The Donut Dollies

Give us the simple life! This week we're joined by Jamie from On The Victory Homefront podcast, and we're talking all about life at home during wartime. Jamie, who's own podcast focuses on the goings on and management of life for those who remained at home during the war, brings her knowledge and expertise to The Clubmobile! How did a few simple changes make a big impact on the health her family? We're talking about the benefits of canning your own vegetables, the simplicity of wartime clothing and of course, the always familiar Victory Gardens! Is the 1940s simple life for you?  Grab your coffee and a fresh sinker and join us in The Clubmobile to find out!  

This week we're talking hostess'- no- not the cupcakes, the USO Hostess' during the war! These are the women who worked day and night in the USO Clubs so that soldiers had a safe way to socialize with women. A USO Hostess was classified as a respectable, middle-class woman, who worked tirelessly to help keep up the morale of young GIs. These women were trained on how to interact with soldiers and took their job of raising morale very seriously! Their job was just one more that women undertook on the homefront, often taking the Mobile USO trucks out to remote areas and training camps so they could visit with soldiers. Join us for fresh coffee and sinkers as we unpack the history and selflessness of the USO Hostess! 

TEN-HUT! Beauty is officially on duty, and this one is for the gals! We're falling in line, at the makeup counter, and unpacking the importance of makeup during the war. Don't think we're serious? Well, red lipstick became an act of defiance against Hitler during the war, as he had been open about how much despised it. Morale boosters like Montezuma Red lipstick, made famous by Elizabeth Arden, was created especially for the US Marine Corps Women's Reserve and came with a matching nail varnish! The women of the Land Army also had a special powder and rouge, which was created to help them stay looking like a lady while driving a tractor! Still don't believe us? Join us in The Clubmobile for fresh coffee, sinkers and the history of the red lip during wartime! 

If you think back to our last round of Book Club picks for 2025, you'll remember that we read When I Think Back: The War Letters of Fitje Pitts. The book, written by her son Tilghman (Tim) puts a timestamp on his mother's wartime service with the American Red Cross. Journeying from home to largely populated New York City, to Washington DC, and back, Fitje finally made the journey to England. Working at the 95th Bomb Group with their Aero Club before going off to 9th Bomber Command, Fitje found her greatest adventure in the countryside of wartime England! Her son Tim, recognizing this, put his mother's wartime letters and memories to paper, sharing them with all of us. Grab your coffee and a fresh sinker and join us in The Clubmobile for our discussion of those letters, and the incredible spirit of Fitje Pitts! 

This week we're unpacking the impact of some of wartime's most influential women, who weren't actually real. The history of some of the most impactful women of wartime propaganda is that they were created in offices with the purpose of providing a morale boost to the women who were still at home. Faces like Rosie The Riveter, whose reminded women that they could join the factory workforce and do just as the men had; or Betty Crocker who helped stretch the rations at home became household names. And all that without ever actually existing. Grab your coffee and a fresh sinker and join us in The Clubmobile as we unpack the history of the most famous non-existent women during the war. 

We're back with a bonus episode! It's time for our quarterly Book Club roundup for January through March, and it wouldn't be a visit to the Book Club-Mobile without our official Book Club Correspondent, Sage! We read some incredible books to start off the year, and we're wasting no time in diving into them! We visit with the American ATA Pilots in Becky Aikman's Spitfires, and stop off for coffee and a sinker with The Beantown Girls by Jane Healey! We also visit the 306th Bomb Group and the 100th respectively, with Steve Snyders Shot Down and John Clark's Eighth Airforce Combat Diary. All vastly different, but all poignant and important in any wartime library! The Clubmobile is open, the coffee is hot and the sinkers are fresh, so join us for Book Club! 

Before joining the war effort in America, female pilots packed their bags and sailed to England. These women were the first to join the war effort, ferrying planes in the Air Transport Auxiliary, or The ATA. Known as Atta Girls, the story of these American women is brought to life by author Becky Aikman in her book, Spitfires. Beginning with Aviatrix Jackie Cochran, Spitfires tells the story of the brave women who left the safety of their homes to serve a country not their own. Joining us this week is Becky Aikman, who shares her own story of how Spitfires came to be, and why these women remain such a poignant part of history. Grab your coffee and a fresh sinker because The Clubmobile is open! 

