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Category: Womens History

“WW2 Air Force Uniforms for Canadian Women”-Guest Blog Post

Today’s Guest blogger is Elinor Florence, author of a new Canadian wartime novel calledBird’s Eye View.

Bird's Eye View-1940s Fiction novel

Bird’s Eye View tells the story of a young woman from the prairies whose home town becomes an air training base. Fired with patriotism, she joins the air force herself – one of 50,000 Canadian women who enlisted to support the fighting men.

Rose Jolliffe travels overseas and becomes an interpreter of aerial photographs, spying on the enemy from the sky, searching out bomb targets on the continent.

She keeps in touch with the home front through frequent letters from her mother. And throughout the war, she has a bird’s eye view of the Canadian experience — at Dieppe, in the skies over Germany, on the beaches of Normandy — and finally, when our country shared in the Allied victory.

This novel will appeal to vintage-lovers everywhere, because it’s just loaded with 1940s atmosphere. Since I know that Elinor did masses of research for her novel — gathering data on music, lifestyle, food, speech habits, and clothing — I asked her to describe what her heroine wore which is the bases of today’s post.

Guest Post By Elinor Florence

My heroine Rose Jolliffe is in the Air Force, so she naturally wears a uniform throughout the book.

But not just one uniform. She wears first the British, and then the Canadian air force uniform.

There’s a good reason for that. When war was declared in 1939, the Canadian government didn’t allow women to join the armed forces. It took two long years of lobbying before Parliament finally caved in and allowed women to join up.

But for the purposes of my novel, I wanted Rose to be in England before this happened, so I concocted a way for her to join the British Women’s Auxiliary Air Force instead.

So the first uniform that Rose wears in the book is a WAAF uniform. It looked like this: an air force blue serge jacket and skirt, with a pale blue shirt and black tie. The hat was also made of serge in the same colour.

WAAF uniforms, Royal Air Force Museum
(Photo Credit: Royal Air Force Museum).

Modelled after the men’s Royal Air Force uniforms, they weren’t particularly flattering unless you were tall and slender. You can see from the photo that the wide belt cinched around the waist and the patch pockets made some girls look like a sack of potatoes. If you had money, you could take your uniform to a tailor and have it altered. But most of the women just had to suffer.

Not only was it bulky, but the woollen fabric was thick and scratchy. Some girls sewed silk linings into their uniforms so they wouldn’t chafe.

The women wore blue-grey cotton stockings and black lace-up shoes. And they had to carry their gas mask bag at all times. (Some girls secretly ditched the gas mask after the bombing raids petered out, and used the bags for makeup and cigarettes).

The hat was also an object of derision. It was often called “the old pie crust” and was gathered on the top in full pleats. (I’ve never understood why they would want to waste fabric in this way, when clothing rations were in effect – but perhaps wool didn’t count since it didn’t have to be imported).

1940s vintage photo of a ww2 womens miltary hat, a pie crust
(Photo Credit: The Memory Project)

The underwear was equally unattractive. I couldn’t find a photograph, but it consisted of  a cotton brassiere, a woolen undervest, and a pair of bloomers with elastic legs that the girls labeled “passion-killers,” or “blackouts.” Again many of the girls flouted the rules and wore their own underwear.

As my novel progresses, my heroine Rose transfers into the Royal Canadian Air Force, Women’s Division (called WDs for short).

Here’s how that came about: After Canada agreed to set up dozens of air bases across the country to train Commonwealth air crews, the British government requested permission to send WAAFs to Canada to work in our stations.

At that point the Canadian government reluctantly gave in and agreed that if there were going to be women on air bases, they might as well be Canadian!

So Parliament passed an act in July 1941 to allow women to join the RCAF – the first branch of the armed forces to accept women. (The army followed a month later, and then the navy a year later, in July 1942).

Naturally the Canadian branch modelled their uniforms after their British sisters, meaning at first they had a very similar uniform and hat to the WAAFs.

-Here’s a photograph of the RCAF pie crust, worn by Edna Bryanton in Toronto in January 1942.

1940s vintage photo of Edna Bryanton wearing a RCAF pie crust hat
(Photo Credit: The Memory Project)

And here’s a photograph of Dorothy Chapman (nicknamed “Chappy’) looking elegant in her WD uniform and pie crust hat – only someone so lovely could carry it off!

