Women's Air Raid Defense (WARD) was a World War II civilian organization that worked with the military to provide air defense for Hawaii. It formed in December 1941 after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Women volunteered in order to allow men to be freed from air defense work to go onto combat roles. WARD was the only civilian organization employed by the military for the purpose to replace men in active duty.[1] It was disbanded after the end of WWII.
Several days after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Una Walker, a military spouse, was called by Army Air Corps Brig. Gen. Howard C. Davidson, who commanded a wing at Wheeler Field. He asked her to assemble "a list of twenty bright, reliable women to be the nucleus of a secretive Army job". Walker and her husband Sandy compiled a list, which formed the initial roster of the WARD. Davidson, Walker and Mrs. John Howard, another military spouse, met the recruits at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki on December 26, the day after Admiral Nimitz's arrival.[2][3][4][5] The WARD would "relieve urgently needed men for combat duty" and allow the women to operate the air defense center.[3] There was a call for 100 women and all slots were filled.[6] At first the women involved came from Hawaii, but later, women from the "mainland" were brought in.[7]
Historyedit
Recruits for WARD were required to be between the ages of 20 and 34, without children and had to pass an Army intelligence test.[8][9] Training classes were held at Iolani Palace and first started on January 1, 1942.[3][5] WARDs would have two weeks of training before starting.[10] WARD volunteers learned how to plot the positions of airplanes using radar, which was experimental at the time.[5] After training, WARD started to work in shifts at Fort Shafter, staffing the air defense center 24 hours a day.[3] Each WARD would work a six hour shift on and six off for eight days, after which they had 32 hours off.[11] WARD recruits would plot the position of the aircraft on a large, gridded physical map of the Hawaiian Islands.[5] WARD also worked with army officers who knew the locations of friendly aircraft and helped find lost planes.[5][7] All of the women plotters were known by the code name, "Rascal" and the radar operator was coded "Oscar."[5]
The organization was part of the 7th Fighter Wing, considered a detachment of Company A, Signal Aircraft Warning Regiment.[3][8]Executive Order #9063 gave the organization powers to recruit and consider the volunteers civil servants for the federal government.[8][12] WARD chief supervisors were under the command of Brigadier General Robert W. Douglas, Jr.[6] The first chief supervisor of WARD was Mrs. R. T. Williams.[6] She was followed by Catherine Coonley.[6] Quarters were provided to the WARDs on Fort Shafter and the women moved into them on February 1, 1942.[11][6] During the war, there were around 500 WARDs.[11] They contracted to work a year at a time and were paid between $140 and $225 a month.[10]
Other WARDs were established throughout the islands: Maui on July 30, 1942; Hilo on August 10, 1942 and Kauai on September 14, 1942.[8]
WARD was detached from the Signal Corps on June 13, 1943 and named the WARD unit of the 17th Fighter Command.[8]
WARD was disbanded in 1945, after the end of World War II.[3] Some members of the group stayed on in civil service roles in Hawaii.[3] Official records documenting the work of the WARDs was lost in a 1983 fire.[1] A book by Kam Napier and Candace Chenowith, Shuffleboard Pilots, documents the history of the organization and was based on the personal experience of women who worked as WARDs.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcTaylor, Lois (5 December 1991). "These Women Were WARDs of Oahu's Defense". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved 2018-04-06 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Nimitz at Ease", Capt. Michael A. Lilly, USN (ret), Stairway Press, 2019
^ abcdefg"Women's Air Raid Defense Organization is Disbanded". The Honolulu Advertiser. 30 September 1945. Retrieved 2018-04-06 – via Newspapers.com.
^. HistoryNet. 12 June 2006. Archived from the original on 2 March 2017. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
^ abcdefTaylor, Lois (10 December 1986). "After 40 Years, Friends and Memories Remain". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. p. C-1. Retrieved 2018-04-06 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abcdeMorgan, Juliet (27 January 1944). "Wards Celebrating Second Anniversary". The Honolulu Advertiser. Retrieved 2018-04-06 – via Newspapers.com.
^ ab"Women's Air Raid Defense". The Honolulu Advertiser. 28 March 1945. Retrieved 2018-04-06 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abcde"The Women's Air Raid Defense of the Hawaiian Islands". The Women's Air Raid Defense of the Hawaiian Islands. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
^"Mainland Girls Play Big Role, Defending Isles". The Honolulu Advertiser. 25 August 1943. Retrieved 2018-04-06 – via Newspapers.com.
^ ab"Cross Country". Air Force. 27 (5): 3–4. May 1944 – via Internet Archive.
