Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps
(WAAC)
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Women’s Army Corps
(WAC)
. ...III. Uniforms
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-- Insignia
-- Medals and Ribbons
-. Service and Dress Uniform
WAAC...WAC (I)...WAC (II)
-- Work Attire
-- Cold/Wet-Weather Clothing
-- Miscellaneous
-- Dress Regulations
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Service and Dress Uniform
- WAC (II) -
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ETO Service Uniform
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In England a short-waisted battle jacket resembling civilian lumber jackets was issued to British Army personnel. By the end of 1941, a special female version for the women's Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) -- the British equivalent to the WAAC in America -- was adopted. The battle jacket that allowed more freedom of movement should provide more comfort for outdoor jobs than the usual hip length service jackets. 
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Copyright by BLITZKIREGBABY
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. US Army soldiers and WACs stationed within the European Theater of Operations (ETO) soon recognized the advantages of this kind of British battle jacket. Therefore, the ETO Quartermaster received requests to develop a similar unique ETO jacket for US Army personnel. Especially General Eisenhower urged the adoption of such a jacket as an official part of the uniform - a reason why it was later commonly known as "Ike jacket" (Ike was Eisenhower's nickname). The official name was "wool field jacket". 
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Jacket, Field, Wool, Women's
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British made jacket of olive drab wool serge (the same fabric as used for British Army uniforms). It has a single-breasted, fly-front with lapel and convertible collar, two tailored breast pockets and waistband. The cuffs are buttoned. Note the male pattern garrison cap for enlisted men worn with the enlisted Pallas Athene disc on the left side.
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WAC members who were serving in Europe received their first ETO battle jackets made and procured in England during the winter of 1944. 
Before the decision about the concrete design was made, the wearing of the "Jacket, Field, Wool, Women's" was already approved. This caused different variations of the pattern.
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The field jacket could be worn with matching skirt or slacks.
 

Jacket, Field, Wool, Women's with Matching Trousers
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This French made ETO uniform consists of the wool field jacket with matching trousers. Unlike the Ike jacket shown above, it is made of olive drab covert wool (the same material as used for the winter service uniforms of enlisted US personnel). The trousers have a button side closure. Note the female pattern enlisted garrison cap.

Officers could also wear the ETO uniform in olive drab wool serge or  covert wool but many decided to have an ETO uniform made of officer's quality fabric in dark olive color as shown in the pictures below.

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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
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Officer's ETO Service Uniform
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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
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The Ike Jacket shown in the picture was made of dark olive drab elastique wool cloth. Note the mohair officer's sleeve braids and male pattern garrison cap for officers. As soon as the members of the WAC were issued the women's garrison caps they replaced the male pattern caps.
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When the ETO personnel arrived home bringing along these battle jackets, they became extremely popular although it was not authorized to wear them within the Continental United States (CONUS). This was changed in April 1945 when a special newly designed female wool field jacket was approved. The jacket was not issued but could be optionally purchased by WAC officers and enlisted WAC personnel at their own expense. Although the jacket was called "field jacket" it was part of the winter service uniform.
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Source: Army regulations No 600-37, 16 April 1945
Jacket, Field, Wool, Women's
Design shows a single-breasted, fly-front jacket with lapel and convertible collar. This new officially approved design lacked the pockets of the ETO version and bloused above waistband. The right lapel was equipped on underside with a tab and a button under the left lapel to allow higher closing as shown on the picture above. 
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Copyright by BLITZKIREGBABY

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Off-Duty Dress

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In May 1944 the War Department approved an off-duty dress for the WAC. It was issued to enlisted personnel. Officers could purchase it.

The one-piece dress had a convertible collar, fly-front closing with slide fastener, shoulder loops, two tailored breast pockets and a detachable belt with self-material covered buckle. The summer off-duty dress was made of beige rayon shantung while the winter off-duty dress was made of horizon tan wool crepe.
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The summer off-duty dress was worn with a matching beige garrison cap of same rayon shantung material as the dress.

The dress was issued with long sleeves but it was allowed to be shortened to about one inch above the elbow (as shown on the photo). 

Enlisted wore the dress with enlisted collar insignia and a garrison cap with green-yellow braid as shown on the photo on the right side. 

Commissioned personnel wore it with officer's insignia and a garrison cap with black-gold braid (as shown on the picture below, left).

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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
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The WAC service shoes or private purchased brown leather pumps of commercial design with closed toe and heel (heel height not higher than 2 1/2 inch) could be worn with the dress. 
A purse of commerical design was allowed to wear with the dress. If the WAC utility handbag was used it had to be carried without the strap.
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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
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Dress, WAC, Summer, Beige
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The summer dress could be worn with chamois cotton dress gloves as shown in the picture. The Army Regulations 600-37, 16 April 1945 state that no scarf should be worn with the dress. 
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Dress, WAC, Winter, Tan
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The winter dress was worn with the wool garrison cap (on the photo the officer's version is shown). It was authorized to wear the leather dress gloves and the dress scarf (under the coat only and not tucked into the neck of the dress) with the winter off-duty dress.
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White Dress Uniform
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Also in 1944 the optional purchase of a White Dress Summer Uniform for officers was authorized. It was made of tropical-worsted wool and similar in design to the officer's winter and summer service uniform. 

The only difference, except of color, was that the white dress uniform had white sleeve braids. The uniform was worn with a Hobby Hat in matching color, a white shirtwaist, white gloves, white handbag and a black tie. In 1951 enlisted women were also authorized to wear the white dress uniform. 
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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABYCopyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
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White WAC Cap
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to be worn with he White Dress Summer Uniform.
 
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Source: Betty J Morden,The Women's Army Corps
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continue to:
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Insignia
Medals and Ribbons
Service and Dress Uniform
WAAC...WAC (I)...WAC (II)
Work Attire
Cold/Wet-Weather Clothing
Miscellaneous
Dress Regulations
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