Miscellaneous
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Headgear
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Service Hat
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The hat for enlisted personnel had a navy blue stitched brim that
was turned up in the back. The six-section crown could be removed. Three
different kinds of crown covers were used:
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the navy blue cover with the Service Dress, Blue, A |
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the white cover withe the Service Dress, Blue, B and
Service Dress, White |
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the gray and white pinstriped seersucker cover with the
matching working uniform |
A dark navy blue cap ribbon carried the designation "US NAVY" in golden
letters. The letters were embroidered or simply printed. |
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WAVES Service Hat and Hat Covers (Enlisted
Personnel)
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Officer's Service Hat
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| The hat for officers had a navy blue stitched brim and a oval shaped
stiffened crown. Different kind of hat covers could be attached.
The insignia were worn at the front of the crown, attached to a navy
blue band that encircled the crown at the brim. |
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First row from left to right:
White hat cover
Officer's hat without cover
Navy blue cover
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Second row from left to right:
Rain hat cover
Hat shaper (the covers were dried
over the shaper to keep them in correct form)
Gray and white hat cover
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Last row:
Navy blue band with Navy officer's
cap insigne. The band was attached with pushbuttons and matched the color
of the hat's brim. |
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Garrison Caps
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In March 1944, officers and chief petty officers were allowed to wear
male style navy-blue garrison caps within station limits when prescribed
by the commanding officer.
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In early 1945, female style garrison caps were authorized for officers
and enlisted personnel. Unlike the men's caps, they were designed in a
banana shape for better fit over female hairstyles.
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The first weeks after introduction, the cap was worn without any
insignia by enlisted personnel.
In March 1945, enlisted personnel were authorized to wear the WAVES
insignia on the left front of the cap. The WAVES insignia on the cap had
to correspond with the one that was worn on the collar of the matching
uniform.
Additionally, since April 1945 a silver and gold-plated metal insignia
could be worn in place of the patch. |
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Garrison Caps (Enlisted Personnel)
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Chief Petty Officers wore a minature Chief Petty Officer insignia
on their cap.
Commissioned Officers wore a miniature Navy officer's insignia on
the left front of the cap and a miniature pin-on rank on the right front.
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Shirts
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The shirts were made of cotton or rayon material
and issued in three different colors: white, navy blue and reserve blue.
The regulations governing the wearing of the various shirts varied slightly
from district to district and during the time. Here are some general rules:
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White Shirts: either long or short
sleeved types could be worn by officers (and Chief Petty Officers) at any
time, while enlisted personnel could wear them only for dress occasions.
The long-sleeved white shirt was worn by officers at dress occasions only.
(Exception: The short-sleeved white shirt
could be worn as work shirt by enlisted personnel when the navy blue summer
work uniform was worn. Qualified WAVES wore a rating badge on the left
sleeve.)
Reserve-Blue Shirts: were the dress
shirts for enlisted personnel. Officers could wear reserve blue shirts
for work or travel. If officers removed the jacket the reserve-blue shirt
was worn with collar bars. In October 1943 the issue of reserve-blue shirts
was discontinued, but shirts in possession could be worn until they were
no longer serviceable.
Navy-Blue Shirts: were the work shirts
for enlisted personnel (other than Chief Petty Officers). Qualified personnel
had to wear a rating badge on navy-blue shirts. |
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Three different variations of pattern
were authorized to wear.
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The main pattern had a button front style
with turn down pointed collar, long set-in sleeves with two button cuffs.
Three darts were placed at each shoulder seam and the collar was closed
with button and buttonhole.
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Navy Blue WAVES Shirt
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A second alternative pattern offered a slip-over
shirt with turn down pointed collar and long sleeves with buttoned single
cuffs. The front of this variation had a yoke ending in the open ends of
a V shape. |
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The third pattern variation had a button down
front again, turn down, pointed collar and long sleeves with buttoned cuffs.
The front of this shirt had a yoke one each forepart ending in a vertical
line extending to top shoulder seam. The collar closed with a small button
and button loop.
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Reserve Blue WAVES Shirt
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In addition, a white short-sleeved shirt made
of cotton material in the same design as the long-sleeved shirt was authorized.
Just the sleeves were shortened to two-thirds of the distance from shoulder
seam to elbow. The sleeves were finished with a turned back cuff.
The short-sleeved shirt was worn with the
white uniform and also with the blue uniform during spring and fall. |
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When a shirt was worn without the jacket enlisted
WAVES who obtained a rank wore a matching rating badge on the left sleeve.
Line officers wore miniature pin-on ranks on both sides of their collar,
staff officers wore a miniature corps insignia on the left side of the
collar and a miniature pin-on rank on the right side. It was only allowed
to remove the jacket when the working uniform was worn.
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Blue Cotton Chambray Shirt
During 1944, a blue cotton chambray shirt for
work was introduced. The shirt had a breast patch pocket on the left side
and was closed with 5 white buttons. The shirt was worn with blue denim
slacks. |
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Ties
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The square knot that was used with Naval uniforms since the eighteenth
century were adopted for the WAVES uniforms. The ties were made of black
or reserve-blue rayon or silk material. The black tie was worn with the
white shirt, the reserve-blue shirt and the seersucker working uniform.
The reserve-blue tie was worn with the navy-blue shirt only. It was worn
under the shirt collar with the knot placed at the collar opening and the
tie ends tucked under the collar tips.
