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
-. Work Attire
-- Cold/Wet-Weather Clothing
-- Miscellaneous
-- Dress Regulations
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Work Attire
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At the beginning, the WAAC was expected to do four types of jobs. The women were to be clerks, drivers, cooks and telephone operators. However, the increased number of work fields made appropriate garments necessary. The authorized work uniforms were the white dresses for cooks and the coveralls for drivers only. 
The service uniform could not be used for many jobs and the tight skirt limited movements like climbing. Additionally, the uniform could easily be ruined by dirt, grease or other substances when the women worked in laboratories. 
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WAC Excercise Suit
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The exercise suit was not suitable to use for work outside the training centers. It consisted of a one-piece dress ending at knee-length with matching bloomers. The front was buttoned down and it had a self-belt and short sleeves. A lightweight brown and white seersucker cloth was used as the fabric. It was worn during physical training, kitchen police, and barrack fatigue duties to protect the service uniform. The exercise suit could also be worn during free periods in the recreation rooms of the training centers. However, the exercise suit with its skirt just above the knee was inappropriate for appearance outside the WAAC area.
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The WAC exercise suit was worn with the WAC fatigue summer hat made of khaki cotton twill. The WAC field shoes or the white tennis shoes (as shown in the pictures below) with socks could be worn with the dress. The issue of tennis shoes was stopped after a short time due to material shortage. 
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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
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Picture Source: War Department WAC Field Manual Physical Training, p.11
Picture Source: War Department WAC Field Manual Physical Training, p.58
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Note: for more freedom of movement the button
closure on the front was unbuttoned up to the waist.
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The urgent request for appropriate women’s work attire (especially trousers) was denied several times. The only concession was to issue one fatigue coverall to all women assigned to the field (instead of two exercise suits). 
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Herringbone Twill (HBT) Fatigue Uniform
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Herringbone Twill Coverall
... The coverall initially had been designed for jobs like tire-changing and emergency repairs. First, a one-piece coverall was issued made of khaki cotton jean material or olive-drab herringbone twill. Later a two-piece olive-drab herringbone twill model, consisting of shirt and trousers was introduced. 
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Both herringbone twill fabric variations were criticized as ill-fitting and unbecoming clothing. On the one hand, the herringbone twill cloth was too hot for summer wear and work in kitchens. On the other hand, it was too thin to protect against cold winter weather. Furthermore, it was too clumsy to be used in laboratories, too unsightly for drivers of staff cars and too unsanitary for hospital work. 

The uniform was issued in three (later four) sizes only (Small, Medium, Large, X-Large). This caused many problems with bad fitting. It even increased the risk of accidents. 

Another problem was that the herringbone twill fatigue garments were difficult to launder because of the weight of the material and often did not dry over night. In addition, they tended to shrink and faded out. 

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All in all, many complaints concerning the herringbone twill fatigue uniform were made. It definitely proved to be a very poor substitute for the requested special summer and winter work attire for the WAC.
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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
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.Official U.S. AAF photo published in Wacs at Work, p.183.
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Two-Piece Herringbone Twill Work Suit
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The shirt could be worn with collar open or closed. It had two breast pockets with flaps to button. The trousers had adjustable button closure on each side of the waistband. WAC field shoes with or without leggings could be worn with this work suit. Headgear was the WAC wool knit cap, fatigue hat or steel helmet.
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WAC in full field equipment 

wearing the two-piece HBT work suit with M-1 steel helmet, WAC field shoes with leggings, canvas field bag held with M-1936 suspenders and field bag carrying strap, M-1936 pistol belt, canteen, and gas-mask carrier. 

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WAC (Tropical) Summer Work Uniform
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A few months before the end of war, the often-required appropriate work uniforms with trousers were finally approved. The slacks suit was similar in design and material to the one issued Army men. The summer work uniform consisted of khaki cotton cloth and the winter work garments were made of wool. However, the authorization came too late in the war to have any effect for the WAC personnel.
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WAC Summer Work Uniform
made of cotton khaki cloth. It could be worn with a matching garrison cap (like shown on the photo). The summer work uniform should replace the herringbone twill work clothing especially in tropical areas. 
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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
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ETO Uniform
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The only WAC members who received appropriate fatigue uniforms during the war were the ones who served within the European Theater of Operations (ETO). They were issued a special ETO uniform during the winter of 1944 that was well suited for field work and usual service duty. It consisted of an English-style wool battle jacket that could be worn with matching skirt or trousers, depending on the circumstances.
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(more information/pictures under "WAC Service and Dress Uniform: ETO Service Uniform")
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WAC Hospital Dress
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Copyright by BLITZKRIEGBABY
... In January 1945, the WAC hospital dress was standardized as special garment to wear for hospital or dental work. 

Before, WACs also had to deal with several unsatisfactory substitutes like many WAC members in other work fields.

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The WAC, Dress, Hospital
was made of tan lightweight cotton material with buttoned down front and detachable belt. Furthermore, the short-sleeved dress has one breast pocket and two big patch pockets with sufficient capacity for a work garment of this nature. 
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continue to:
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Insignia
Medals and Ribbons
Service and Dress Uniform
Work Attire
Cold/Wet-Weather Clothing
Miscellaneous
Dress Regulations
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[ I. Development ]..[ II. Facts about the WAC ]..[ III.Uniform]..[ IV. Sources ]
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