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The 588th Night Bomber Regiment, later nicknamed the "Night Witches," was formed in October 1941 in response to the German invasion, largely due to the efforts of Soviet aviator Marina Raskova. The regiment was composed entirely of women, who were selected for the new combat aviation group, Aviation Group 122. The primary mission was to fly nighttime bombing raids against German front lines to cause both physical damage and psychological distress.
https://youtu.be/HmUZgCGCO8Y?si=tFq0a4I9opqIzon4 -
The U.S. Congress approves the formation of a female auxiliary corps for the army, marking the first formal step for women in the U.S. military. https://youtu.be/-5iHl8F7LJ8?si=Hi2_45HKPXDK7ZSA -
The women's branch of the U.S. Naval Reserve during WWII is better known as WAVES – Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service. It was established on July 21, 1942, by Congress and signed into law by President Roosevelt just nine days later. This law authorized the Navy to accept women into the Naval Reserve as commissioned officers and enlisted service members, effective for the duration of the war plus six months.
https://youtu.be/epEuh8vKqXI?si=ET556bFIJUkhatAF -
Women's branches were deployed in various theaters of operation to fill non-combat roles, which freed up male soldiers for combat duties. Their roles included administrative tasks, medical support, communications, and logistics in locations such as North Africa, Europe, and the Pacific. The success and contributions of the WACs during WWII were significant, leading to the establishment of a permanent Women's Army Corps. -
The WAAC is converted into an active branch of the U.S. Army, granting women full military status. When the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps transitioned into the Women’s Army Corps in 1943, there were over 200 different occupational specialties that WAACs could fill. “Every soldier in the Army, regardless of gender, receives this training. It makes a soldier of the civilian; it lays the groundwork for all future training.”
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WAC women performed multiple roles (telephone operators, mechanics, drivers) both in the US and in theaters of operation. One hundred and fifty thousand women served in the WAC during the war. Their non-combat jobs ranged from switchboard operators to mechanics, bakers, and much more.
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The WASPs were civilian female pilots who flew ferry, transport, and training missions to free male pilots for combat. They flew every type of plane the United States used during the war in every role flown by male pilots except combat. The History Guy recalls the service and sacrifices of the WASP. https://youtu.be/TUkT6we1FTc?si=U3EM1IQFwhwA-I8l -
The "Night Witches" flew thousands of bombing missions at night, causing fear and disrupting enemy forces. These women pilots flew Po-2 biplanes, which were so slow they could glide silently after shutting off their engines to drop bombs, a sound the Germans associated with a witch's broomstick. The missions the regiment flew over 24,000 combat sorties from 1942 to 1945, carrying out harassment and precision bombing missions.
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The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, nicknamed the "Six Triple Eight," was commanded by Major Charity Adams. In Birmingham, England, they were confronted with a large warehouse stacked with years' worth of letters and packages. In three organized shifts, they processed roughly 65,000 pieces of mail a shift and finished a six-month job in only three.
"No mail, low morale!"
- Slogan of the Six Triple Eight -
Because the WAC was set to expire on June 30, 1948, leaders of the Army expediently fought to integrate the WAC permanently into its ranks. In 1946, General Eisenhower wrote to field commanders personally requesting their support for an initial bill: the WAC Integration Act of 1947. However, in a 26-1 decision. This bill allowed women to serve as permanent. Members of the Women's Army Corps continued to serve throughout the occupation era, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. -
After the end of World War II, the Women’s Army Corps persisted for another 33 years. In 1978, the Corps was disbanded by President Carter's signing of Public Law 95-485, which integrated women into the Army.