NATTC Photo Albums
Navy WAVES And Women Marines
Navy WAVES And Women Marines
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The WAVES Arrive At NATTC Norman Section
Photo upper-center are the first attachment of WAVES arriving on January 29, 1943 straight from boot camp in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Lieutenant (jg) Myrtle O. Poultney was the Officer in Charge. This detachment of WAVES held the distinction of being the very first to enter the Naval mechanical schools. Photo upper-right, seven of the eight officers in charge of the first contingent of 200 WAVES reporting for training at NATTC. In the picture, Lieutenant Poultney is at the extreme right at the head of the table. Ensign Alberta Lewis, officer in charge of personnel for the WAVES, is on her right; next is Ensign Alice Sterling, then Ensign Grace Graham, both of whom are barracks officers. Her back to the camera at the extreme left is Ensign Katherine Crumpacker, welfare officer; the vacant chair belongs to Ensign Ruth Penney, barracks officer, who was on duty at the time the picture was taken; then also with her back to the camera is Ensign Mary Bond, barracks officer, and lastly Ensign Minnie Adams, assistant to Lieutenant Poultney.
Aviation Machinist Mate And Aviation Metalsmith Training Section
Photo Backside Below
Photo upper-right original caption reads "WAVE Dolores Czarnecki, shown here in February 1943 at the Naval Air Technical Training Center in Norman, Oklahoma, was a nurse before joining the US Navy." Photo upper-left was taken in early 1943, as were most of the WAVES photos, and was published often in Navy literature. Photo lower-left is the backside of the photo directly above it and contains the original press release caption.
Photo lower-right original caption reads "WAVE Eileen Dempsey in in training as an Aviation Machinist’s Mate at Naval Air Technical Training Center in Norman, Oklahoma, 1943." Photo lower-left and lower-center original caption reads "WAVES work on a plane in the assembly and repair shop at the Naval Air Technical Training Center in Norman, Oklahoma, 1943. They are: Lucille Henderson, Darline Wagner, Phoebe Swan, Ruth Potter and Juanita Hess." These two photos are similar, but not the same.
More photos all taken early to mid 1943. Photo center-right original caption reads "WAVE Ruth Potter gets a first look at the tools she’ll be using in her Machinist’s Mate training at Norman, Oklahoma, 1943."
All these photos come from one photoshoot taken around March 1943. The original caption reads "WAVES Elizabeth Bieser, Ann Boryk, and Virginia Bounds learn the ropes as machinist’s mates at the Naval Training Center in Norman, Oklahoma. They’re working on a hinge fitting plate." The photos were featured in the October 1943 WAVES News Letter Magazine.
Women Marines Training Alongside WAVES Section
Photo Backside Below
Photo Backside Below
Photo upper-left caption reads "Two members of the Marine Corps Women's Reserve in training at the Naval Air Technical Training Center, Norman, Oklahoma, unfold wing section to flight position during a day's work at the school." The upper-middle and upper-right photos both have detailed decriptions which you can find directly below each photo.
Physical Training, Drilling And Inspections Section
All six of these photos were taken around February 1943, shortly after the first WAVES arrived. The original caption for the upper row photos reads "Physical Education for WAVEs-limbering up and strengthing muscles is an important part of the training of WAVEs to be aviation machinist mates at the U.S. Naval Training School at Norman, OK. Wearing their special aviation coveralls in place of uniform gym suits, these trainees take time out from wrences and screw drivers to take their daily excercise." The lower three photos shows the WAVES drilling both indoor and outdoors.
Photo Backside Below
Photo Backside Below
Marching / parade bands, physical education training games, captain inspections and barracks inspections were just a way of life in the Navy. Photo upper-center shows Washburn Sp(s) 2/c on the trampoline. This photo can be found on page 68 of the All Hands Yearbook.
Life Aboard Ship Section
These photos, all taken in early 1943, depict typical daily life of a WAVE training at NATTC, Norman. The photo in the upper-right row, released July 11, 1943, shows Seaman Cecilia Smoak of Cordova, S.C. leaning on her swab after giving the deck a fast once-over in the WAVES barracks at Anacostia. While not taken at NATTC the barracks would have looked very similar otherwise and the WAVE makes for a very nice photo!