1940s vintage photo of Dorothy Chapman-WAAF pie crust hat
(Photo Credit: The Memory Project)

Their overshoes were sarcastically called “glamour boots,” because they were nothing more than hideous galoshes. Their shoes were serviceable black leather that had to be kept polished at all times.

One of the Canadian women named Doris Mae “Squeaky” McMullin remembers: “We used to polish the toes of our shoes with the back of our stockings when we were on parade. If there was a little dust, you’d see everybody, first one foot and then the other, go behind their leg to dust off the dust, make sure the polish was there!”

There were no pantyhose in those days, so the women had to wear garter belts to hold up those thick stockings. Since rubber was rationed, people had a hard time keeping their stockings up. I interviewed one veteran from Alberta named Lou Pound, who recalled the time her belt gave way and her stockings slid slowly to her ankles – while she was standing at attention on parade!

1940s vintage photo of ww2 Canadian women in the service-WD's

Since Canada is so cold much of the year, they were issued with some very nice warm greatcoats, like the ones shown here.

1940s vintage photo of Canadian Women in WW2 Uniforms -Greycoats

The women weren’t expected to wear their woollen uniforms all year round, so naturally they were eager to get their summer uniforms. These were not a great improvement – a lightweight cotton shirtwaist dress that had to be ironed, worn with the old pie crust!

-Here’s a photo of Laurie Theobald on the left and friends during basic training in Rockliffe, Ontario, in July 1943.

RCAF WDs in summer uniforms. Here’s a 1940s photo of Laurie Theobald on the left and friends during basic training in Rockliffe, Ontario, in July 1943.
(Photo Credit: The Memory Project)

Fortunately, if they were working outside, they were allowed to wear their teddy bear suits – khaki overalls – like these four photographers heading off with their ridiculously heavy cameras.

1940s photo of RCAF WDS in Teddy Bear Suits -khaki overalls – like these four photographers heading off with their ridiculously heavy cameras.

Finally, the RCAF realized that the women’s morale was being affected by their unappealing uniforms. So they came up with a more stylish version, announced in January 1943: “The new uniform, planned and executed with the aid of Canada’s foremost dress designers, offers pointers in wartime chic, practicality and fabric thrift to every well-dressed woman.”

A pleat was added to the greatcoat, skirts were made in six gores, and the pleated patch pockets on the tunics were replaced by flat patch pockets. Compensating for the storage lost by the smaller pockets was a smart new leatherette shoulder bag.

The skirts allowed for more movement, as shown in this photo of unidentified telephone room personnel at work in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

1940s photo of RCAF WDs in skirts answering phones in WW 2 uniforms for Canadian women
(Photo Credit: Gerald Milne, Library and Archives Canada)

Certainly Beryl McPhee looks a lot more glamorous in this photo taken at No. 6 Bombing and Gunnery School, RCAF Mountain View, near Belleville, Ontario.

WW2 Uniforms for Canadian Women-RCAF WD - lBeryl McPhee ooks a lot more glamorous in this photo taken at No. 6 Bombing and Gunnery School, RCAF Mountain View, near Belleville, Ontario

But best of all was a new hat – smooth and trim, with a deep visor. Here’s a photo of an RCAF member named Louise Soles – you will agree that the hat is a vast improvement!

1940s vintage photo of RCAF member named Louise Soles in a WW2 Uniform for Canadian Women a hat with a smooth & trim and with a deep visor.

Once the Canadian government realized that women in the armed forces were an asset to the war effort, they began to recruit them actively. Altogether, more than seventeen thousand Canadian women served in the air force. Here’s a recruiting poster showing the new hat.

RCAF poster-WW2 / 1940s Vintage Advertising

And after women in uniform became accepted by the general population, magazines like the Toronto Star Weekly began to feature illustrations on their covers, like this one from December 11, 1943. Note the snappy new hat!

1940s Vintage Magazine Cover - Star Weekly December 11th 1943 featuring a Canadian Woman in Uniform on the cover.

When the RCAF first began to send women to England (and there were precious few of them, which was a sore point with Canadian women in uniform), they also allowed Canadians who were serving in the WAAFs overseas to transfer into the RCAF.

So naturally my heroine Rose jumps at the opportunity to serve with her own countrywomen. As an added bonus, she was also able to swap out her WAAF uniform for the smart new Canadian uniform!

