RADIO
CLAYTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESENTS
As the U.S. became immersed in the war, radio was the primary source of news and entertainment for most American households. People grew increasingly dependent on radio for
updates on the fighting overseas. They were
riveted by the frontline reports from such legendary journalists as Edward R. Murrow. Meanwhile, big bands, most
famously the orchestra headed by Glenn Miller and entertainers such
as Bob Hope performed before thousands at military bases. These
programs were aired directly on the radio to listeners world-wide.
www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/us-home-front-during-world-war-ii
CARS-GAS-TIRES
The OPA (Office of Price Administration) established the Idle Tire
Purchase Plan, and could deny mileage rations to anyone owning
passenger tires not in use. Voluntary gas rationing proved ineffective
and by the spring of 1942 mandatory rationing was needed. To get
your classification and ration stamps, you had to certify to a local
board that you needed gas and owned no more than five tires.
By the end of 1942, half of U.S automobiles were
issued an 'A' sticker which allowed 4 gallons of fuel per
week. That sticker was issued to owners whose use of
their cars was nonessential. For nearly a year, Astickered cars were not to be driven for pleasure at
all. The green 'B' sticker was for driving essential to the
war effort; industrial war workers, could purchase eight
gallons a week. Red 'C' stickers indicated physicians, ministers, mail
carriers and railroad workers. 'T' (truckers) brought the population
supplies and had unlimited amounts of fuel. The rare 'X' sticker went
to members of Congress and other VIPs.
http://www.ameshistory.org/exhibits/events/rationing.htm
Exhibit Coordinator
Mary H. Spryer
A Special Exhibit
May 8 through November 11, 2015
WWII
VE Day
1945
VJ Day
An exhibit honoring and remembering
WWII Veterans 70 Years after the end of the war.
The WWII Exhibit
Opens VE Day, Friday, May 8
Closes Veteran’s Day, Wednesday, November 11
Featuring Artifacts from
World War II and the Home Front
Clayton Historical Society Museum
Exhibit Contributors
John Rubiales, Joyce Bauman, John Bauman, John Tait, Becky Lane,
Pat Everette, Renee Wing, Mary Spryer, Richard Spryer, Ray Ollila,
Jack Wessman, and the CHS Archives
6101 Main Street, PO Box 94
Clayton, California 94517
925.672.0240
www.claytonhs.com
Thanks to The Clayton Business and Community Association
for their generous donation that sponsored the cost of this exhibit.
Wednesdays & Sundays - 2:00 until 4:00 pm
V: 5-26-15
Museum Hours
And By Appointment
VC45 World War II Medals
When veterans returned home from World War II there were no
Campaign or Victory medals to award them. There were only ribbon
bars for their uniforms since all brass had gone for ammunition.
Only after the war did veterans medals become available, some not
for 20 years, or longer.
American Defense Service Medal
Women’s Army Corps Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
NO more NYLONS
On May 16, 1940, officially called “Nylon
Day,” 4,000,000 pairs of nylons sold out
within two days. One year later, the
revolutionary product became scarce
when the War economy directed all nylon
into manufacturing parachutes, rope and
netting. Without actual nylons, a back
"seam" drawn with an eyebrow pencil
down a girl‟s leg left a similar effect. A clever device made from a screw
driver handle, bicycle leg clip, and an eyebrow pencil helped steady her
hand. www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/paint-on-hosiery-during-the-war-years29864389/#pLRcz7gfjwG9ZH6S.99
TYPEWRITERs
Victory Medal
US MILITARY PERSONNEL 1939-1945
COAST
GUARD
1939
189,839
125,202
19,432
334,473
1940
269,023
160,997
28,345
458,365
1941
1,462,315
284,427
54,359
1,801,101
1942
3,075,608
640,570
142,613
56,716*
3,915,507
1943
6,994,472
1,741,750
308,523
151,167
9,195,912
1944
7,994,750
2,981,365
475,604
171,749
11,623,468
1945
8,267,958
3,380,817
474,680
85,783
12,209,238
*Coast Guard listed only as wartime strength
PROFILE OF US SERVICEMEN 1941-1945
38.8% (6,332,000) of US servicemen and all servicewomen
were volunteers
61.2% (11,535,000) were draftees
Average duration of service: 33 months
Overseas service: 73% served overseas, with an average of 16
months abroad
Non-combat jobs: 38.8% of enlisted personnel had administrative, support, or manual labor.
