The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-09-11
|75OO WOMEN AID. IN TURNING OUT
 MARTIN BOMBER

Baltimore, Sept. 9. (UP)--Women are proving their n1ettle in this bombing business. A glance at the Glenn L.. Martin Co.'s figures on paper and in slacks = would reas- sure any skeptic who still wonders how successfully the feminine touch has affected our output of planes.
 It was in october when the first group of a dozen feminine er1- ployes was ushered into the Fin- ishing Department and allowed to tackle a few of the easiest jobs. Now, about nine months later, Martin employs probably more women than any other aircraft manufacturer, and there's scarcely corner of the plant where women are not doing & large share of the work. Tn some sections they have replaced men entirely and are talk ing more advanced assignments every day.
 The original dozen has grown to an army of more than 7,5O0 women in the whole company, with over 5000 of those busy on the actual production and assembly of planes. And stoll they come, at the rate of over 500 a week; recruits of all ages, walking up to the machines, draft ing boards, typewriters and test tubes, meeting demands of tre- mendous production schedule by which Martin bomberS are delivered to our army, navy and the British.
 Win Engineering HOnOrs
 Nine local Defense Vocational schools provide the sound training needed, anr a large portion of the women employed have graduated from their four-week classes. Shar~ ing the burden of the free govern ment training centers are similar courses at John Hopkins University, the University of Maryland and the University of Baltimore.
 The hallowed scientific territory of plane factory's engineering department was closed to women until a year ago when Martin er1 g gineers made the experiment of hir- ing a few girl draftsmen. Did the girls make good? The only two wom- en in night class of 25 Martin engineers took the two highest hon. ors of the group. Now they aspire to become aerodrynamists.
 Over thirty feminine engineers already are at work with just as many in training at Martins school for jobs that admit them after & few more weeks. Those students in- clude former fashion designers, commercial artists, girls who never advanced beyond high school sci- ence and women with graduate science degrees.
 Army and Navy wives are scat tered throughout the plant. They feel, along with girl workers who have brothers and fiances in the armed forces, that they're fighting too, helping their men bomb Kitler and Hirohito. But there's also a1l- other side to their story.
 Aptitude Fits Specialists
 Take the blonde bride of cor poral at Fort Meade, Md, now as" sembling small parts for Navy Mariner" bombers. She was a beauty parlor operator for several years and Smilingly explained her coming to Martins with, I have a husband to support"
 Electrical wiring is another ot the specialities in which women are winning laurels. One gray-haired matron compares her work to needlepoint, as she fits together the multicolored wires of a complicated control panel, following a painted pattern just as she would ln em- broidery.
 Scattered throughout the shops are offices where girls do inspec- tion, timekeeping and stockroom work. Even bit of sewing, such as on pilots chair upholstery, is part of the picture.
 The eternal feminine is apparent everywhere, manifest by colorful blouses, hair ribbons, nail polish and makeup. Low heels to guard against fatigue, and hairnets to protect against machinery are part of safety regulations. Uniform slacks, while not required, are being adopted by more of the women.
 When they do get away from work, plenty of recreation is always available. Scarcely week passes without some department holding a dance or similar affair. Bowling teams, softball leagues, golf tour neys and other sports keep the ath- letes busy. The Middle River U.S.O. is headquarters for garden clubs, Red Cross activities. classes in sew ing, tap dancing and other hobby groups where newcomers soon find friends.