And she couldn’t have been prouder – as were all the Canadian women, including this one named Nancy Lee from British Columbia – to wear the Canada badge on her shoulder, with the props underneath.

WW2 Uniforms for Women-RCAF Nancy Lee from British Columbia – wearing the Canada badge on her shoulder, with the props underneath.

My heroine really did earn her props! As for her adventures overseas, both with the British and the Canadian Air Forces, you will just have to read the book to find out more.

*****

To read an excerpt of Elinor’s book, which she published on her own Wartime Wednesdays blog, click here:   Bird’s Eye View Excerpt

About the Author:

Elinor Florence author, Portrait

Elinor Florence grew up on a farm in Saskatchewan, a former World War Two training airfield. She worked as a newspaper and magazine editor, and was a regular writer for Reader’s Digest before turning to fiction. Married with three grown daughters, Elinor lives in the tiny perfect mountain resort of Invermere, British Columbia. She loves village life, thrift stores, antiques, and old houses. You can read more about her at www.elinorflorence.com.

Further Reading:

Jinx Falkenburg-1930s and 1940s “Did It All” Girl

Recently while out and about in Toronto, I stumbled upon the following image of Jinx Falkenburg in a Sports store.

1940s Vintage Photo of Jinx Falkenburg Sitting with Bowling Ball and Soft Drink
Source: Corbis Images

I asked the sales lady who the woman was and she proclaimed that it was the famous Jinx! “Famous Jinx I asked?” “Yes she said the Famous Jinx from the 1930s and 40s!” I scratched my head and ran off to the internet and discovered that I DID know who Jinx Falkenburg was! Well..sort of. You see I discovered that she stared in “Cover girl” a movie I have seen at least a million times but apparently never paid much attention to after the movie was over. How terrible of me! Like really terrible 🙁 Sorry vintage movie buffs everywhere.

Jinx is amazing!

Let’s Learn All about Jinx Falkenburg- The 1930’s and 1940’s “Did It All” Girl

Born in Barcelona, Spain, to American parents, her father Eugene “Genie” Lincoln Falkenburg was an engineer for Westinghouse. Thinking the name would bring good luck, she was nicknamed Jinx by her mother Marguerite “Mickey” Crooks Falkenburg, an accomplished athlete and tennis player (Brazil women’s champion in 1927), and the name stuck (Source: Wikipedia).

She was an Actress:

Tahiti Nights-1944

1940s vintage photo of Jinx Falkenburg in the classic movie Tahiti Nights. Jinx is dresses in a sarong hawaiian dress with tropical hair flowers in her 1940s hairstyle.
Source: Flickr-Vintage Stars

Nine Girls-1944

I LOVE her outfit in the picture! Her shoes are outstanding, just outstanding.

1940s vintage photo of Jinx Falkenburg in the classic movie Nine Girls in 1944. Jix is wearing a peasant top and a cute 1940s skirt with 1940s shoes and 1940s hairstyle. Super 1940s fashion!
Source: Flickr-Vintage Stars

Jinx Falkenburg and Evelyn Keyes find a pleasant way to pass the time between their scenes in Nine Girls.

1940s vintage photo of Jinx Falkenburg and Evelyn Keyes finding a pleasant way to pass the time between their scenes in Nine Girls. They are wearing 1940s fashions - 1940s playsuit & 1940s top and shorts.
(Source: A Certain Cinema)

Interested in seeing the movie? You can see it all for FREE below. OMG the 1940s hairstyles are incredible in this movie!

 Cover Girl-1944

One of my most favourite movies of all time! The 1940s fashions…drool!

1940s Vintage Movie Poster for Cover Girl in 1944 featuring Rita Hayworth, Gene Kelly and Jink Falkenburg.

Cover Girl, 1944 screenshot. L-R: Eve Arden, Jinx Falkenburg, Otto Kruger, Anita Colby.

Cover Girl, 1944 screenshot. L-R: Eve Arden, Jinx Falkenburg, Otto Kruger, Anita Colby.

Jinx is the third “woman”model” who comes into the scene below.

Two Senoritas from Chicago-1943

1943 Jinx vintage movie
Source: eBay

Other Movies:

She was also an Expert Swimmer

While living in Santiago, Chile where she spent her early years she first received media attention at age two when the New York Sun ran a full-page picture and story of her exploits as a “baby swimmer.” (Source: Wikipedia).

