St. Petersburg became a training hub during World War II, filled with soldiers, sailors, and pilots preparing for deployment. But behind the scenes, a group of women helped keep morale alive and the war effort moving.
They were called the Bomb-a-Dears.
As part of the local Area Defense Council, these women volunteered to host dances, dinners, and entertainment for servicemen stationed in the city. Their work was not glamorous. It was steady, organized, and relentless. Along with socializing and dancing, the Bomb-a-Dears promoted War Bond sales and wrote letters to soldiers who had shipped out.
Over the course of the war, around 500 women served in the group. Together, they organized more than 1,200 dances for an estimated 350,000 servicemen.
They operated out of six centers in downtown St. Petersburg, but the largest was located on the Million Dollar Pier.
The Bomb-a-Dears are a reminder that wartime service came in many forms. Some women fought with uniforms. Others fought with community, comfort, and an open dance floor.
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