A Blog About Women Who Were Homefront Heroines: the WAVES of World War II
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Another shot of the WAVES marching in formation at NAS Seattle, in celebration of the WAVES’ second anniversary. Not the drum corps at the lower right of the image, which comes from the National Archives.
WAVES marching in formation at the 2nd anniversary celebrations at NAS Seattle, 1944. Note the two flags: the U.S. flag and the flag for NAS Seattle at right. The photo comes from the National Archives.
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.
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.
Today we’re celebrating the birthday of the sister of the Homefront Heroines director (and daughter of a WAVE). Happy birthday, Sharon! And happy birthday cousins Karen and Melanie, also born on the same day.
In this photo from the National Archives, WAVES pose behind their 2nd anniversary birthday cake in New Orleans.
Hinges of History 