Women Airforce Service Pilots
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The Women Airforce Service Pilots, also known as WASP, were a group of civilian female pilots employed to fly military aircraft under the direction of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.
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[edit] Creation of the WASP
Pilots Jackie Cochran and Nancy Harkness Love independently submitted proposals for the use of female pilots in non-combat missions to the Army Air Force after the outbreak of World War II in Europe. The motivation for both proposals was to free up more male pilots for combat roles by employing qualified female pilots on missions such as ferrying aircraft from factories to military bases, and towing drones/aerial targets. However, it was not until the attack on Pearl Harbor brought the United States directly into the war and it became evident that there were not enough male pilots, that General Henry H. "Hap" Arnold, commander of the USAAF, was willing to consider the proposals seriously. Cochran's and Love's squadrons were established separately (as the Women’s Flying Training Detachment and Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron, respectively) in 1942 and then merged to form the Women Airforce Service Pilots in 1943.
[edit] Duties of the WASP
The WASP training program was based at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas. The living and working conditions for the women were very rough, as few of the bases they flew in and out of had any accommodations at all for female pilots. In addition to ferrying aircraft, WASP pilots were also employed for such duties as towing targets and gliders, and flying training missions for bombardiers. WASP eventually flew every type of aircraft that was in use by the Army Air Force at the time, including jet aircraft and the large B-29 Superfortress bomber.
Out of 25,000 applicants, 1,830 women were accepted into the WASP training program, 1,074 were graduated, and 38 died in service to their country.
[edit] Battle for Militarization
The WASP were considered civil service employees and did not receive military benefits. On June 21, 1944, a bill in the United States House of Representatives to give the WASP military status was narrowly defeated after civilian male pilots lobbied against the idea. As a result, General Arnold ordered that the WASP be disbanded by December 20, 1944. All records of the WASP were classified and sealed for 30 years, so their contributions to the war effort were little known and inaccessible to historians for many years. Finally, in 1977, President Jimmy Carter signed legislation granting the WASP military status.
The female gremlin Fifinella, originally conceived by Roald Dahl and drawn by Walt Disney, was used as the WASPs' official mascot, appearing on their patch.
[edit] Notable WASP aviators
[edit] See also
- Women Airforce Service Pilots Badge
- Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF)
- Women's Army Corps
- WAVES
- SPARS
[edit] Further reading
- Granger, Byrd Howell. On Final Approach: The Women Airforce Service Pilots of W.W.II. Falconer Publishing Co., 1991.
- Merryman, Molly. Clipped Wings: The Rise and Fall of the Women Airforce Service Pilots. New York University Press, 2001.
- Schrader, Helena. Sisters in Arms: British and American Women Pilots During World War II. Pen and Sword Books, 2006.
[edit] External links
- WASP on the WEB
- PBS American Experience: Fly Girls — Website for the PBS documentary on the WASP.
- Texas Woman's University: Women Airforce Service Pilots Collection — This collection includes oral histories, photographs, and other archival collections on the WASP.
- Blitzkreig Baby — Information on WWII US women's service organizations, including uniforms.
- USAF Museum: Women Pilots in World War II History — Air Force Museum virtual exhibit.
- Winged Auxiliaries: Women Pilots in the UK and US during World War Two — Draws comparisons between British ATA and American WASP pilots in World War II.
