Will you be watching any bowl game parades (our favorite is the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day)? Here, the WAVES drum corps stands at attention.
The 1944 photograph comes from the National Archives.
Tag Archives: women’s history
Gift Wrapping
Members of the “Wives and WAVES” Committee wrap some of the thousand gifts they received to be delivered to Navy and Marine casualties at the Naval Medial Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
The December 1944 photograph comes from the National Archives.
The Salute!
A salute between the only two African American WAVE officers during World War II: Lt. Harriet Ida Pickens (left) and Lt. Frances Wills (right).
The December 1944 photograph comes from the National Archives.
Officers Pickens and Wills
Among the WAVES graduating from the last officer class at the Naval Reserve Midshipmen’s School at Smith College, Northampton, MA were Lt. Harriet Ida Pickens (left) and Lt. Frances Wills (right). The were the only two African American women commissioned as officers in the WAVES during World War II.
The December 1944 photograph comes from the National Archives.
Looking at the Plane
Aviation Machinist Mates inspect a plane part with a sailor. The photograph comes from the Schlesinger Library at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University.
Learning the Guns
A WAVE learns to handle a machine gun at NATC Pensacola, FL where she will later teach male gunners the sights. The photo comes from the National Archives.
WAVES in Hawaii
Joy Bright Hancock (left) would be one of the first WAVES in Hawaii, arriving in December 1944. This was the first time WAVES would be based overseas.
The photo comes from the Schlesinger Library at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University.
Inspection
Capt. Mildred H. McAfee, USNR, accompanied by Rear Adm. George S. Bryan, USN, inspects the WAVES on duty at the Hydrographic Office, Suitland, MD. She is saluting the colors as WAVES pass in review.
The photo comes from the National Archives.
Eleanor Roosevelt, Part II
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, visiting to the officer training at Smith College in Northampton, MA with WAVE Commander Mildred McAfee.
The photograph comes from the Schlesinger Library at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Studies, Harvard University.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt was a staunch ally of the WAVES, both advocating for women to be in the military at the same rank and pay as men, and visiting WAVES stations from time to time.
This is a visit to the officer training at Smith College in Northampton, MA.
The photograph comes from the Schlesinger Library at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Studies, Harvard University.
Hinges of History 