Once WAVES completed their training they were assigned duty at some type of shore station, including NATTC in Norman. Pictured in photo-left, from left to right, are Inez Van Winkle and Rita Nolan on sentry duty in the WAVES section of the base. The photo appeared in the June 3, 1943 edition of the Bull Horn base newspaper. The center photo shows the WAVES of barracks 159.
Photo right caption reads "WAVE Seaman Eloise Hare of Green Bay, Wisconsin, is in training for Yeomen at NTS Stillwater, Oklahoma. She’s the subject of admiring glances from the locals. The girls standing neatly at parade rest are Carolyn Whitney, Frema Ruth Harris, and Catherin Harris, all of Stillwater." While this photo caption indicates this WAVE was not training at NATTC Norman I found this photo on the bottom-right of page 69 in the 1945 All Hands Yearbook.
Photo right caption reads "WAVE Seaman Eloise Hare of Green Bay, Wisconsin, is in training for Yeomen at NTS Stillwater, Oklahoma. She’s the subject of admiring glances from the locals. The girls standing neatly at parade rest are Carolyn Whitney, Frema Ruth Harris, and Catherin Harris, all of Stillwater." While this photo caption indicates this WAVE was not training at NATTC Norman I found this photo on the bottom-right of page 69 in the 1945 All Hands Yearbook.
These photos were taken taken at the American-Indian Exposition at Anadarko, Oklahoma, 1944.
Photo upper-left caption reads "WAVES from NAS, Norman, Oklahoma, were fascinated by the trapping of this real old Indian dancer. His eagle feature fan was minutely examined and appraised. Although he couldn’t speak a word of English, the translator supplied his name. It’s George Washington Daunkia and the WAVES are, left to right: front row, Virginia Low, Yeoman 2nd Class, Rita Eichalbargar, Yeoman 2nd Class, and Betsye Stratton, Yeoman 3rd Class, around from the second row is Ann Skrip, Storekeeper 2nd Class."
Photo upper-center caption reads "It was a great day for two proud American parents when their WAVE daughters came in time to celebrate with them the American-Indian Exposition. It is the Beaver family, all full-blooded Delaware-Shawnee Indians. The photographer caught them all together against this background on the Exposition Pageant grounds. They are (l-r) Margaret, their mother; Delores, Specialist 2nd Class; Jones, their father; and Beulah, Specialist 2nd Class; their little brother Roger is sporting a new hat and an all-day sucker. The WAVES are being congratulated by one of the champion dancers of the pageant, Jack Hokesh, Kiowa."
Photo upper-right caption reads "Two full-blooded Indian WAVES, Beulah and Delores Beaver, Specialist 2nd Class and stations at NAS Norman, Oklahoma, are being shown the new additions to the annual pageant by Jack Hokesh, Kiowa dancer."
Photo lower-left caption reads "There is nothing like comparing costumes. Two full-blooded Indian girls meet for a pow-wow and the main interest was not the beautiful trappings of the Native Indian costume but in the WAVES uniform. The WAVE is Delores Beaver, Specialist 2nd Class, who is stationed at NAS, Norman, Oklahoma. The Indian girl examining her tie is Sally Rice who was one of the featured dances in the exposition pageant."
Photo upper-left caption reads "WAVES from NAS, Norman, Oklahoma, were fascinated by the trapping of this real old Indian dancer. His eagle feature fan was minutely examined and appraised. Although he couldn’t speak a word of English, the translator supplied his name. It’s George Washington Daunkia and the WAVES are, left to right: front row, Virginia Low, Yeoman 2nd Class, Rita Eichalbargar, Yeoman 2nd Class, and Betsye Stratton, Yeoman 3rd Class, around from the second row is Ann Skrip, Storekeeper 2nd Class."
Photo upper-center caption reads "It was a great day for two proud American parents when their WAVE daughters came in time to celebrate with them the American-Indian Exposition. It is the Beaver family, all full-blooded Delaware-Shawnee Indians. The photographer caught them all together against this background on the Exposition Pageant grounds. They are (l-r) Margaret, their mother; Delores, Specialist 2nd Class; Jones, their father; and Beulah, Specialist 2nd Class; their little brother Roger is sporting a new hat and an all-day sucker. The WAVES are being congratulated by one of the champion dancers of the pageant, Jack Hokesh, Kiowa."
Photo upper-right caption reads "Two full-blooded Indian WAVES, Beulah and Delores Beaver, Specialist 2nd Class and stations at NAS Norman, Oklahoma, are being shown the new additions to the annual pageant by Jack Hokesh, Kiowa dancer."