Women's History Month is almost over, but it's not over yet! Helping us close out this incredible month is the newest installment in our Wive's of The Bloody Hundredth series; the story of WASP Josephine Pitz Egan. If her name sounds familiar, that's because she was also the wife of Hundredth Bomb Group pilot, John "Bucky" Egan, but a look at her life and story tells us that she was much more than that! Not only was she the first woman in Manitowoc to get her private pilot's license, but she held that coveted reward long before WASP Director Jackie Cochran- an accolade that Josephine doesn't leave out! Josephine lived a full life long after the WASP disbandment, retiring a First Lieutenant from the reserves, and serving at WASP Headquarters in Washington, DC. Grab your coffee and a fresh sinker and join us in The Clubmobile for a look at one of history's women of the skies! Audio and video clips of Josephine Egan are property of the Baylor University Institute for Oral History

Chances are at some point we've all read The Diary of Anne Frank, more than likely as an assignment in grade school. But how much do you know about the women who crafted the plan to hide Anne and her family in plain sight? Miep Gies and Bep Voskuijl put their lives at risk during the days of Amsterdam's German occupation in order to protect the lives of the innocent. A Small Light tells the story of these brave women and the trusted network of friends and family that were willing to sacrifice their own lives in order to save another. Grab your coffee and a fresh sinker and join us in The Clubmobile for week three of Women's History Month! 

We're still celebrating Women's History Month in The Clubmobile and joining us this week is Mel Bloom, founder of The 350 Girls! Chances are you've seen The 350 Girls on social media; from women's history displays to living history talks and an arsenal of wartime uniforms, Mel is just one of many working to keep the legacy of the women who served alive, and she's sharing her journey and the future of The 350 Girls with us! Grab your coffee and a fresh sinker, The Clubmobile is open and celebrating the legacy of women in wartime! 

It's Women's History Month and we're kicking it off with Emily Yellin! Author of what we proclaim to be the encyclopedia on women's history, Our Mother's War, Emily talks with us about her experience in writing the book that brings every avenue of women's wartime to life. Inspired by her own mother's service as a Red Cross Donut Dollie, Emily's research took her down a path that shed light on not just her mother, but all of wartime's mothers. Grab your coffee and a fresh sinker and join us in The Clubmobile for the start of Women's History Month! 

Join us this week as we turn to the airwaves and turn up the volume on the history of two women who dominated the radio during the war. Axis Sally and Tokyo Rose shared the airwaves in two very different ways during the war; bringing some conflict to the European Theater, and sarcasm to the Pacific Theater, the women of the radio used their wit and feminine charm to serve the war effort in two very different ways. Grab your coffee and a fresh sinker and join us as we unpack their stories and discover two sides of the same coin. 

If you've joined us for any of our previous episodes featuring members of the HBO War community, you’ve heard stories about Freddie Joe. Well, it's time to meet the man who helped whip them into shape! Joining us this week is the man, the myth, the legend, Freddie Joe Farnsworth. A military man who landed a career working alongside Captain Dale Dye and training some of the biggest actors in the business, Freddie really is a jack of all trades! A Marine, turned military advisor turned stunt man, Freddie takes us down all the different avenues of his career in what can only be described as one of our most fun episodes yet! Grab your coffee and a fresh sinker and join us in The Clubmobile where we learn that no, you cannot tell Steven Spielberg no! 

This week we're bringing you the second half of our two-part series on Hollywood's golden girl, Carole Lombard. Joining us this week is Dr. Olympia Kiriakou, a film historian who's central focus is Classical Hollywood. Author of Becoming Carole Lombard: Stardom, Comedy and Legacy, Dr. Olympia brings a classic and fresh approach to the story of Carole's life, legacy and tragic death. We're diving into who Carole Lombard truly was, and how she became known as not only Hollywood's Original Screwball Comedy Gal, but also a major presence in the War Bond circuit at the start of WWII, and the first woman to give her life in service of her country. Grab your coffee and a fresh sinker and join us in The Clubmobile for a trip back in time. 

Joining us this week are the brilliant women behind the film that tells the story of Aviatrix Jackie Cochran. Jessica Plowden and Nancy Hasty's film The Flight of Jackie Cochran takes it's viewers back to a time before The WASP, before the war, and before Jackie Cochran was Jackie Cochran. In a small town in the panhandle of Florida, Jackie's story begins with Bessie Lee Pittman. Grab your coffee and a fresh sinker and join us for an episode that sheds the stereotypes of WASP Director Jackie, and sheds light on the woman who dug herself out of poverty with her own two hands to build an empire and legacy that still has people wondering: who was Jackie Cochran? 