Bowler (as seen in the first picture I posted)

Further Reading: Vintage Bowling Advertising & 1940s & 1950s Vintage Bowling Fun

Tennis Star

1940s vintage photo of Jinx Falkenburg posing for a picture while playing tennis.
Source: farm3.staticflickr.com

Jinx the Tennis Star in 1949.

Further Reading: Vintage Tennis Outfits Inspiration 1920s-1950s

1940s vintage photo of Jinx Falkenburg tennis star in 1949 posing for a photo in  1940s tennis outfit.
1940s vintage photo of Jinx Falkenberg in a two piece outfit laying amongst tennis balls holding a tennis racket.
Source: Flickr-Glen.H

Jinx was also a Famous Model

One of the highest-paid and most ubiquitous cover-girl models in the United States during the 1930s and 1940s. 

A revolution in Chile caused the family to return to the United States and the family moved to Los Angeles, California. She attended Hollywood High School but left in 1935 at the age of 16 to pursue a career in acting and modeling.

In 1937 her modeling career took off when she met celebrity fashion photographer Paul Hesse,whose Sunset Strip studio was a gathering place for advertising moguls and motion picture industry celebrities. Calling her “the most charming, most vital personality I have ever had the pleasure to photograph”, he took her picture for the August 1937 cover of The American Magazine, triggering similar offers from 60 other publications.

Falkenburg eventually wound up on over 200 magazine covers and in some 1,500 commercial advertisements in the 1930s and 1940s. She was considered to be one of the most beautiful women of that era, known for her All-American girl athletic good looks. The New Yorker magazine said she “possessed one of the most photogenic faces and frames in the Western world.” The New York World Telegram claimed her face was seen more often and in more places than any other woman in the country. And a headline story in the January 27, 1941 Life Magazine said Jinx Falkenburg “is the leading candidate for America’s No. 1 Girl for 1941.”  (Source: Wikipedia).

1940s vintage photo of Jinx Falkenburg with a 1940s hairstyle with hair clips by her ears posing for a modeling photo.
Source: Old arts and Photographs of the world
1940s vintage photo of Jinx Falkenburg the model in a 1940s hairstyle with a big bow on her head.

1940s vintage advertisment for “Max Factor Hollywood” featuring Jinx Falkenburg.

1940s vintage advertisment for "Max Factor Hollywood" featuring Jinx Falkenburg.
Source: Flickr-Vintage Stars

Her biggest breakthrough as a model came in 1940 when she was picked by New York-based Liebmann Brewery, maker of Rheingold Beer, to be the first “Miss Rheingold.”

Liz Note: I love a good beer so I support this move completely 🙂

1940s vintage ad for Rheingold Beer featuring Jinx Falkenburg in stunning 1940s fashions.
Source: Photobucket

Jinx also was a big supporter of the USO during the war and traveled extensively entertaining troops.

Photo Note: India-Burma-China, November 1944. Harry Brown, Betty Yeaton, soldier, Jinx Falkenberg, Pat O’Brien, Ruth and Jimmy Dodd.

1940s vintage photo of Jinx Falkenburg in a two piece tropical outfit with a hair flower in her hair posing for a photo for USO effort. India-Burma-China, November 1944. Harry Brown, Betty Yeaton, soldier, Jinx Falkenberg, Pat O'Brien, Ruth and Jimmy Dodd.
Source:Flickr- califboy101

In her personal life she married a journalist and influential publicist Tex McCrary in 1945.

1940s Vintage Polaroid Ad featuring Jinx Falkenburg and Tex McCrary
This ad is too funny!

In 1947, McCrary and Falkenburg had their first network TV showJinx and Tex at Home, broadcast Sunday nights on NBC. The program combined film and live interviews of celebrities in their residences (Source: Wikipedia). It was a huge hit and started the ball in motion for other endeavors together.

They separated in 1980 sadly but remained friends till his death in 2003, one month before Jinx passed away (August 27th, 2003).

And there you have it, a brief overview of a woman that really “Did it all”. I think she is fantastic and I really enjoyed learning about her life of which I did not post all here (so please go and investigate more yourself).

FURTHER READING: Vintage Women’s History 1920s-1960s

Liz 🙂