From the beginning of the WAAC and throughout the following years,
the women experienced serious problems with the supply of cold-weather
work garments. The winter service uniform, the utility coat and a heavy
winter overcoat were the only winter clothing provided initially. However,
many WAAC members did not receive them during the first winter of 1942.
They were sent overseas in their summer service uniform before specifically-designed
cold-weather clothing was available for women. Therefore, whatever was
available in men's warm clothing was issued as substitution garments. Although
often ill-fitting for the female figure, this was the only possibility
to give the women some protection against the cold weather at all.
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WAC Utility Coat
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Coat, WAC Utility, Officers'
.
The coat was made of wind resistant,
water repellent, cotton poplin with a removable liner.
It has a double-breasted front
with belt, convertible collar and slit pockets. A parka hood could be buttoned
on the collar (like shown on the photo). The ample hood space was provided
in case a WAC needed to wear a large helmet.
The field overcoat for enlisted
WAC personnel had no shoulder loops. |
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WAAC/WAC Wool Overcoat
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Overcoat, Wool, WAAC, Officers'
.
in same design as the overcoat for
enlisted personnel but made of olive drab wool doeskin and equipped with
shoulder loops.
WAAC overcoats had plain olive-drab
plastic buttons or WAAC eagle buttons like the overcoat shown on the photo.
Early versions for officers had shoulder straps instead of shoulder loops. |
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Overcoat, WAC, Enlisted Women
.
made of wool serge in double-breasted
style. The WAC overcoat was equipped with gilt Army buttons. It is worn
with the WAC scarf and brown leather gloves on the picture. |
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Storm Tab
.
The coat could be closed high with
a storm
tab that was buttoned underneath
the collar
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Back View of Overcoat
.
The inverted box-pleat in the middle
of the back is held by a half belt with two buttons. It has two slash pockets,
a convertible collar and storm tab |
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WAC Field Overcoat
.
Considerations were taken to replace the WAAC overcoat and WAAC utility
coat by a special designed field coat with detachable lining. However,
problems appeared to obtain sufficient material and procure this item in
time for the next winter period. Additionally, binding contracts with the
manufacturers of the overcoats and utility coats had to be fulfilled. In
the end, a field overcoat was added. For a short time, it was issued to
enlisted personnel, but later it was only authorized for wear by officers.
While enlisted personnel were then still issued with both, the overcoat
and utility coat, the field overcoat was the only coat authorized for officers.
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Overcoat, Field, Women's
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Overcoat, Field, Women, Officer's
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The field overcoat was a double
breasted trench coat of wind resistant, water repellent, cotton poplin.
It had a convertible collar and slit pockets.The field overcoat for officers
was equipped with shoulder loops.
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The field overcoat had a buttoned
on parka hood
for use in stormy weather.
.
v
The buttoned-in wool liner had
a rayon shoulder lining
and binding around all edges. It
was designed for use
also as a dressing gown. |
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Since this officer's coat for all occasions was deemed insufficient,
many female officers started wearing unauthorized overcoats of various
designs and color. Especially coats in a "pink" color similar to the ones
worn by male officers (likewise unauthorized) were popular.
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WAC Officer's Field Overcoat
(Unauthorized "Pink" Model)
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Back view
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| Therefore, in the end of 1944, measures were taken to stop this
practice and standardize the overcoat for all WAC personnel and Army nurses.
An overcoat for female Army officers was introduced cut exactly like
the enlisted women's, but equipped with shoulder loops.
Note many of these overcoats for
officers were equipped with plain plastic buttons. |
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Authorization of New Cold-Weather
Items
.
The winter service uniform, the utility coat and the overcoat could
not provide enough protection for outdoor work. Additionally they were
impractical to wear for many jobs.
Despite unavailable field jackets and trousers with woolen liners
for extra warmth, the women also lacked underwear that was as heavy and
protective as those for men. Therefore, warmer panties, vests, long-sleeved
undershirts, wool shirts and wool stockings were urgently requested. Nevertheless,
the Army Requirements Division refused to approve new items and delayed
the adoption of additional cold-weather attire.
After receiving authorization, a small number of WAC members was
issued with the new clothing. The supply was limited to those WACs who
served in areas with cold winters and whose job was classified as outdoor
work. However, many WAC members who were assigned to outdoor work in warm
climate regions required these garments as well (for example, drivers in
colder nights who had no heater in their vehicles). In addition, many women
did jobs not classified as fieldwork but had to perform active work outdoors
or in unheated buildings. In sum, many WAC members experienced continuous
problems being equipped with these garments although definitely needed.
