A Blog About Women Who Were Homefront Heroines: the WAVES of World War II
Aviation cadets at NAS St. Louis use the range finder and other gunnery equipment to become skilled marksmen. They’re learning from Navy WAVES, who are showing the fighter pilots how to estimate correct lead time before opening fire on an enemy bomber.
The photograph comes from the National Archives.
WAVES Captain Mildred McAfee and Captain Gordon Underwood review the new WAVE officers during graduation ceremonies at Smith College, Northampton, MA, on November 16, 1943.
The photograph comes from the National Archives.
WAVES Captain Mildred McAfee addresses the new WAVE officers during graduation ceremonies at Smith College, Northampton, MA, November 16, 1943.
The Photograph comes from the National Archives.
WAVES pass in formation during graduation ceremonies for officers at Smith College in Northampton, MA, November 16, 1943. WAVE captain Mildred McAfee salutes as the officers pass.
The photograph comes from the National Archives.
WAVE Director (and new Captain) Mildred McAfee addresses a WAVE graduating class at Northampton, Massachusetts, 70 years ago today: November 16, 1943.
The photo comes from the National Archives.
Evelyn Wiley, a WAVE stationed at NAS Los Alamitos in California, hangs a parachute in the dry locker room. This allows the parachute to unfold and keep its elasticity. The life of a parachute is seven years.
The photograph comes from the National Archives.
At boot camp in the Bronx, New York (AKA The USS Hunter), WAVES march in formation – there are actually two platoons moving side by side in this November 1943 photograph.
It comes from the National Archives.
This November 1943 photo shows a high tech assignment: The WAVE is working an International Business Machine (IBM). Check out the punchcards – an early form of computer coding.
The photo comes from the National Archives.
WAVES at Hunter College Training School in the Bronx, New York, stand at attention for their graduation review, November 1943. New groups of WAVES would start classes every two weeks for their boot camp training.
The photograph comes from the National Archives.
WAVES on guard patrol at the Naval Air Technical Training Center, Norman, Oklahoma.
The photo comes from the National Archives.
Hinges of History 