1951 WOMEN IN THE AIR FORCE

[Music] [Applause] hey you said for me sir I send for a lot of angels what is your grade in serial number 4 5 3 2 1 6 Oh angel first class oh yes you're the clerk down in the Roman branch I see it's been a long time since your last promotion over millennium sir but we've had trouble with the budget oh well I know how would you like to wear another stripe very much sir you understand of course if this promotion would depend on your willingness to accept an assignment with greater responsibilities just what is this new assignment well we have a request here from planet Earth for a guardian angel for the WAAFs women in the United States Air Force women in the Air Force why are you so surprised women have had a say in military matters ever since the Stone Age well they're really very important to the Air Force this doesn't sound like an assignment for me sir on the contrary I've heard what a great job you did for Helen of Troy thank you sir what about the wax what do they like what do they do come over here mother now to begin with the wife's a young women who joined the Air Force because they want to there they are young women from all over the country of course they don't become laughs overnight there are a few rough morning two minutes on the double learning to move about as a group is all part of basic training of course there are always those who are something special the ones with two left feet after a couple of weeks they discover they're quite normal but they have one each a left and a right and they're mighty happy about it and they indoctrinate them teach them a few things about the air force practical things like how to tell a buck sergeant from a second lieutenant the solute will be rendered to all commissioned officers that includes warrant officers are there any questions yeah what do you do when you're not sure about saluting well all of this simple rule and you can't go wrong in the Air Force defeat growls salute if he smiles salute if he winks blink back don't forget the solution yes wives learned quite a few things useful things like good grooming this is feminine know how important to any young woman here in or out of uniform some good instruction and a little practice sets a slump walk are well on our way to racing any drawing-room as part of a training a wife learns how to act in an emergency and a wife kiss to know all about airplanes after all it's her business it isn't long before she's tossing around flight talk like a veteran and she can tell you the difference between the a menage and the fuselage [Music] yes it's a great day for those girls when their basic training is over and they're ready for assignment you mean to say that they send the wefts right out on jobs let me show you what happens to fit the right mortal to the right job each and every wife goes through what is called career guidance after a series of tests the girls talk it over with trained counselors who have the knack for finding out what a wife can do best about what you would like to do after I finished high school I worked in a bookstore I'd like to do something different now I think the Air Force invented something different for you thank you those who bring useful experience to the Air Force are assigned immediately to responsible jobs while the others are set off to technical schools for thorough training [Music] and air force bases all over the country wives learn to be useful members of a team a big Air Force team team you mean their office workers in uniform oh not at all for five three two one six oh they do much more than that for instance well a good for instance is the wife parachute rigger she is as expert as her brother airman in packing and repairing a parachute [Music] but parachute rigging is just one of many important jobs she was not daily is a personal equipment technician she looks after all the flight gear that the men aloft depend on for their safety and there are wife's in flight control service we work out for the movements of all aircraft they follow the rule that every plane must arrive at its destination safely and if it doesn't they take the necessary steps to find out why not grab share honors with other Airmen in directing traffic from the fishbowl Roger air force 463 you're cleared Amman now over here in the field of air force communications our newly created wave specialists who send messages over a worldwide network by push-button teletype in photography laughs are on the job every left she not only clicks the shutter but develops the negatives and makes the pictures what's more women in the airforce are working in all branches of photography may even develop 16 millimeter motion picture film with the most modern equipment they run the show for those who want to study the record of combat missions [Applause] it may surprise quite a few mortals to know that wife's work is radar mechanics and in electronics generally doing the kind of jobs usually set aside for men only and where a woman's touch really counts laughs are always lending a helping hand they are working as medical technicians and at many other tasks vital to the health of all Airmen yes a wife measures up to a lot of interesting assignments her skills as a draftsman commercial artists are equally useful to the Air Force when it comes to conditions up in the wild blue yonder wife's observe the weather every hour of the day they keep an eye on the barometer and watch which way the wind blows and how fast all this information is recorded on weather maps that are sent out to all Air Force bases by facsimile machine whether good or bad is mighty important to the men who fly the planes and hotter cold summer or winter wife's are on the job collecting accurate data as you can see for yourself women in the Air Force have a pretty bright future now you're not going to tell me that someday they can be generals they do become officers if it oh it is a catch mmm there's no catch any enlisted wife may apply for Officer Candidate School if she has the right qualifications as to experience an education she is selected for training as an officer also qualified women may apply directly from civilian life as officer candidates they attend the same schools with the men and when they are graduated from Officer Candidate School they're commissioned second lieutenants [Music] I can see where we're left make our quite a career for herself but what kind of life can she have away from home actually she becomes part of a big family the community of airforce life provides a home in all its comforts a wife's Porter's on an airbase is as cheerful as she wants to make it for the more dreary tasks I've can also be beautiful all the conveniences near and dear to a woman's vanity are as handy as the basics change the local air force base department store wife seldom if ever dine alone mealtime is the time for choice morsels both kinds food and gossip the rules for men and women are the same that is with one exception [Applause] in the dayroom the wife's own living room it's always open house for entertaining friends and relatives yes the air force is home home for a great big family work play and worship in the American Way something bothering you for five three two one zero you're wondering whether they ever have any fun frankly I am I'll have a look for yourself [Music] [Applause] getting cheap cheap mortals say it's heaven you know yes so I've heard but suppose we get back to earth and the laughs I guess I have a decision to make yes but it shouldn't be too difficult after all being a guardian angel for the waves is a sensible career is being a wife [Music] [Applause] [Music] it's a worthwhile kind of life where men and women worked side by side keeping the same rules and sharing equal opportunities and they may well hold their heads high what bears is the satisfaction of serving their country along with women and other services and theirs is the pride of accomplishment that comes of helping to keep free skies over a free world [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music]