Before WWII, typewriters were manufactured at the rate of 800,000 a
year, however, they were scarce during the war years due to typewriter
factories shifting their production to weapons and war related parts. In
addition there was a request for all privately owned, non-essential
typewriters to be turned over to the armed forces for their use.
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/oem2002002879/PP/
TOYS
In 1942, the WPB (War Production Board) issued General Limitation Order L-81 prohibiting the production of toys that contained critical materials (iron, steel, zinc, and rayon) that made up more than 7%
of their weight. Existing toys with content over that amount could be
sold until June 30, 1942. The WPB order and material shortages inspired toy manufacturers to come up with creative ways to continue
production. Paper dolls, puzzles, and games increased in popularity. Toys, board games, and
hobby sets with military motifs became standard play-things. Ingenuity developed out
of necessity. For example, Lionel Corporation,
famous for its trains, produced military items
such as compasses during the war. In an effort
to stay connected with its toy customers, Lionel
created the Wartime F r e i g h t Train made entirely out of heavy-duty paper. The War Production Board remained in
effect until l a t e 1 9 4 5 when the Allies declared victory. Once the war
ended, manufacturers resumed their pre-war production and the toy
industry experienced a surge in sales from the post-war baby boom.
www.museumofplay.org/blog/play-stuff/2013/06/the-home-front-toy-production-duringworld-war-ii/
RATIONING
Even in the depths of the Depression, there was enough to
eat, if only you could afford to buy it. But as soon as the U.S.
entered the war in the winter of 1941–42, shortages began. By
1943, it had become every citizen‟s duty to cut back on meat,
sugar, coffee, canned foods, fuel, shoes, and consumer goods.
Rationed Goods in the USA During WWII
A wide variety of commodities were rationed during
World War II in the US:
Rationed Items
Tires
Cars
Bicycles
Gasoline
Fuel Oil & Kerosene
Solid Fuels
Stoves
Rubber Footwear
Shoes
Sugar
Coffee
Processed Foods
Meats, canned fish
Cheese, canned milk, fats
Typewriters
Rationing Duration
Jan 1942 to Dec 1945
Feb 1942 to Oct 1945
Jul 1942 to Sept 1945
May 1942 to Aug 1945
Oct 1942 to Aug 1945
Sept 1943 to Aug 1945
Dec 1942 to Aug 1945
Oct 1942 to Sept 1945
Feb 1943 to Oct 1945
May 1942 to May 1947
Nov 1942 to Jul 1943
Mar 1943 to Aug 1945
Mar 1943 to Nov 1945
Mar 1943 to Nov 1945
Mar 1942 to Apr 1944
RATION FASHION
Uncle Sam assumed the role of fashion designer during the war. Restrictions aimed
to save 15% of the yardage used on
women's and girls' apparel through such
measures as restricting hems and belts to
two inches, and eliminating cuffs on
sleeves. Exempt categories included bridal
gowns, maternity dresses, and vestments
for religious orders.
