WAVE Purse

Men weren't the only ones serving during WWII. Here is a Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) purse. The purse was issued as part of their uniform. This purse was issued to Nancy Sawyer Gilbert. She served from 1944 - 1945 as a Link Trainer in the WAVES. Link Trainers were flight simulators in which Navy flight students learned instrument flying.  Originally Navy WAVES had only been nurses, but their duties were expanded and they began working in other fields including training pilots, navigators and more. I also have Nancy's dog tags. From Sadly I don't own the uniform shown.

Collection of Jennifer Whitehair