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WAVES in Blue Denim Dungarees & Chambray Shirts


turmanator
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Did the WWII WAVES ever wear the blue denim pants and shirts like the men? If so any pictures? I am having a nice quiet family discussion with my older sister about it for the Tora Tora Tora show at Wings Over Houston next month.

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Understanding, that dungarees were ZNOT an issue item for women. Woman's utility uniform st that time were designed for "Indoor/ Office" type work. During the war, as women took on more traditional male jobs, they fund they needed "tougher" clothing. Many squired coveralls, but many also went to the "Small Stores" and purchased dungarees as they really are more comfortable than coveralls

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  • 6 years later...
Salvage Sailor

WAVESDenim002.png.2a854e1b6629a68192d8ee05c93a672f.png

WAVES Elaine Olsen and Ted Snow learn to take down an aircraft engine block–with a perfect manicure. 

Record Group 80: General Records of the Department of the Navy, 1804 - 1983

Image description: Two women in denim shirts and dark trousers apply tools to a large aircraft engine block. They both have curled hair and are wearing red lipstick. One woman is also wearing red nail polish.

Source: catalog.archives.gov

 

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Salvage Sailor

More WAVES in Chambray

k14976.webp.c7fc5b9a15d106b352056f1dcc36a08b.webp

Title: WAVES trainees at "chow"

Description: WAVES trainees at chow At Naval Training Center, Norman, Oklahoma, in February 1943. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Catalog #: 80-G-K-14976

 

k05659.webp.0915c1faa9a536c3d01ef8ab7a27756d.webp

Title: Naval Air Station, Oakland, California

Description: Seaman 1st Class Billy Ikard (left) and Seaman 1st Class Barbara A. Patterson move a battery cart into position next to a Naval Air Transport Service R5D-1 (Bureau # 39170), circa mid-1945. Both WAVES are assigned to Naval Air Transport Squadron Four. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.color

Catalog #: 80-G-K-5659

 

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Checking a finished metal bracket against a blueprint is Elizabeth Holbrook, aviation metalsmith second class. She and many other WAVES work in a huge assembly and repair building at a Naval Air Station in Hawaii. National Archives and Records Administration, 80-G-K-5670.

 

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Title: Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Whiting Field, Pensacola, Florida

Description: WAVES aircraft mechanics working on a North American SNJ training plane, circa 1943-45. Note their dungaree uniforms, and the plane's Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp radial engine. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Catalog #: 80-G-K-15003

 

navy-waves-33.jpg.1b2f4223b6a0ea80940d9ee8acea34c4.jpg

WAVES specialist first class Lorraine Taylor perches atop the nacelle of the number one engine of a Naval Air Transport Service four-engine Skymaster. Inspecting the accessory action on the engine is specialist first class Martha Harrison. These WAVES aviation mechanics are working on the ramp at Naval Air Transport Squadron Four, NAS, Oakland, California.

 

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Salvage Sailor

 

80-G-K-5675edited(1).jpg.eaadc9fbf97c71c856116d63c2f08331.jpg

WAVES operate Hawaiian Naval Air Station control tower – speaking to incoming planes through a microphone is specialist second class Mary E. Johnson. Lois Stoneburg, specialist second class, operates the signal light. National Archives and Records Administration, 80-G-K-5675.

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Here is a picture from the National Archives on the introduction of the WAVE denim uniform.  Unfortunately, they don't have a date on it the card, I believe they came out in late 1943 or in 1944.

47158006.jpg

47158007.jpg

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