Rosie the Riveters

Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation hired 8000 women to work in its factories during World War II. They did more than rivet, they were assemblers, inspectors, testers, etc. They assisted in the building of Wildcats, Hellcats, Avengers and amphibians for the Navy.

When the war ended on VJ Day, in August 1945, all the women were laid off.

Bethpage women who were in this program were: Margaret Cava Carvo, Edith Nicholson, Dorothy Nelson Rabas, and Ethel Nelson Surprise.

Some of the ladies hired during this time served in the engineering department and as test pilots.