Shots and Flashes [Vol. 1, No. 6 (March 1943)].

Washington, D.C. Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1943. 10¼” x 8”. Stapled pictorial self-wrappers. Pp. 23. Very good: tiny ding to lower edge of rear wrap, extending to several leaves but not approaching any content; front wrap lightly chipped at two corners, rear chip at staple; both wraps lightly soiled; a touch age-toned else internally fresh.

This is an unrecorded and visually fantastic issue of “a publication by and for all employees in the Office of the Chief of Ordnance” released during World War II and heavily focused on female workers.

We were unable to find any record of this magazine's existence, despite this being the apparent sixth issue. It has 31 photographic images, including a photo feature on four women with different “recipes for careers in Ordnance” – “Nothing magic about it just hard work.” There are news blurbs on men and women in the Industrial, Technical, Staff and Field Service divisions, with captions identifying workers in group shots. One great image of a “Gun Girl at Work” reveals:

“Irene Eliason, Secretary to Major Richard J. Smith, Chief of Press & Radio Unit . . . seen here walking down a corridor with a M1 (Garand) Rifle and Bayonet. Small wonder those other girls turn around and stare, knowing not what to make of it. Miss Eliason, on numerous occasions, secures this Garand from the Small Arms Branch so that Major Smith can explain to newspaper men the superiority of this rifle over enemy rifles.”

Another headline, “She gives the orders and checks 'em too” introduced “the irresistible” Helen M. Gaston; our writer noted that to see the men under her purview “stand respectfully while Miss Gaston gives them their instructions, outlines their duties . . . is really a treat.”

Ten illustrations include a full-page comic strip by one Ethel Judy with panels on her workload: “See 'em fly!!!!! 4800 double line postings per day!!!” One article shows “Spring Styles For WOWs,” lauding the practicality of a newly issued “headkerchief,” and there is an illustrated page of hair tips for “Ordnance Girls” to sculpt a “Curly puff,” “Side Wings” and “Back Wave.” The issue has four original poems by members of the service, a list of the several men and women correspondents and a spread of images from the “March Dance Voted Best Yet” – “Every time you buy a ticket for an Ordnance dance, you help to make the umbrella of the Welfare Fund spread out a little wider to include more people if and when a rainy day occurs in their lives.” Notably, inside the rear wrapper is a great montage wholly picturing African Americans at “the Valentine Dance at which everyone had such a wonderful time,” including a shot naming all the “members of the committee which was responsible for making the affair such a success.”

A rare and spirited exposition of women workers in the Ordnance Department during World War II. We found no evidence of any issues of this publication in OCLC or online. Very good. Item #8895

Price: $250.00