Photo lower-left caption reads "There is nothing like comparing costumes. Two full-blooded Indian girls meet for a pow-wow and the main interest was not the beautiful trappings of the Native Indian costume but in the WAVES uniform. The WAVE is Delores Beaver, Specialist 2nd Class, who is stationed at NAS, Norman, Oklahoma. The Indian girl examining her tie is Sally Rice who was one of the featured dances in the exposition pageant."
Graduation And Shipping Out Section
The photo on the left if the first WAVES Aviation Metalsmith class to graduate on July 30, 1943. Among the WAVES seen in the photo was Shirley Feldstein Bell who identified those in the photo in November 1983. "Standing, left to right -- unidentified; Betty Lewis, Alice Hays, ?? Herman; Betty Brown, Dorothy Brown (Worley), Edna Stromberg, Madge Gallagher, Marge Colvin, Alice ??, Robbie Young. Seated and kneeling, left to right -- Rosalie Lawrence (Werdin), Shirley Feldstein (Bell), Helen Carter (kneeling directly behind Shirley Feldstein), Ann Daniels, Emma Gwatkins, unidentified, and Martina Elizabeth Watson (Honor Student). Phyllis ("Stormy") Joelson (Morgan) is in front, with the dog."
The photo in the center are WAVES marching to commencement in 1943. Photo right caption reads "This photograph from July 12, 1943 is of the last Captain’s inspection of the first graduating class of WAVES at the Naval Air Technical Training Center, Norman, Oklahoma. Ensign Fitting is doing the inspection, while platoon leader Stroud follows close behind."
The photo in the center are WAVES marching to commencement in 1943. Photo right caption reads "This photograph from July 12, 1943 is of the last Captain’s inspection of the first graduating class of WAVES at the Naval Air Technical Training Center, Norman, Oklahoma. Ensign Fitting is doing the inspection, while platoon leader Stroud follows close behind."
These photos were all taken in the summer of 1943. They were the first WAVES to complete their aviation training in Norman and were shipping out to new assignments.
Photo upper-left are WAVES purchasing their train tickets at the Santa Fe railroad station in Norman, Oklahoma.
Photo upper-center caption reads "WAVE Elvina Foland is checking the time table to see what time she’ll need to be there to catch her train, at the station in Norman, Oklahoma."
Photo upper-right caption reads "WAVE Violet Falkum bids farewell to sailor Matty Melidoni, after leaving Yeoman training camp at Norman, Oklahoma."
Photo lower-left caption reads "WAVES leave their training post in Normal, Oklahoma, in summer of 1943, heading via train for their next assignments. WAVES in Norman trained in aviation specialties." Typical of the time period passenger trains were still pulled by steam locomotives. Diesel locomotives were reserved for military cargo hauling.
The photo in the lower-center is not part of this series. The photo depicts two WAVES, the taller WAVE taking a fun jab at the shorter WAVE regarding the physical size requirements of a AMM. Most likely these two had just completed Boot Camp and were looking into their training options. If you look closely at the photo you will see several photos from early 1943 of the first WAVES training at NATTC Norman, Oklahoma. Those photos are included in this website.
Photo upper-left are WAVES purchasing their train tickets at the Santa Fe railroad station in Norman, Oklahoma.
Photo upper-center caption reads "WAVE Elvina Foland is checking the time table to see what time she’ll need to be there to catch her train, at the station in Norman, Oklahoma."
Photo upper-right caption reads "WAVE Violet Falkum bids farewell to sailor Matty Melidoni, after leaving Yeoman training camp at Norman, Oklahoma."
Photo lower-left caption reads "WAVES leave their training post in Normal, Oklahoma, in summer of 1943, heading via train for their next assignments. WAVES in Norman trained in aviation specialties." Typical of the time period passenger trains were still pulled by steam locomotives. Diesel locomotives were reserved for military cargo hauling.
The photo in the lower-center is not part of this series. The photo depicts two WAVES, the taller WAVE taking a fun jab at the shorter WAVE regarding the physical size requirements of a AMM. Most likely these two had just completed Boot Camp and were looking into their training options. If you look closely at the photo you will see several photos from early 1943 of the first WAVES training at NATTC Norman, Oklahoma. Those photos are included in this website.