Supplement: Army Nurse Corps

Field Clothing

 Herringbone Twill Special Uniform: Nurse’s One-Piece Working Suit (p.121.).

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The army nurse’s one-piece HBT special working suit was designed as a utility garment of sufficient durability (i.e., herringbone twill, abbreviated HBT) for working in tented and open-air medical conditions beyond hospital buildings. It is worn here in typical field style complete with wool knit cap and women’s field shoes.		The nurse’s working suit as worn for forward field duty within a war zone, complete with M-1 steel helmet and Geneva Convention (Red Cross) brassard. The garment's collar is closed high at the neck and the trousers’ tab-and-button closure is tightly ankle-adjusted to ward off insects and other field hazards.

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Overall view of the upper portion of the one-piece working suit with the front displayed open to reveal its protective fly-piece, which was buttoned inside in conjunction with outer garment buttons ("double-buttoned") to form a gas seal against chemical agent penetration.

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Overall view of the working suit’s mid-back portion with its belt uplifted to completely reveal the closed drop seat, which fastened by a series of metal buttons positioned to secure its end in a top-closed position as well as along both sides.

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Protective Clothing (p.140)

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The nurse’s working suit worn in a typical chemical-warfare mode configuration with the M2A2 gas mask and M1VA1 carrier bag; protective wool hood; leggings, and field shoes. For optimum body protection against toxic agents, this clothing required chemical treatment ("impregnation") along with special protective gloves and underwear.		Back view of the nurse’s working suit worn in typical chemical-warfare mode shows how the wool hood covered much of the shoulder and complete neck area, and also the arrangement of gas mask carrier bag straps around waist and back to rest the bag securely upon the wearer’s left side.

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Non-Regulation Outfits

Culottes (p.141-142)

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Khaki cotton culottes (a.k.a. bifurcated skirt) were obtained by many army nurses stationed in the Pacific and other tropical zones for working practicality. These locally-authorized non-regulation culottes are exhibited as typically worn in a field overseas garrison style complemented by khaki shirtwaist, military pith helmet and women’s low service shoes.		Front view of the non-regulation culottes shows the two large bellow-type patch pockets adapted for nurse working purposes, which allowed holding medical instruments, bandages and the like. The culottes were favored because they combined the practicality of pants with the looks of a skirt.

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Safari-Type Jacket (p.141-143)

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Front view of an army nurse’s non-regulation Australian-made olive yellow safari-style jacket. Army nurses in the Pacific Theater of Operations and adjoining tropical zones were locally authorized to wear such safari-style jackets (often made in Australia but also elsewhere) at a number of field overseas garrisons.		Back view of the example non-regulation safari-style jacket showing its inverted box pleat in the center and the vent allowing greater freedom of movement. The self-material belt is partially sewn onto the middle back of the garment and additionally held in place by side loops.

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Flight Nurse’s Uniform

Type F-1 and A-1 Nurse’s Flight Uniform (p.152-157)

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The Army Air Forces nurse’s flight uniform with type F-1 flying jacket and type A-1 aviation slacks, khaki shirtwaist, khaki necktie, women’s officer’s wool garrison cap and field shoes. This dark-olive drab wool version (instead of earlier gray-blue serge wool) was owned by Margaret Nadeau assigned to the 831st Medical Air Evacuation Squadron (MAES) in the Pacific Theater of Operations.		This back view of the type F-1 flying jacket and type A-1 aviation slacks shows the jacket design with rear blousing allowance for extra roominess in bending and stretching, and trim waist-level appearance. The slacks have two back hip pockets and lower-leg button positioning for their adjustable tab-and-button closures.

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The olive drab nurse’s flight uniform with type F-1 flying jacket being worn with the matching type A-1 aviation skirt. It is accessorized with the women’s officer’s wool garrison cap, khaki shirt, khaki necktie, beige stockings and women’s low service shoes.		The type F-1 jacket being worn buttoned high at the neckline and the type A-1 slacks' lower leg tab closures adjusted tightly around the ankles. This duty style permitted close fitting of the entire uniform to insure optimal military performance and appearance despite aircraft fuselage wind drafts and cold air.

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Detail view of the type F-1 flying jacket shows its fly front without visible buttoning, upper pockets and waistband with metal buckle. Note the Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC) sewn onto the lower right sleeve, signifying the nurse’s unit’s exceptionally meritorious conduct between January 1, 1944 and September 15, 1946.

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Detail view of the official label sewn inside the type F-1 flying jacket shows the garment designation; special number; size; stock number; order number, manufacturer and official service property notice. The tag also contains the subsequently added nurse’s identification markings.

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The olive-drab type A-1 aviation slacks had a waistband containing wide belt loops, two front slit pockets and two hip pockets with flaps. The leg ends were furnished with adjustable button tabs.		The olive-drab type A-1 aviation skirt worn by army flight nurses had an A-line design with six gores (skirt sections) and a narrow waistband. It fastened with a covered button closure.

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Detail view of the official label sewn on the inside waistband of the olive-drab type A-1 aviation slacks containing the garment’s designation; specification number; size; stock number, order number and manufacturer. The data is partially obscured by personal identification markings printed across the label.

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Detail view of the official label sewn on the inside waistband of the olive-drab type A-1 aviation skirt containing the garment’s designation; specification number; size; stock number, order number and manufacturer. The size is given in inches (W for waist, L for length, and H for hip).

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Type L-1 Nurse’s Light Flying Uniform (p.158-160)

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The type L-1 nurses light flying uniform was made of olive-drab worsted wool gabardine material and similar in design to the type K-1 nurses very light flying uniform. It is accessorized with khaki shirtwaist, khaki necktie, women’s field shoes and women’s officer’s wool garrison cap (instead of type L-1 cap).		The type L-1 nurses light flying uniform being worn without type L-1 nurses light flying jacket, for working comfort indoors with shirtwaist collar open. The shirtwaist has rank and caduceus insignia of the Army Nurse Corps pinned to the collar, and the flight nurse badge attached above its left pocket.

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Officially designated as jacket, nurses flying, light, type L-1, this waist-length jacket had a front button closure, shoulder loops, two front flap pockets and a pencil pocket on the left sleeve.

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Official label on the type L-1 nurses light flying jacket sewn below the jacket's back lining panel provided data on the garment designation, specification number, size, Army Air Forces stock number, order number and manufacturer.

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Officially designated as slacks, nurses flying, light, type L-1, these pants had a broad narrow waistband with belt loops and an adjustable waist strap at the front, a slit pocket on each side and wide leg design.

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Official label of the type L-1 nurses light flying slacks sewn onto the backside of the left inside pocket, which contained the garment designation, specification number, size, Army Air Forces stock number, order number and manufacturer.

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Individual Equipment and Items

Canvas  Washbasin (p.207).

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Army nurses deployed overseas were authorized the issuance of a washbasin made of canvas fabric for washing and general hygiene, while in the field. It could be folded flat for easy storage, such as within the individual bedding roll.

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War Department Officer’s Identification Card (p.214)

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Tentative Packing Directions for Army Nurses (p.215-217)

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Novelist Louise Logan’s series about army nurse Susan Merton was among many patriotic service books published for juvenile readers during World War II. Logan wrote adventure stories of a young woman whose global dual role as nurse and spy for the United States Army included duty in Russia, depicted here.

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This M-1936 pistol or revolver belt, capable of carrying individual equipment, was stamped with the personal identification markings of an army hospital dietitian including her name (first name, middle initial, surname), rank (2nd Lt) and her abbreviated army serial number (prefix “R” followed by the last three serial number digits).

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Individual Identification Tags (p.341)

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