magu, California, shoot photographs of the LST landing there 70 years ago today, October 15, 1943.
The photo comes from the National Archives.
Tag Archives: WAVES
New Construction
70 years ago today, October 14, 1943, WAVES commander Mildred McAfee was on an inspection tour of the Norfolk Naval Base. Here, she inspects construction plans for the new Women’s Reserve barracks at the receiving station. Left to right: Capt. Thomas S. McCloy, McAfee, WAVE Grace Dimelow, and Micajah Boland.
The photo comes from the National Archives.
The Plane!
Mildred McAfee went on an inspection tour of the Norfolk Naval Base 70 years ago this week, October 13, 1943. Here, she arrives at the Norfolk Municipal Airport via Pennsylvania Central Airlines.
The photo comes from the National Archives.
Can I Help You?
In this day of automated answering services, it seems almost quaint to think that a real live person might answer the telephone at a Navy base. But WAVE S.M. Pugh had that duty during World War II at the Acorn Training Detachment, Port Hueneme, California.
Here, she learns the ropes on the base switchboard in October 1943.
The photo comes from the National Archives.
Shopping Duty
WAVES worked in a variety of jobs. Here, a WAVE is on duty at the ship’s store, working as a cashier. The photograph from October 1943 was taken at Port Huenume, Acorn Training Detachment.
It comes from the National Archives.
New Uniforms, Part 3
October, 1943 saw another uniform addition for the WAVES. Dorothea Jameson models the working smock for pharmacists, laboratory technicians, parachute riggers, and other technical specialists. It would only be worn by enlisted officers.
The photographs come from the National Archives.
New Uniforms, Part 2
Here’s another view of the new Mainbocher-designed summer uniform for the WAVES, released in October 1943. This view shows the uniform without the jacket. It’s modeled by yeoman Marion Pearson
The photo comes from the National Archives.
New Uniforms, Part 1
In October, 1943, the WAVES debuted new Mainbocher-designed uniforms, to be used in summer and at warm weather locales.
Above, WAVE officer Mary C. Broughton (left) and yeoman Marion Pearson (right) model the new seersucker uniforms.
Broughton posed solo as well (left). The only difference between her officer uniform and that of the enlisted women is the officer’s hat, the band on the sleeve of the jacket, and the bar on the collar of her dress.
On yeoman Pearson’s uniform (below), her hat has a removable cover that matches the seesucker of the dress.
Thanks for Coming to the Screening!
Greetings from the San Pedro International Film Festival. It was a great weekend, and we’d like to thank everyone who came to the screening of Homefront Heroines: The WAVES of World War II. The festival was held in four different theaters – the big one, pictured here, is the Warner Grand. We were in the San Pedro Theater Club, which was much more intimate (but doesn’t have the great signage).
WAVE Josette Dermody Wingo was also at the screening and got cheered by the audience.
Thanks again for the support – and back to WAVES photos tomorrow!
Sneak Peek 2
In preparation for today’s screening at the San Pedro International Film Festival, we’re giving you a sneak peak of the film Homefront Heroines: The WAVES of World War II. In this clip, WAVE Helen Edgar Gilberts talks about the resentment some men had toward the WAVES. Gilbert lives in San Pedro and is scheduled to join us at the festival.
We hope to see you later today (12:30 p.m.)
Hinges of History 