^ abcTaylor, Lois (10 December 1986). "Memories Remain". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. p. C-3. Retrieved 2018-04-06 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Executive Orders Disposition Tables". National Archives. 2016-08-15. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
External linksedit
The Women's Air Raid Defense of the Hawaiian Islands
Red Cross Heroes: LeBurta Gates Atherton (2017 video)
April 15, 2024
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Women s Air Raid Defense WARD was a World War II civilian organization that worked with the military to provide air defense for Hawaii It formed in December 1941 after the attack on Pearl Harbor Women volunteered in order to allow men to be freed from air defense work to go onto combat roles WARD was the only civilian organization employed by the military for the purpose to replace men in active duty 1 It was disbanded after the end of WWII Women from WARD share a laugh Contents 1 Origins 2 History 3 References 4 External linksOrigins editSeveral days after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7 1941 Una Walker a military spouse was called by Army Air Corps Brig Gen Howard C Davidson who commanded a wing at Wheeler Field He asked her to assemble a list of twenty bright reliable women to be the nucleus of a secretive Army job Walker and her husband Sandy compiled a list which formed the initial roster of the WARD Davidson Walker and Mrs John Howard another military spouse met the recruits at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki on December 26 the day after Admiral Nimitz s arrival 2 3 4 5 The WARD would relieve urgently needed men for combat duty and allow the women to operate the air defense center 3 There was a call for 100 women and all slots were filled 6 At first the women involved came from Hawaii but later women from the mainland were brought in 7 History editRecruits for WARD were required to be between the ages of 20 and 34 without children and had to pass an Army intelligence test 8 9 Training classes were held at Iolani Palace and first started on January 1 1942 3 5 WARDs would have two weeks of training before starting 10 WARD volunteers learned how to plot the positions of airplanes using radar which was experimental at the time 5 After training WARD started to work in shifts at Fort Shafter staffing the air defense center 24 hours a day 3 Each WARD would work a six hour shift on and six off for eight days after which they had 32 hours off 11 WARD recruits would plot the position of the aircraft on a large gridded physical map of the Hawaiian Islands 5 WARD also worked with army officers who knew the locations of friendly aircraft and helped find lost planes 5 7 All of the women plotters were known by the code name Rascal and the radar operator was coded Oscar 5 The organization was part of the 7th Fighter Wing considered a detachment of Company A Signal Aircraft Warning Regiment 3 8 Executive Order 9063 gave the organization powers to recruit and consider the volunteers civil servants for the federal government 8 12 WARD chief supervisors were under the command of Brigadier General Robert W Douglas Jr 6 The first chief supervisor of WARD was Mrs R T Williams 6 She was followed by Catherine Coonley 6 Quarters were provided to the WARDs on Fort Shafter and the women moved into them on February 1 1942 11 6 During the war there were around 500 WARDs 11 They contracted to work a year at a time and were paid between 140 and 225 a month 10 Other WARDs were established throughout the islands Maui on July 30 1942 Hilo on August 10 1942 and Kauai on September 14 1942 8 WARD was detached from the Signal Corps on June 13 1943 and named the WARD unit of the 17th Fighter Command 8 WARD was disbanded in 1945 after the end of World War II 3 Some members of the group stayed on in civil service roles in Hawaii 3 Official records documenting the work of the WARDs was lost in a 1983 fire 1 A book by Kam Napier and Candace Chenowith Shuffleboard Pilots documents the history of the organization and was based on the personal experience of women who worked as WARDs 1 References edit a b c Taylor Lois 5 December 1991 These Women Were WARDs of Oahu s Defense Honolulu Star Bulletin Retrieved 2018 04 06 via Newspapers com Nimitz at Ease Capt Michael A Lilly USN ret Stairway Press 2019 a b c d e f g Women s Air Raid Defense Organization is Disbanded The Honolulu Advertiser 30 September 1945 Retrieved 2018 04 06 via Newspapers com The Women s Air Raid Defense Protecting the Hawaiian Islands HistoryNet 12 June 2006 Archived from the original on 2 March 2017 Retrieved 2018 04 06 a b c d e f Taylor Lois 10 December 1986 After 40 Years Friends and Memories Remain Honolulu Star Bulletin p C 1 Retrieved 2018 04 06 via Newspapers com a b c d e Morgan Juliet 27 January 1944 Wards Celebrating Second Anniversary The Honolulu Advertiser Retrieved 2018 04 06 via Newspapers com a b Women s Air Raid Defense The Honolulu Advertiser 28 March 1945 Retrieved 2018 04 06 via Newspapers com a b c d e The Women s Air Raid Defense of the Hawaiian Islands The Women s Air Raid Defense of the Hawaiian Islands Retrieved 2018 04 06 Mainland Girls Play Big Role Defending Isles The Honolulu Advertiser 25 August 1943 Retrieved 2018 04 06 via Newspapers com a b Cross Country Air Force 27 5 3 4 May 1944 via Internet Archive a b c Taylor Lois 10 December 1986 Memories Remain Honolulu Star Bulletin p C 3 Retrieved 2018 04 06 via Newspapers com Executive Orders Disposition Tables National Archives 2016 08 15 Retrieved 2018 04 06 External links editThe Women s Air Raid Defense of the Hawaiian Islands Red Cross Heroes LeBurta Gates Atherton 2017 video Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Women 27s Air Raid Defense amp oldid 1194514168, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
