Helen Airy

Doughnut Dollies: American Red Cross Girls During World War II : a Novel Helen Airy

American service men in England during World War II called American Red Cross girls ''Doughnut Dollies.'' It was a warm and affectionate term designed to show the soldiers' appreciation for the morale-building efforts of the American Red Cross. The Red Cross girls operated ''clubmobiles'' which were driven to air bases where the girls served fresh doughnuts, hot coffee, and broadcast Big Band music over loud-speakers to welcome airmen as they returned from missions overseas. Red Cross girls also helped establish and operate recreation clubs wherever American service men were stationed. In London, fourteen American Red Cross clubs furnished entertainment, meals, snacks and maintained dormitories for soldiers on leave. This novel is the story of two Red Cross Aero Club directors stationed on air fields where they were instructed to establish recreation clubs. It is a story of their accomplishments, frustrations, romances, and the tragedies they witnessed and experienced.