We're back for our first episode of the new year, and with our newest installment of The Wives of The Bloody Hundredth series! Joining us for our first episode of 2026 is Eloise-Marie Loeffler, daughter of WASP Marie Mountain Clark and 100th Bomb Group pilot John A. Clark. Following our review of Marie's book, we're getting her story, and what Marie, the mother, was like in the years following the war. Eloise paints a stunning picture of both Marie and John's lives after the war and what it was like growing up with two accomplished pilots, and how she chose to follow in her mother's musical footsteps! We shared plenty of laughs, and a fondness for history in this episode so make sure you grab your coffee and a fresh sinker and join us! The Clubmobile is open! 

Join us for our quarterly special edition where we recap the last quarters book club reads, and in this case, the last reads of 2025! We're once again joined by The Clubmobile's Official Book Club Correspondent, Sage, and we're breaking down what we loved, and why we loved them! This only happens once every three months, so don't get left behind! Grab your coffee and a fresh sinker and tell us what your favorite book of the quarter was! 

Joining us this week is Masters of The Air's Darragh Cowley! Known for his portrayal of Lt. Glenn Graham, Darragh is taking us start to end on his journey of auditioning, boot camp, and the research he immersed himself in, in order to bring Glenn Graham to the big screen. We also had quite a few laughs and swapped stories on our visits to Thorpe Abbotts, as well as how important it is to find a bright spot in your day, no matter the circumstances. You wont want to miss our final guest of 2025, so grab a fresh sinker and some coffee, and join us in The Clubmobile! 

We're so excited to welcome our friend Dr. Hattie Hearn back to The Clubmobile this week! Join us as we dive into the story of the women of East Anglia who were not only there to witness the "Friendly Invasion" of American troops but became war brides. The part 2 to our War Brides episode that was released in July, this installment is a love letter from the women who chose not to follow their mothers footsteps, and instead, followed the American Dream. Grab your coffee and a fresh sinker, and maybe a few tissues, and join us on this wartime love rollercoaster! 

This week we're joined by the one and only, Scott Gibson! Scott is widely known for his portrayal of Captain Andrew "Ack Ack" Haldane in HBOs The Pacific, but did you know that almost wasn't the case? We're talking all about his audition process, the experience of portraying such a gentle giant on the battlefield, and what he's been up to fifteen years since The Pacific premiered. And for those wondering, we promise, there are bootcamp stories! You won't want to miss this episode, so grab your coffee and a fresh sinker and join us in The Clubmobile! 

We're back with a new episode and joining us this week is our friend and historian, Cara Lebonick! We're diving straight in and talking all about her many lives before becoming a historian, the many different avenues of women's history, and how pulling on just one single thread can unravel a world of hidden information and knowledge! Grab your coffee and a fresh sinker and get ready to jump down the rabbit hole with us! 

Join us as we welcome Barbara Blakely Holck to The Clubmobile, daughter of Everett and Margaret Blakely. Barbara's father, Everett Blakely, is known throughout the 100th Bomb Group, but her mother Margaret also has a story. Most well known is her 1943 photo alongside Jean Crosby and Gerry Hamilton, but the "Legs" photo isn't all of Margaret Blakely's story. Grab your coffee and a fresh sinker, and join us in the third installment of the Wives of The Bloody Hundredth series!  This is an episode full of laughter, family memories, and the story of Margaret through her youngest daughters eyes.

Who are The Ladies of Oak Ridge and how did they contribute to The Manhattan Project? Joining us in The Clubmobile this week is Sarah Morgan, the woman behind Cooking with The Calutron Girls! We're whipping up more than just wartime recipes in this episode as we dig into the history of  The Ladies of Oak Ridge. The Calutron Girls were instrumental in the success of The Manhattan Project, and we're uncovering their unique history and the tasty legacy they left behind! Grab your coffee and a fresh sinker and make sure you join us for an episode you won't want to miss! 

This week, we're opening The Clubmobile for a special episode to commemorate the 82nd Anniversary of the Bremen raid. Joining us to talk about the importance of the mission that was subsequently the start of Black Week is Matt Mabe from the 100th Bomb Group Historical Team, and he's giving us the white glove treatment- literally! We're deep diving into what really happened in the air, and what we didn't see on screen in Masters of The Air. Why was this mission so important, and why is it something that we think back on over eight decades later? Grab your coffee and a fresh sinker and come join us for an episode you definitely won't want to miss! 

