For most of their wartime service, WAVES had little opportunity for sea travel. Their authorizing legislation had specifically restricted their service to the continental United States and this was not changed for more than two years, despite the Navy's requests. Finally, in September 1944 Public Law 441 was signed, permitting WAVES to serve in Hawaii, Alaska, Panama and the Caribbean.
They were most needed in Hawaii, home base for much of the great Pacific offensive then closing in on Japan. After a survey by women officers and careful selection of those who volunteered for the duty, the troop transport Matsonia sailed in late December 1944 with the first continent of Pearl Harbor-bound WAVES. The Fourteenth Naval District, the Navy's Hawaiian command, took all it could get and wanted more, identifying more than 6600 billets that they could fill. Up to Japan's August 1945 capitulation, ships carried a steady stream of WAVES westward toward Hawaii.
This page features views of the transportation of World War II era WAVES by ship.
For pictures of air, land and small craft transportation of World War II era WAVES, see:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions. |
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: 80-G-47594 Yeoman 1st Class Josephine Adams, USNR(W) Comes aboard the transport that will take her and other WAVES to their new duty station at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Note sign at left, stating that "Shore leave expires at 1800 Tuesday December 26, 1944." Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 97KB; 740 x 615 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
![]() |
Photo #: 80-G-47596 WAVES en route to Hawaii, 1945 Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Margaret Kyle and Lieutenant (Junior Grade) E.C. Day unpacking in their stateroom on board the transport that will take them to their new duty stations at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 1945. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 73KB; 740 x 615 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
![]() |
Photo #: 80-G-47597 WAVES en route to Hawaii, 1945 Storekeeper 2nd Class Francella Leigh, Yeoman 2nd Class Patricia McRae and Pharmacist's Mate 3rd Class Suzanne Hosmer (listed left to right) remove knapsacks in their stateroom after arriving on board a transport. They and other WAVES were en route to their new duty stations at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, circa early January 1945. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 75KB; 740 x 610 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
![]() |
Photo #: 80-G-47595 WAVES en route to Hawaii, 1945 Storekeeper 2nd Class Francella Leigh, Yeoman 2nd Class Patricia McRae and Pharmacist's Mate 3rd Class Suzanne Hosmer (listed left to right) in their stateroom on board a transport, while they and other WAVES were en route to their new duty stations at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 8 January 1945. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 620 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
![]() |
Photo #: 80-G-330773 USS General Omar Bundy (AP-152) A WAVE ensign times the sights for the ship's Navigating Officer, as he "shoots" the sun with his sextant, 25 June 1945. She is a passenger on the ship, en route to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and is making her first voyage on a Naval vessel. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 71KB; 535 x 765 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
![]() |
Photo #: 80-G-330769 USS General Omar Bundy (AP-152) WAVES officers pose on the navigation bridge with the ship's Commanding Officer, Captain Lawrence Wainwright, USN (Retired), 25 June 1945. They are en route to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 560 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
![]() |
For pictures of air, land and small craft transportation of World War II era WAVES, see:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions. |
Page made 18 February 2001