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Lenora I. Nagel Collection

Leonora I. Nagel (b. 1930) of Lawton, North Dakota, served with the Women in the Air Force from 1953 to 1956. She later spent almost thirty years teaching overseas as a civilian with the Department of Defense.

Lenora I. Nagel at Keesler Air Force Base
Lenora I. Nagel, in her WAF blue winter uniform, stands outdoors at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, where she attended radio school in November 1953.
Lenora I. Nagel at a map in a planning room
Lenora I. Nagel poses at a map in a planning room at MTC Bacops(", in 1955.
Lenora I. Nagel at the flight board at Selfridge Field
Lenora I. Nagel, carrying a large clipboard, pauses to write on the inbound flight board at Selfridge Field, Michigan, in 1955.
Lenora I. Nagel in San Antonio
Lenora I. Nagel poses on the patio of the Spanish Governor's Palace in San Antonio, Texas, in 1953, wearing the WAF special summer cord uniform and enlisted hat.
Oral history interview with Lenora Nagel
Documents Lenora I. Nagel's early life in western North Dakota; her family history; her service with the U.S. Air Force from 1953 to 1956; and her work teaching overseas as a civilian with the Department of Defense for almost thirty years. Nagel discusses her family and childhood at great length. She remembers her family history in Missouri in the late 1800s and early 1900s; her family life during the Depression in western North Dakota; and her family's military service during World War II. " Nagel also provides detailed information about her military service. She describes her daily routine; inspections; and living conditions during basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas; radio school at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi; and while working as a flight operator at Selfridge Air Force Base in Mount Clemens, Michigan. She also describes her classes; interactions with the men in her integrated unit; and social activities such as drill team and choir. " Nagle discusses racial integration within the military but also cites several incidents of racial discrimination outside of the air force. She also talks about women in combat. " Nagel also provides a detailed description of her work teaching overseas with the Department of Defense. Topics include the application process; how the program functioned; and her assignments in Europe, Iceland, Japan, Bermuda, and Cuba.
WAF garrison cap
Women in the Air Force blue garrison cap, with rank insignia of a captain. Worn by Lenora Nagel in the mid-1950s.
WAF overcoat
Women in the Air Force dark blue, full-length overcoat, made of blue wool serge material with removable satin lining. The overcoat is single-breasted and has a button underneath the left lapel where the right lapel can button over in colder weather. In the back of the coat is a small belt with two sewn-on buttons and two long pleats. The rank insignia patch of a senior airman (E-4) is affixed to the shoulder of the sleeve. Worn by Lenora Nagel in the mid-1950s.
WAF winter uniform
Women in the Air Force winter uniform, including blouse (jacket) and skirt, made of blue wool serge material. The blouse is single-breasted, darted, lined in a satin material, and has two sewn breast pockets and two flapped pockets, along with four Air Force emblem silver buttons down the front and enlisted silver US insignia on the collar. Each sleeve contains the rank insignia patch of the wearer, Lenora Nagel, who was a senior airman (E-4) at the time. The gored skirt is A-lined and pleated inside of the back gores. It buttons over and zips at the left side of the waistband, also with another button and loop on the inside.

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