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FASHIONS FOR FLYING NURSES By Cpl. Douglas J. Ingells Wright Field [[image - photograph]] [[caption]] Flying nurses wear this outfit when they aren't in the extreme cold. It is blue-gray worsted two-piece suit (skirt of same material can be worn). Boots are of rubber and felt with sheep shearing. The cloth helmet is wind resistant and Alpaca lined. [[/caption]] [[image - photograph]] [[caption]] In the Arctic cold the girls wear long undies made of cotton rayon. The stuff doesn't scratch, fits skin tight and holds body warmth. [[/caption]] For years men in the clothing unit of the Materiel Command have been designing high altitude flying suits and other paraphernalia for our airmen who are subjected to the cold of the substratosphere and for ground personnel who keep our planes flying in the frigid temperatures of the Artic circle. But now these clothing designers are faced with a new demand in styles for Arctic and high altitude wear-flying suits for the flying nurses of the Air Evacuation Group. These nurses are now flown to all theatres of operations where American troops are fighting the enemy, and they need new types of women's clothes-dress designs that will keep them comfortably warm under any circumstances. "We realize that for warmth our clothing may have to be bundlesome, but please give us something with some style to it." This was the plea the nurses' commandant directed to the AAF clothing experts in the equipment laboratory at Wright Field. Our tailors went to work, embodying in the designs specifications and recommendations made by the nurses themselves, and soon they came up with a snappy batch of togs that make the flying nurse look like the little lovely who is taking in the skiing season at Sun Valley. A few of the frigidwear styles are shown in the accompanying photographs. Almost every week now, a new shipment of these garments is flown to Alaska, Greenland, Iceland and other bases to make our nurses the warmest-and best dressed-of them all. [[image - drawing of star]] [[image - photograph]] [[caption]] This is the complete Arctic costume for flying nurses: Two-piece light-weight flying suit worn under Parka-type outer garment, Mukluk boots, gloves and purse. The coat is cotton poplin lined with Alpaca, the Mukluks have rubber soles and canvas tops, and the hood is trimmed with wolf fur. The entire outfit weighs little more than eight pounds. [[/caption]] AIR FORCE, OCTOBER, 1943 35