www.ameshistory.org/exhibits/events/rationing.htm
US MILITARY CASUALTIES IN WWII
Branch
Killed
Wounded
Army and Air Force
318,274
565,861
Navy
62,614
37,778
Marines
24,511
68,207
Coast Guard
1,917
Unknown
Merchant Marine
9,497
Unknown
TOTAL
418,603
671,846
WOMEN IN THE US MILITARY
Women’s Army Corps (WAC)
150,000
Navy‟s Women Accepted or Voluntary Emergency
100,000
Coast Guard Women‟s Reserves (SPARS)
10,000
Marine Corps Women‟s Reserve
23,000
Army Nurse Corps
60,000
Navy Nurse Corps
14,000
Women‟s Air force Service Pilots (WASP)
1,074
TOTAL WOMEN
348,074*
*Does not include women in the Merchant Marine
http://www.nationalww2museum.org/learn/education/for-students/ww2history/ww2-by-the-numbers/us-military.html
The U.S. Merchant Marine
The “merchant marine” are those commercial ships and their
civilian crewmen and officers that carry cargo or passengers or provide maritime services.
In 1940, the US Merchant Marine totaled 55,000 men and
women, but the number was increased to 243,000 through US
Maritime Service training programs. One in 26 mariners serving in
WWII died in the line of duty, suffering a greater percentage of warrelated deaths than all other US branches of service.
The ships and men of the United States Merchant Marine transported vast quantities of war material, supplies, equipment and
troops. Like the U.S. Navy Armed Guard with whom they sailed, the
unsung civilian volunteers of the U.S. merchant marine helped
made possible the Allied victory in World War II.
http://www.usmm.org/ww2.html
The Home Front
WWII TIMELINE
The benchmarks of the war from the invasion of Poland in 1939
to the surrender of Japan in 1945:
September 1939-Germany invades Poland, starting World
War II. Britain and France declare war on Germany.
April 1940-Germany invades Norway and Denmark.
May 1940-Germany invades Belgium and the Netherlands.
July 1940-Germany begins bombing Britain.
June 1941-Germany invades the Soviet Union.
December 1941-Japan bombs Pearl Harbor on the 7th, the U.S.
declares war on Japan, then declares war on Germany on Dec 11.
February 1942-Japan captures Singapore.
May 1942-Japan captures the Philippines and Burma.
June 1942-The Allies defeat Japan in the Battle of Midway.
February 1943-German troops surrender in Stalingrad.
May 1943-Axis troops in northern Africa surrender.
September 1943-Italy surrenders.
November 1943-U.S. forces invade Tarawa.
June 1944-D-day: Allied troops land in France and begin the
invasion.
October 1944-Japan's navy is defeated near the Philippines.
December 1944-The Battle of the Bulge.
March 1945-Allied troops capture Iwo Jima.
May 1945-Germany surrenders, ending World War II in
Europe. V-E Day, May 8.
August 1945-Atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 9 days later -V-J Day, Aug 15.
September 1945-Japan signs surrender agreement, officially
ending war the war on Sept 2.
Whether they fought in the military, bought War Bonds,
recycled valuable resources, volunteered with the Red Cross or
used ration coupons when buying food, everyone participated in
the war effort.
WAR BONDS
The last time the United States issued war
bonds was during World War II. War
bonds were seen as a way to remove
money from circulation and reduce inflation. When first issued by the U.S. Government, they were called Defense Bonds.
The name was changed after the Japanese
attack on Pearl Harbor. Known as debt
securities for the purpose of financing
military operations during war time, the
bonds
yielded a
2.9% return
after a 10year maturity. The first Series „E‟ U.S. Savings
Bonds sold at 75% of their face
value in denominations of $25 up to $10,000.
Living in the U.S. in the 1940s meant earning about $2,000 a
year. Despite the war‟s hardships, 134 million Americans were
asked to purchase war bonds to help fund the war. In the name of
defense of American liberty and democracy, and as safe havens
for investment, the public was continually urged to buy bonds. A
plea went out by way of advertising. Even though the bonds offered a rate of return below the market value, it represented a
moral and financial stake in the war effort. The government recruited the best advertising agencies, entertainers, and comic
strip artists to further their appeal to the public. Ads on the radio,
in newspapers, and in magazines resulted in the campaign being
a huge success. Bonds became the ideal way for those on the
home front to contribute to the national defense.
www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1682.html