Historical Perspective FRONTIERS

A group of Women Airforce Service Pilots walks by a Boeing B-17. More than 1,000 American women joined the WASP during World War II.

BOEING ARCHIVES photo

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Women Airforce Service (renamed U.S. Air Force in 1947), WASP or the B-26s or the B-25s, pass through their trailblazerswere considered part of the Civil Service transition training as successfully as male Pilots did everything and received no military benefits. In fact, pilots and thereafter carry on regularly in when a WASP member made the ultimate operations without undue fatigue or higher- short of combat flights sacrifice for her country, her family and than-normal accident rate.” friends paid for her unceremonious final Cochran convinced Arnold and By Ev e Du m o v i c h trip home. U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt of spearheaded the the value of this concept after she ferried a uring World War II, 1,074 American formation of WASP in 1942 when there across the women left homes, families and was a shortage of male pilots, and train- Atlantic in 1942. At the time, both Djobs to risk their lives as the ing women as pilots would release more England and Russia were using women to country’s first female military pilots. As men for air combat. Cochran was an ac- ferry airplanes. Women Airforce Service Pilots, they complished aviator who in 1953 would be- By September 1942, the U.S. Air Trans- flew more than 60 million miles on every come the first woman to break the sound port Command authorized the employment type of mission except actual combat. barrier, in North American’s F-86 Sabre of women flyers, and the Ferry Command Although 38 died in service, more than 30 jet, and the first woman to fly at twice was training women as pilots. Cochran years passed before Congress recognized the speed of sound, in a North American headed the 319th Army Air Force Flying WASP as war veterans. A-5 Vigilante. She went on to serve for Detachment, based in Houston. Nancy These pilots trained, flew and served as 30 years as a member of the board of direc- Love, another skilled pilot, headed the Air hard, and as well, as their male counter- tors of , a prede- Transport Command Squadron, designat- parts. They trained new male and female cessor of Boeing. ed the Women’s Auxiliary Ferry Service, pilots, tested new planes and towed tar- In her final report to Army Air Forces based at New Castle Army Air Base, Del. gets through live ammunition. In 1943 and Gen. Henry “Hap” Arnold in 1944, The two units operated separately until 1944, the WASP took more than 12,000 Cochran wrote: “It was of importance to 1943, when Arnold consolidated them as , from P-51 fighters to the big prove that a whole group of women, without the WASP, directed by Cochran. Love be- Boeing , to battle theatres. Yet un- special selection except for physical require- came staff director of WASP serving with like the male pilots in the Army Air Forces ments, could be assigned to the Fortresses the Air Transport Command.

8 MARCH 2008 BOEING FRONTIERS men in Air Forces training programs, in programs, training Forces Air in men of Thousands troops. ground to emphasis military the invasion ofshifted ing of combat. short needed, everything do could pilots women that graduates new the “Best told He World.” the the in to Pilots Women dedicated plaque bronze with a WASP the presented Arnold 1944, center. training awomen-only came of that Avenger after male cadets; Field be class last the with facility the shared they period brief a For Texas. Sweetwater, in AvengerField1943, 1, to WASP relocated Nov. On crowded. too became facility ton Hous the soon and month, every began es Municipal in Houston. Airport New class Hughes Howard the at 1942,Nov.16, ing training cadets. by male the taken that to identical was combat, for required flying aerobatic and formation of exception the With instruction. flight of hours 210 and school ground of hours 400 than more ed at time. of 35 flying least hours and education school high a have and representative, her or inter Cochran by be viewed exam, physical tough a pass to had Applicants 1,074 graduated. these, Of training. WASP for accepted were 1,830 benefits. itary not for qualify flightpay mil did or otherstandard they so status, Service Civil rary tempo on employees federal as accepted were WASP approval,trainees gressional Con for waited status military complete sits intheP-51BMustangthatsheflew1946and1948BendixT Jackie Cochran,whohelpedwiththeformationofWomen Airforce ServicePilots, But by Febr u a r y 1944, pla ns for the com the for ns pla 1944, y r a u Febr by But in ceremonies graduation WASP At train began recruits 28 of class first The The 27 weeks of WASP includ training and applied women 25,000 than More pilots women giving legislation While BOEING Perspective FRONTIERSHistorical MARCH 2008 MARCH FRONTIERS BOEING ------bills and hearings. and bills Congressional new of process a Arnold— started Gen. deceased of son —the the (retired) Arnold Bruce Col.of under guidance Committee Militarization a a 1974, in sparked reunion next their By fire. new Sweetwater at WASP mer secret.” years, “top stamped and sealed were 30 For bases air the at forget. service WASPof did records Sweet- America at Yet WASP of water. group last the told Arnold you,” to debt our forget never will we and you of proud are Force Air Army way home. own back their paid and chutes para their up WASPhung States, United the across bases At 1944. 20, Dec. released the be would all Pilots Service that Airforce Women saying Arnold from letter a by 19feated votes. de was bill the 1944,21, June On the gram. pro of the discontinue to formation voted and WASP the authorized never Congress claimed Committee Service Civil powerful the However, commissioned. be WASP the should that Arnold with agreed status. and veteran benefits, burial and and coverage, with it, hospitalization insurance status, military to full WASP the designed 4219,grant Bill House squash to into pilots These the lobbiedinfantry. Congress drafted be likely would and servists re as held many status draft-deferred the for eligible longer no were They missed. dis were cadets, for schools contract the and Program Service Training tion’sWar Administra Aeronautics Civil the cluding Then, in 1972, a reunion of 315for of reunion a 1972, in Then, WASP. the all of We and you salute “I received WASP each 1944, 1, Oct. On Committee Service Military The rophy Race. ------

BOEING ARCHIVES photo

9 BOEING ARCHIVES photo Complex ofBaylorUniversityin Waco, Texas. through the Mayborn Museum 1at April WASP exhibit “FLYGIRLS of WWII” isondisplay The MuseumofFlightinSeattle. The traveling currently partofthePersonal Courage Wing at A Women Pilotsdisplayis Airforce Service WASP displays female military pilots in American American in pilots history.” n military first the female as place rightful their occupied last at Forces Air Army World II War the of women gutsy unknown, The footsteps.’ their in follow now who women Force Air 47,000 the inspire and ... veterans as women military status of (retroactive) accorded group been have courageous and tal ented a of sacrifices and efforts ‘the that ing stat discharge, authentic WASP first the ed present Chayes, Antonio Force, Air the of Secretary wrote: Assistant 1971,21,the May she “On , Illustrated History of issue American 1985 November the in published called “WeIn an article gress. Also Served,” Con before testified who those among was B-17 transitiontraining. This group ofWASP pilotscompleted Former WASP Doris Brinker Tanner Tanner Brinker Doris WASP Former [email protected]