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.
Tag Archives: world war II
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.
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.)
The Pharmacist’s Mate
This WAVE is working in the dispensary at California’s Port Hueneme as a pharmacist’s mate, c. 1943.
The photo comes from the National Archives.
Newsletter, October 1943
The October 1943 edition of the WAVES Newsletter features Machinist’s Mates measuring to some pretty exact specifications – look at all the tools they’re using.
It comes from the Schlesinger Library at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Studies at Harvard University.
Trial Run
WAVES at the Hunter College boot camp get a chance to try out the Link Instructor first hand, c. 1943. The machine was used to train pilots during World War II. In this photo, you see a WAVE in the cockpit holding a mic, and in the background a second WAVE giving her “instructions” from the controller desk.
The photograph comes from the Schlesinger Library at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University.
The Link
An close-up shot of the “plane” used as part of Link training, on display for WAVES boots at the Hunter College boot camp in the Bronx, c. 1943. The “plane” sat on a pedestal and helped pilots learn the techniques of flight.
The photograph comes from the Schlesinger Library at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University.
Link Controller
WAVES at the Hunter College boot camp see the controller of a Link Instructor up close. The machine was used for pilot training, and the instructor would sit at this control panel manipulating the “plane” port of the device to simulate flight.
The photograph comes from the Schlesinger Library at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University.
New Equipment
Classroom instruction at boot camp for WAVES uses innovative techniques, including showing the women the equipment they might be working with during their Navy career. Here, women at the USS Hunter see a Link Instructor, a flight simulation unit used to train pilots.
The c. 1943 photograph comes from the Schlesinger Library at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University.
Music and Lyrics
Classroom instruction at Hunter College in the Bronx also included the rich history of the Navy, including songs, as these WAVES boots learned in 1943.
The photograph comes from the Schlesinger Library at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University.
Hinges of History 