 Joining us in The Clubmobile this week is Joshua Bitton, who is well known for his portrayal of JP Morgan (no, not THAT guy) in HBOs The Pacific. From the audition process, to boot camp, Josh shares the story of his experiences on set, and the lasting friendships that he's carried with him over the past fifteen years. There are also a few cheeky Dale Dye stories hiding in this episode, so if you're up for the challenge, grab your coffee and a fresh sinker and come join us! 

We're back with our quarterly recap of the Dollies Book Club! Our official book club correspondent, Sage, is back in The Clubmobile with us to recap our third quarter titles, favorites, and what's coming up for our final quarter of 2025! This only happens once every three months; you don't want to get left behind! Grab your coffee and a fresh sinker and come join us!

Step back into the Golden Age of Hollywood with us! This week we're bringing you the first half of a special two-part series on Hollywood Starlet Carole Lombard. While many remember Lombard as the wife of Hollywood powerhouse Clark Gable, she was much more than that. A proud member of the USO circuit during the war, Carole was determined to help the war effort however she could, even if the ending was tragic. Grab your coffee and a fresh sinker, maybe the Kleenex, and join us in The Clubmobile! 

Joining us in The Clubmobile this week is Band of Brothers alumni, friend of the pod and leader of the history nerdlings, Matthew Leitch! Come hang out with us as we dive into how he's keeping the history of WWII alive and how a zoom party during Covid brought together history enthusiasts from all corners of the world to help create We Happy Few 506! Grab your coffee and your donuts, because you won't want to miss this! 

Joining us in The Clubmobile this week is Dan Rosenthal, 100th Bomb Group Pilot, Major Robert 'Rosie' Rosenthal and Navy WAVE Phillis Rosenthal. In the next episode of The Wives of The Bloody Hundredth series, Dan graciously tells us his mother's story, from her time growing up on Long Island, to her time in The Waves, and working as a prosecutor at the Nuremburg War Tribunals. Phillis' story is one of bravery, courage, family and love, and there is no shortage of that in Dan's storytelling. Grab your coffee and a fresh sinker, because you won't want to miss this episode! 

Joining us in The Clubmobile this week is a woman whose name speaks for itself- Jaclyn Basilone, great niece of Medal of Honor recipient John Basilone. We're tapping into the untold story of the life of Lena Basilone in the years following the war; the quiet woman who valued her family above all, and just simply didn't want to cause a fuss for anyone. Grab your coffee, and a fresh sinker and join us in what we promise is a fun girls chat! 

This week in The Clubmobile we're talking about the women who were brave enough to leave their homes for love. Join us as we discuss women from all countries and walks of life in search of happiness during the tragedies of war. From the War Brides Act to the transition to life in America, we're covering the staggering statistics of the women who found love in a time of war and weren't afraid to make the journey to hold onto it. 

Join us as we sit down for a chat with Rebecca Crosby Hutchinson, daughter of Harry and Jean Crosby. The story of Rebecca's father, Harry, is widely known throughout the 100th BG, but what isn't, is the story of her mother, Jean. There is more to Jean Crosby's story than just posing for the infamous "Legs" photo alongside Margaret Blakely and Gerry Hamilton in 1943, so grab your coffee and a fresh sinker, and join us to hear Rebecca share her mother's wartime story in the first installment of our Wives of The Bloody Hundredth series! 

Join us for our quarterly special edition where we recap the past quarters book club reads. We're sitting down with Sage, our Book-Club Correspondent to recap second quarters titles, our favorites, and what's coming up next! This only happens once every three months, so don't get left behind! 

You asked, and we answered! Inspired by our interview with Harriet Leitch, we're answering the questions that our listeners sent in! We're covering all the fun stuff, and some of the serious stuff too. Our favorite HBO War moments, the music that gets us through our days, movies we've loved and shared, and of course, how two gals from opposite ends of the country became The Donut Dollies! This episode is equal parts laughter and informative, so grab your coffee and a sinker, and join us in The Clubmobile! 

Joining us this week is NBC's Chloe Melas, granddaughter of 100th Bomb Group Navigator, Frank Murphy. If you think you knew all there was to know about Frank Murphy, we can guarantee you that's not the case! There is more to his story, and the legacy he left behind, than just the Luck Of The Draw- and Chloe reminds us of just that! As she so eloquently put it, there are no coincidences in life, and we're inclined to agree! 

This week we're recapping our latest travels and adventures! While Gabby was up in Boston with The Rifle and We Happy Few gang, Winne was dialed in with The American Museum and our friend Dr. Hattie Hearn for a talk on the USAAF and life in East Anglia during the war. Want to know more about the Friendly Invasion of American Airmen in England?  Interested in the good work that Andrew Biggio is doing to preserve the names of the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice? You definitely don't want to miss this episode. 

