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Luke Shaff
During World War II, many women were trained to fill the jobs left by men serving in the military. Women did auto repair, aircraft assembly and other jobs once considered men's work. This photo, taken in West Seattle in February 1943, shows young women studying a car engine.
A Wartime Workforce Revolution
When the United States entered World War II in 1941, over 16 million American men were eventually deployed overseas. This left massive gaps in the workforce — especially in skilled trades like automotive repair, welding, and heavy machinery maintenance. With the war effort demanding constant support both abroad and at home, women stepped into these essential roles in unprecedented numbers.
From Homemakers to Hard-Hat Heroes
Women weren’t just building airplanes — they were also repairing military vehicles like Jeeps, tanks, and transport trucks at home and on overseas bases. The U.S. government actively encouraged women to join the workforce through posters, radio ads, and training programs. By 1943, more than 310,000 women were employed in the U.S. aircraft industry alone, making up 65% of its workforce. Many also found jobs as mechanics, machinists, electricians, and tool inspectors in army depots and civilian factories.
Training programs were launched across the country to fast-track women into technical trades. The government-backed Women Ordnance Workers (WOW) program trained women to repair and maintain military vehicles and equipment, with many stationed at bases like Fort Knox and Aberdeen Proving Ground.
Fun Fact: Rosie the Riveter Had a Toolbox, Too!
Everyone knows “Rosie the Riveter” as the iconic factory worker — but real-life Rosies weren’t just building planes and ships. Thousands of them were fixing Army trucks, performing engine overhauls, replacing transmissions, and even welding armor plates in motor pools. Some women even deployed overseas in non-combat roles to keep military equipment running under battlefield conditions.
Bonus Insight: After the war, most women were expected to return to traditional roles, but their skills laid the groundwork for future generations. Many WWII-era female mechanics inspired the push for equal employment opportunities in the skilled trades — a movement that gained steam decades later.