Different variations of the tie could be used.
(For those who are interested in reproducing a WAVES tie,
I have added patterns for WAVES ties here)
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A two section tie could be buttoned
under the collar. Therefore, each half of the tie had a button hole at
the narrow end. A black and a reserve blue half of such a tie is shown
in the picture on the bottom right.
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Another variant was a one piece
tie approximately 11 inches wide and 33 inches long with pointed ends.
This tie was folded lengthwise. An example of a reserve blue one-piece
tie of this type is shown in the picture on the top. A black tie completely
folded is shown on the left side of the picture.
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Additionally, a one piece tie shaped
similar to the two section tie but connected in the middle is shown in
the middle of the photo. |
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Stockings
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Lisle stockings were worn most commonly during
all seasons. They were prescribed for all personnel in training and for
drill. At all other occasions, WAVES were allowed to wear silk and rayon
stockings if they were obtainable. The stockings had to have a neutral
shade. Mesh stockings, fancy stockings or decorated stockings were not
allowed. Wearing a stocking with a run or a mended run was not permitted.
Bare legs (no stockings) or using liquid hose on the legs was prohibited
while in uniform. Navy-blue or white ankle socks could be worn with the
aviation coverall, the exercise suit, and with the slacks.
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Stockings, Rayon (above) / Stockings,
Cotton Lisle (below)
Typical examples of stockings as
they were used in wartime
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Gloves
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| Wide latitude was allowed in style and type
of gloves, except that black suede were not permitted. The gloves used
for winter were made of black leather or fabric. Black gloves could also
be worn with the gray working uniform. The gloves needed to be short, of
plain design, and without fluted edges or appliqué.
In spring and summer and on winter dress occasions,
white gloves in a short, simple design were worn. Black stitching on white
gloves and white stitching on black gloves were not allowed. |
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Examples of 1940s gloves (made
of black leather and white cotton) as worn by WAVES and SPARS |
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Shoes
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Black laced (4, 5 or 6 eyelet) oxford shoes were authorized as service
shoes. The heels could not be higher than 1-3/8 inches and plain black
leather with closed toes and heels was mandated. The stitching had to be
black and no decorations or perforations of any kind were allowed. Moccasin
toe types and variations were permitted, but no suede, patent or novelty
shoes. The service shoes were normally worn for drill, training and work,
and were also permitted for dress occasions.
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Service Shoes, Black
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The pair of shoes shown left
have the following note imprinted in the inside leather sole:
To be sold only to members of the
U.S. Women's Naval Reserve
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| Simple pumps or monk strap style shoes made of plain black leather
or fabric were permitted for work and dress occasions.
The toes and heels had to be closed and the stitching had to be black.
Heels higher than 2 inches were officially disapproved, but still worn.
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Example of 1940s pumps which
could have been used as Dress Shoes, Black
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Example of 1940s Oxfords made
of buckskin which could have been used as Dress Shoes, White
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White summer shoes were worn with the white
summer uniform.
They could be Oxfords, pumps or monk-strap
shoes.
White buckskin was allowed and leather-covered,
built-up leather, or wooden heels were acceptable. The stitching had to
be white. |
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| Although the heel height of the pumps could
not officially exceed two inches and needed to be plain, wartime photographs
are evidence that many women actually wore shoes having higher heels, decorative
styles and even perforations.
Because leather was rationed and shoes became
scarce during wartime, the regulations governing footwear were not enforced
strictly - especially regarding the dress pumps.
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Example of 1940's pumps which
could have been used as Dress Shoes, White
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Handbags
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The envelope style handbag was made of black fabric, synthetic material,
or leather. It was about 11 inches wide and 7 1/2 inches high. The handbag
had a detachable shoulder strap of self-material. It was carried by the
shoulder strap on the right shoulder with the bag swung over the left hip.
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A white handbag of the same design was worn with the Service Dress,
White. It was permitted to carry the handbag with or without the shoulder
strap. |
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As an alternative, a white cover of cotton, rayon or wool material
could be used over the black handbag in place of the all white handbag.
The black straps had to be removed when the cover was used.
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The cover had an oilcloth lining
for protection from soiling caused by the black leather of the handbag.
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Identification Tags (Dog
Tags)
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The oval shaped Navy identification tags were
1.25 by 1.5 inches in size and were perforated at each end. Corrosion-resisting
material was used for the tag and a suspended cable wire provided attachment
for two tags. In case of death, one tag was removed for official processing
purposes and one was left on the body for positive identication.
WWII Dog Tag
of Betty Jean Williams
Betty
Jean Williams
762-73-73
USNR-O
T-7-43-P
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The identification tags bore the following
information on it:
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Individual's Name |
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Officer File Number (six digit number)
or
Enlisted Service Number |
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Tetanus Vaccination indicated
by letter "T" with date in numerals (e.g. T-2-42 or
T
11/43) |
| -. |
Service
USN for members of the
Regular Corps
USNR for members of the
Reserve Corps |
| -. |
Blood Type (O, A, B,
AB) |
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Optional:
Religion (printed since
May 1943, P for Protestant,
C for Catholic, H for
Hebrew) |
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[
I. Development ]..[
II. Facts about the WAVES ]..[
III. Uniforms ]..[
IV. Sources ]
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