Service and Dress Uniform
- WAC (II) -
.
ETO Service Uniform
.
In England a short-waisted battle jacket resembling civilian lumber
jackets was issued to British Army personnel. By the end of 1941, a special
female version for the women's Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) -- the
British equivalent to the WAAC in America -- was adopted. The battle jacket
that allowed more freedom of movement should provide more comfort for outdoor
jobs than the usual hip length service jackets.
.
|
.
|
. |
US Army soldiers and WACs stationed within the European
Theater of Operations (ETO) soon recognized the advantages of this kind
of British battle jacket. Therefore, the ETO Quartermaster received requests
to develop a similar unique ETO jacket for US Army personnel. Especially
General Eisenhower urged the adoption of such a jacket as an official part
of the uniform - a reason why it was later commonly known as "Ike jacket"
(Ike was Eisenhower's nickname). The official name was "wool field jacket".
.
Jacket, Field, Wool, Women's
.
British made jacket of olive drab wool
serge (the same fabric as used for British Army uniforms). It has a single-breasted,
fly-front with lapel and convertible collar, two tailored breast pockets
and waistband. The cuffs are buttoned. Note the male pattern garrison cap
for enlisted men worn with the enlisted Pallas Athene disc on the left
side. |
.
WAC members who were serving in Europe received their first ETO
battle jackets made and procured in England during the winter of 1944.
Before the decision about the concrete design was made, the wearing
of the "Jacket, Field, Wool, Women's" was already approved. This caused
different variations of the pattern.
.
The field jacket could be worn with matching skirt or slacks.
Jacket, Field, Wool, Women's
with Matching Trousers
.
This French made ETO uniform consists
of the wool field jacket with matching trousers. Unlike the Ike jacket
shown above, it is made of olive drab covert wool (the same material as
used for the winter service uniforms of enlisted US personnel). The trousers
have a button side closure. Note the female pattern enlisted garrison cap.
Officers could also wear the ETO
uniform in olive drab wool serge or covert wool but many decided
to have an ETO uniform made of officer's quality fabric in dark olive color
as shown in the pictures below. |
..v |
|
.
Officer's ETO Service Uniform
.
.
The Ike Jacket shown in the picture
was made of dark olive drab elastique wool cloth. Note the mohair officer's
sleeve braids and male pattern garrison cap for officers. As soon as the
members of the WAC were issued the women's garrison caps they replaced
the male pattern caps.
.
When the ETO personnel arrived home bringing along these battle
jackets, they became extremely popular although it was not authorized to
wear them within the Continental United States (CONUS). This was changed
in April 1945 when a special newly designed female wool field jacket was
approved. The jacket was not issued but could be optionally purchased by
WAC officers and enlisted WAC personnel at their own expense. Although
the jacket was called "field jacket" it was part of the winter service
uniform.
.
 |
|
Jacket, Field, Wool, Women's
Design shows a single-breasted, fly-front
jacket with lapel and convertible collar. This new officially approved
design lacked the pockets of the ETO version and bloused above waistband.
The right lapel was equipped on underside with a tab and a button under
the left lapel to allow higher closing as shown on the picture above. |
|
.v |
|
.
Off-Duty Dress
.
In May 1944 the War Department approved an off-duty dress for the
WAC. It was issued to enlisted personnel. Officers could purchase it.
The one-piece dress had a convertible collar, fly-front closing with
slide fastener, shoulder loops, two tailored breast pockets and a detachable
belt with self-material covered buckle. The summer off-duty dress was made
of beige rayon shantung while the winter off-duty dress was made of horizon
tan wool crepe.
.
| The summer off-duty dress was worn
with a matching beige garrison cap of same rayon shantung material as the
dress.
The dress was issued with long sleeves
but it was allowed to be shortened to about one inch above the elbow (as
shown on the photo).
Enlisted wore the dress with enlisted
collar insignia and a garrison cap with green-yellow braid as shown on
the photo on the right side.
Commissioned personnel wore it with
officer's insignia and a garrison cap with black-gold braid (as shown on
the picture below, left). |
...... |
|
.
The WAC service shoes or private purchased brown leather pumps of
commercial design with closed toe and heel (heel height not higher than
2 1/2 inch) could be worn with the dress.
A purse of commerical design was allowed to wear with the dress.
If the WAC utility handbag was used it had to be carried without the strap.
.
|
|
... |
|
.
Dress, WAC, Summer, Beige
.
The summer dress could be worn
with chamois cotton dress gloves as shown in the picture. The Army Regulations
600-37, 16 April 1945 state that no scarf should be worn with the dress. |
|
.
Dress, WAC, Winter, Tan
.
The winter dress was worn with
the wool garrison cap (on the photo the officer's version is shown). It
was authorized to wear the leather dress gloves and the dress scarf (under
the coat only and not tucked into the neck of the dress) with the winter
off-duty dress. |
.
White Dress Uniform
.
| Also in 1944 the optional purchase of a White Dress Summer Uniform
for officers was authorized. It was made of tropical-worsted wool and similar
in design to the officer's winter and summer service uniform.
The only difference, except of color, was that the white dress uniform
had white sleeve braids. The uniform was worn with a Hobby Hat in matching
color, a white shirtwaist, white gloves, white handbag and a black tie.
In 1951 enlisted women were also authorized to wear the white dress uniform.
.
.
White WAC Cap
.
to be worn with he White Dress
Summer Uniform.
|
.... |
|
.
. |