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Trousers
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Trousers, Women's, Outer Cover
made of wind resistant, water repellent
cotton fabric. They were worn over the wool liner for fieldwork and outdoor
wear in cold climates. The trousers had adjustable button closing on back
of waistband and on the left side. Tapered leg closure for close fit under
overshoes and leggings. The pattern was introduced in July 1943.
Details of the
Outer Cover Trousers
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| Trousers, Wool, Liner, Women's
made of wool. It has knitted rib
cuffs at the ankle and a button closure on the right side.
Probably, the liners had the closure
on the opposite site than the outer cover trousers for better protection
against wind and cold. With the different closures, both hips were protected
by complete covering on each side. Additionally, the different closures
prevented bulkiness on one hip side caused by two button closures on the
same side.
The wool liner was worn under the
outer cover trousers for extra warmth. The liners were designed too short
for regular and long leg length. |
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In the end of 1944, revised outer-cover trousers
and wool liners were introduced. The ski trousers pattern was converted
to a slacks pattern. The authorization of the revised outer cover and liner
trousers came too late in the war to have any further effect for the female
Army personnel during the war.
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Revised Trousers Patterns
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Trousers, Women's, Outer Cover
.(revised
version)
Unlike the previous version, the
new outer cover trouser had straight cut legs and rear buttons on waistband
for adjustable closure.
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left side button closure
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Trousers, Women's, Wool, Liner
(revised version)..
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The new pattern without knitted rib
cuffs and straight cut legs could be worn alone or under the outer cover
trousers for extra warmth. Like on the first pattern, the button closure
was on the right side.
The photo shows the liner wool trousers
worn with the olive drab wool shirtwaist and the women's garrison cap for
enlisted personnel.
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right side button closure
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WAC Field Jacket
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A women's field jacket was adopted rather late because the utility coat
was meant to take its place in the beginning. Since this did not prove
satisfactory for all purposes, women were issued with male field jackets.
Nevertheless, the often poor-fitting men's clothes, additionally unavailable
in small women's sizes, made the development of a special female version
necessary.
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Jacket, Field, M-1943, Women
.
made of wind resistant, water repellent
cotton fabric. The M-1943 women's field jacket was similar in its
general features to the one issued to men. Just the breast pockets and
fly front was omitted while a button front was included. Additionally the
female version has an inside pull string at waist height for adjustable
fitting. |
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Liner, Jacket, Field, M-1943, Women
.
The jacket was worn as a liner
in conjunction with the M-1943 field jacket for extra warmth. It was also
suitable for wear over the sweater and the wool waist. Equipped with knitted
rib collar and sleeve cuffs, button front closure and slit pockets. The
officer's version (like shown on the photo) had shoulder loops. The pattern
date is December 1944. |
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Hood, Jacket, Field, M-1943, Women's
.
made of same material as the jacket.
It was designed for wear over the head with or without the wool knitted
cap or the M-1 steel helmet.
Additionally, the hood provided
enough space to wear the large and bulky earphone assembly and wire attachments
when needed (example can be found in "US. Army Uniforms of WWII" by Shelby
Stanton, p.232).
The hood was small enough to fit
in the pocket of the jacket when it was not used. |
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WAC Field Attire
.
| In many WWII pictures, one can see WAC personnel serving overseas
wearing the following combination of cold-weather garments and personnel
equipment presented in the picture on the right side.
M-1 steel helmet, M-1943 field jacket, outer cover trousers, leggings
and WAC field shoes.
Additional personal equipment included a canvas field bag held with
M-1936 suspenders, M-1936 pistol belt, canteen, first aid pouch and gas-mask
carrier. |
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Rainwear
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Raincoat, Parka-Type, Women's
.
made of coated fabric. It has a
straight cut and 5 button front with inside storm fly.
The material prevented air circulation.
Therefore, the coat was equipped with a couple of holes below the armpit
and ventilated on the outside with a shoulder yoke across the back. Nevertheless,
perspiration was collected inside when the coat was closed.
The raincoat for officers had shoulder
loops. |
... |
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Poncho, Lightweight, OD
.
used as combined raincoat, shelter
tent, ground sheet and sleeping bag. The head opening has a raised collar
closed with a drawstring. Double snap fasteners along both sides were used
to close the sides and form sleeves when the poncho was used as a raincoat.
Several ponchos could be joined together to use as a shelter. |
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