Flying captured a sense of adventure and a risk that was irresistible to the female spirit. From E. Lillian Todd (1906) who was the first woman to design and build an airplane to Amelia Earhart, the president of the Ninety-Nines and all other women who set records in flight, women have excelled in aviation from its rudimentary beginnings. Today, women pilots are trained as the skilled, elite technological class mastering the once inner sanctum of a male dominated sphere of influence. During WWII when there was a shortage of male pilots, a trial induction was launched to train women to fly military cargo aircraft to fill the void. Teachers, nurses, homemakers and, everyone in between, signed up to serve their country as an aviator. WASP, or Women Airforce Service Pilots, and Women’s Flying Training Detachments, WFTD and Women’s Ferrying Auxiliary Squadron, WFAS, were the pioneering organizations of civilian female pilots employed to train to fly military aircraft during WWII.
Many proposals were declined to enlist them until 1942 with the influence of Mrs. Roosevelt’s urging and blessing. Women still had many gender barriers to conquer in their military service, but prevailed to pursue their passion for flying and serving their country. After the war ended, it would be another 30 years before women flew again for the US military. Today, military women pilots are responsible for the exact same training and skill that their male counterpart must exhibit and fly in combat conditions.
No military honors were bestowed upon the WASPs for their efforts during WWII, however, official recognition came 35 years later with the WWII Victory Medal in 1984 assigned to each WASP. Also the American Theater Ribbon/American Campaign Medals were assigned; many posthumously, and in 2009 the WASP Congressional Gold Medal was signed into law with some surviving 300 WASP witnesses present. See the American Campaign Medals at http://www.saundersinsignia.com/american-campaign-p-8450.html
Many proposals were declined to enlist them until 1942 with the influence of Mrs. Roosevelt’s urging and blessing. Women still had many gender barriers to conquer in their military service, but prevailed to pursue their passion for flying and serving their country. After the war ended, it would be another 30 years before women flew again for the US military. Today, military women pilots are responsible for the exact same training and skill that their male counterpart must exhibit and fly in combat conditions.
No military honors were bestowed upon the WASPs for their efforts during WWII, however, official recognition came 35 years later with the WWII Victory Medal in 1984 assigned to each WASP. Also the American Theater Ribbon/American Campaign Medals were assigned; many posthumously, and in 2009 the WASP Congressional Gold Medal was signed into law with some surviving 300 WASP witnesses present. See the American Campaign Medals at http://www.saundersinsignia.com/american-campaign-p-8450.html
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