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One sheet a United States Navy recruitment poster from 1943 titled "Share the Deeds of Victory — Join the WAVES," created by artist John Philip Falter.
The poster features a woman serving as an air traffic controller, communicating via microphone from a control tower as naval aircraft fly in the background.
Historical Significance & Context
WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service): Established in 1942, this branch allowed women to serve in the Navy during World War II.
Purpose: The poster aimed to recruit women for specialized shore-based roles—such as air traffic control, radio operation, and parachute rigging—to "free a man to fight" at sea.
Artistic Influence: Artist John Falter, a prolific WWII Navy artist, designed over 300 recruiting posters. His WAVES posters often depicted women in serious, vital roles while maintaining a "glamorous" appearance to align with contemporary advertising standards.
Equality in Service: By October 1943, the Navy moved to award WAVES members the same rank and pay as their male counterparts.
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