Does that title sound familiar? If you've read Harry Crosby's book, it should! And we're inclined to agree! Joining us this week is Dr. Hattie Hearn from the Imperial War Musem in Duxford, where she's uncovering all the truths of the women who served in the American Red Cross during WWII. We're talking Flak Houses, Clubmobiles, and her journey in discovering all the truths and incredible stories of these brave women. If you think you know all about the ARC Women of WWII, we can promise you, there is still so much out there. Grab your coffee and donuts, and let's get into the history of it! 

What's sweeter than two Donuts? Three! Joining us in The Clubmobile this week is Masters of The Air's Harriet Leitch. She gives us a look at the casting process and what it was like bringing Tatty Spaatz to life on the screen. We're also diving into her portrayal of ATA Pilot Ann Douglass and how portraying two real life women from the war impacted her. We had so much fun with this one, and it's safe to say Harriet is a Dollie for life now! Get your coffee and donuts, and get comfortable, this is a fun one! 

Join us for a recap the Mighty Eighth on Film Tour! Gabby takes Winnie, and all of you, through her Cambridge adventure with the gang from We Happy Few 506. We're leaving (almost) no details out as we cover the group's visit to Thorpe Abbotts, jeep rides at Rougham Airfield, The Cambridge American Cemetery and so much more! We hope you'll join us for this exciting episode and that it encourages you to join in on the next tour! 

It's part three of our Women's Airforce Service Pilot series and joining us this week is Dr. Katherine Landdeck, author of The Women with Silver Wings. Dr. Kate shares just how she came to tell the story of the WASP, the friendships she forged with some of the war's bravest women, and how the feud between Jacqueline Cochran and Nancy Love wasn't really a feud at all. We leave no stone unturned in this episode! 

As we continue with our WASP series for Women's History month, we're honored to have Susan Tate Ankeny joining us this week! Susan is the author of American Flygirl, the story of Hazel Ying Lee, and The Girl and The Bombardier. She's joining us to talk about the incredible life of Hazel, the first Chinese-American woman to hold a pilots license in the US, as well as the first Chinese-American woman to serve in the WASP during the war. Join us as we share the lasting impact of a life cut short, over 80 years later. 

Join us for the first of a three part series on The WASP! We're kicking off Women's History Month with the story of the Women's Airforce Service Pilots and how some of the bravest women to serve in WWII were civilian pilots until 1977. Despite their skill, unwavering dedication and two strong leaders, these women fought harder than most during the war for an equal shot at serving their country the only way they knew how- from the sky. 

We're rolling up our sleeves and getting to work! We're unraveling the truths and statistics of one of the most prominent figures of WWII: Rosie The Riveter. Learn how one image sparked a movement across the United States that sent women running to join the workforce, and how Rosie's are still rolling up their sleeves today. So grab your polka dot head scarf and head for the factories, because "we can do it!"

Batter Up! Come join us as we talk about the All American Girls Professional Baseball League. We're swapping donuts for cracker jacks as we talk the true story of the women who stepped up to bat when baseball's biggest stars went off to war, and how they inspired the Penny Marshall classic that taught a generation "there's no crying in baseball!" 

Join us back in The Clubmobile as we dive into the incredible history of The 6888 Postal Battalion of the Women's Army Corp. We'll be talking about the history of the WAC, the journey that the 6888 embarked on during WWII and what made that journey so unique. We're also discussing the newly released film of the same name, starring Kerry Washington. Joining us this week is friend of the pod, Sage, who was so kind as to give their opinion and join us in discussion. You don't want to miss this one! 

Happy New Year from The Clubmobile! Join us for our first episode of the year, and like the woman herself, it's a big one! We're talking about the life of Lee Miller; best known for her poignant photography during WWII. Join us as we discuss her career as a war correspondent, the struggles she faced as a woman in a man's world and how she became known as the woman who had her photo taken in Hitler's bathtub. 

Merry Christmas from The Clubmobile! Join us as we talk all things Hollywood during WWII and take a step back in time as we revisit both the Stage Door and Hollywood Canteens. We're also diving into the powerful reach of Bob Hope's USO Tours and the brave women who joined him overseas. 

Join us for our first episode as we discuss the women of the American Red Cross and deep dive into the Donut Dollies and how their voluntary unit brought comfort and raised morale on the battlefield during World War II.