Betty Etten Wiker Collection
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Betty Etten Wiker and friend at Ladd Field, Alaska
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Betty Etten Wiker poses with a fellow WAC on the steps to a building at Ladd Field in Fairbanks, Alaska. Wiker (standing) is wearing a Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) officer's field overcoat and outer cover trousers. Wiker's friend is holding a cigarette and appears to be wearing a WAAC officer's field overcoat.
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Betty Etten Wiker at dining hall, Hill Field, Utah
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WACs Lieutenant Martha Stone (right), Lieutenant Colonel Betty Bandel (cneter), and Lieutenant Betty Etten Wiker (left) enjoy a meal at the Hill Field, Utah, mess hall, circa 1944. The women wear the WAC officer's winter service uniforms with U.S. Army Air Forces patch on the sleeves.
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Betty Etten Wiker at train station
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Betty Etten Wiker walk outside of Union Station in Washington, D.C., where she is about to board a train for Officer Candidate School in April 1943. Wiker is wearing a Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) wool overcoat and cap and utility bag and carrying her army-issued brown leather gloves.
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Betty Etten Wiker in recruiting office
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Photo of Betty Etten Wiker seated at her desk in a recruiting office at 39 Whitehall Street, New York City, circa 1949. Wiker is wearing a Women's Army Corps (WAC) winter service uniform with captain's rank insignia, United States Army Air Forces Insignia, and four service ribbons. Behind Wicker is a large painting of the 10th Mountain Division.
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Betty Wiker by military vehicle at Camp Simms
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Betty Etten Wiker stands beside an army jeep in her Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) driver's uniform at Camp Simms [a.k.a Oxon Run Parkway], Washington D.C., on 15 March 1943. The vehicle is either a Willys MB or Ford GPW. A note on the back reads:"Me and my 'peep'. How do you like that sharp outfit? It's my drivers uniform."
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Oral history interview with Betty Etten Wiker
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Primarily documents Betty Etten Wiker's service in the U.S. Army during WWII and the Korean War. Wiker briefly discusses her childhood and education in Chicago, her reasons for enlisting in the WAAC, and her basic training at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. She describes her assignment at Bolling Field, including her work in the plotting room and motor pool, and being recommended for Officer Candidate School. After briefly discussing her subsequent finance officer and club officer assignments, Wiker discusses being a squadron commander at several bases, including Ladd Army Airfield, where she recalls the cold weather and long hours of daylight, underground tunnels, Russian soldiers on base, and taking a group of WACs to entertain troops on the Aleutian Islands and finding their barracks burnt down when they returned. " Wiker describes being a recruiting officer in New York City from 1949 to 1952. Topics include her travel to find the best looking WACs for the New York office, being stationed on Times Square, marrying her husband, and leaving the army because she became pregnant. She also recalls meeting her husband at a USO dance before she joined the serves and discusses maintaining correspondence for seven years. Other topics about her service include respect from male servicemen; salary; flying along during a bombing mission in Alaska; and being "on duty all the time" as a squadron commander. She also discusses her sister's service with the Army Nurse Corps, including rising to the rank of colonel and being stationed on Tinian Island when the atomic bomb was dropped.
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Teletype operators
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Four teletype workers of the Airborne Air Control Squadron (AACS) at Ladd Field, Alaska, are pictured at work in April of 1945. Two unidentified men work alongside WACs Mary Moreland and Hedwig Delicek.
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WAC cadre at Hill Field, Utah
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Women's Army Corps (WAC) cadre of the 4135th Army Air Force base unit pose for a Christmas photograph in front of their orderly room at Hill Field in Ogden, Utah, on 14 December 1944. The eight WACs are wearing service wool overcoats with garrison hats for enlisted personnel and Hobby hats for the officers. Betty Etten Wiker is far left with lieutenant insignia on her shoulder board. A note on the back of the photograph reads:"To wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the officers and enlisted women of the WAC section."
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WAC flight operations clerks
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Three Women's Army Corps (WAC) clerks perform their flight operation duties at Ladd Field, Alaska, on 28 April 1945. Two are seated at desks, one of whom is using a typewriter. A third standing WAC is completing a form, perhaps for the serviceman at the Clearance service window. All women pictured are wearing WAC service dress. The lettering on the glass above the three service windows indicates the women work with the Airdrome Officer and Clearance. Pictured are: Pfc Betsy Ross, Pfc. Audrey Berard, and Private Marguerit Jacob.
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WAC squadron in formation
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Women's Army Corps (WAC) squadron stands in formation prior to a parade on Long Island, New York, on 19 May 1947. The women are all in winter service dress uniform with garrison caps. This squadron is commanded by Betty Etten Wiker.
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WACs at transient service information desk
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Women's Army Corps (WAC) members receive information from the transient service information desk manned by soldiers at Ladd Field, Alaska in April of 1945. A WAC in the foreground holds an issue of Liberty Magazine published on April 21, 1945. Pictured are: Dries, Larson, Wilson, Reese, McSparin, Parkins, Deveny, Jamison.
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WACs board airplane
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Women's Army Corps (WAC) members prepare to board an airplane outside at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, or Ladd Field, Alaska, in April of 1945. They are carrying suitcases and appear to be preparing to travel to a new duty assignment. All the women wear fur lined coats that are not WAC issue. Two male army servicemen are assisting the WACs. Pictured are: Reese, Higgins, Jamison, Parkins, Bolin, McSparin, Raymond, Deveny, and Wilson.
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WACs interview for duty assignments
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Women's Army Corps (WAC) members interview for duty assignments at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, in April 1945. The WACs sit in folding chairs as they are interviewed by male and female amry personnel seated at desks. Several period war bond and recruiting posters can be seen in the background. Pictured are: De Moya, Sauls, Betty Etten Wiker (back center), Drake, Westbrook, Sheehan, Cashman, Chapman, and Brookes.
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WACs parade in Salt Lake City
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This picture clipped from a newspaper shows WACs from Hill Field in Ogden, Utah, marching in formation in Salt Lake City. The WACs are parading in support of the Fifth War Bond campaign and commanded by Betty Etten Wiker, who can be seen far right.
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WACs serve food in mess hall
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A line of Women's Army Corps (WAC) members in white food handler uniforms serve a meal to servicemen in April of 1945. A supply of Eddy's sliced bread can be seen on the shelf behind the women. Pictured are: Douchinsky, Kozarnowicz, Smith, Swann, Hiles, and Calloway.
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WACs serve troops in mess hall
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Women's Army Corps (WAC) members serve food to army servicemen at Ladd Field, Alaska, in April of 1945. The women are wearing army food handler overcoats and hats. Pictured are: Douchinsky, Kozarnowicz, Ardizzone, Smith, Swann, Hiles, and Callaway.
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WACs sing in chapel
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Members of the Women's Army Corps (WAC) at Hill Field, Utah, sing in the chapel choir on 4 June 1944. Betty Etten Wiker (right of post) is wearing the officer's service uniform and cap, while others wear an assortment of cold and wet weather WAC attire. They appear to be standing in a choir loft.
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Woman relished wartime role in military, 2006
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The article chronicles Betty Wiker's ten year military career. Within the article Wiker explains her feelings towards the military and tells of her various duty assignments. The article was written by fellow Carolina Meadows Retirement Facility resident Carol Klein.
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Women in the Air Force at Fort Slocum, New York
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A group of nine U.S. Air Force personnel, including eight women, pose on ship off the coast of New Rochelle, New York, during a visit to Headquarters 1st Air Force at Fort Slocum, New York. The women wear variations of the service uniform. Pictured are: (Front, l to r) Captain Margaret Butler, Major Alba Martinelli, Major Charles Kelly, and Lieutenant Stanley. (2nd row, l to r): 1st Air Force Personal Officer Major Hess, Captain Marjorie Hunt, Captain Elizabeth Fay, and Major Beatrice Laundry. (Third row) Captain Betty Etten Wiker.
