WASP and what it means to us.

Today we visited the WASP Museum in Sweetwater Texas.  It is at the site where one of the original hangers was.  The hanger was built in 1929. 

Terry’s mom trained there in 1944 to be a WASP, these women were the first to fly military air craft, they would ferry aircraft, towed targets for the men to shoot at, with live ammo, and various other duties.  She was one woman I would have liked to have met, but I came into Terrys life 2 years too late.  It was very jaw dropping to walk where she walked.  I know many people have had that sort of experience, visiting historic sites and thinking about Uncle So and So, Grandpa, etc, so I am sure those of you who have done that understand. 

Because I do not recall learning about the WASP program in school, and I have been told that my 11 year old nephew has never heard of this program, I thought I would give some history about it. 

First off, WASP stands for Women Airforce Service Pilots (I am sure when it first started the “force” part was not included in the name, but I digress).
Way back before the US was in WWII President Franklin Roosevelt believed it was just a matter of time before we were drawn into the war…and how right he was, so he ordered the Armed Forces to be placed on a war footing. 
Jacqueline Cochran and Nancy Harkness Love understood that male pilots would be needed on the front lines, and that Women aviators wanted to help in the war effort by serving as test pilots and ferrying aircraft from Factories to Air Bases, but alas the resistance of the military leadership scoffed at the idea, and in my words “those pretty little ladies cant fly these planes, they are not built for it”, and even though The FLOTUS was a fan, it took the attack on Pearl Harbor to change the perception of how women could help with the war effort.

Thus began the WASP program, and 25,000 women applied to be WASPs, but because it was very tough training, military style, only 1074 graduated.  The WASP program only lasted a couple of years, from about 1942 to December 7, 1944, when the final graduating class graduated and was sent home.

These women, although flying every type of military aircraft at the time were not even considered members of the armed services, in fact they had to pay for their “uniform” out of pocket.  Several of the women were killed while serving and were not given any type of military benefit, not even a flag, the women in their classes, would actually help pay for services, again out of their own pockets. It took until 1977 for Congress to recognize that these women were in fact military, and deem them eligible for all benefits afforded to them as such.  In fact,  my mother in laws discharge, is signed by Bill Clinton….

Just as recent as 2010 WASP members were given the Congressional Gold Medal, for their service, it has taken way too long for all of this to come about.

Ok there of course is a lot more information about WASP, but enough of my lecture of the day, I want to share pictures with you. 
                                  
This is at Avenger Field, the US Government actually leased this Airport from the City of Sweetwater, for a grand total of $1.00 a year.
                                     
Terry pointing out his mothers name.  She actually learned to fly in the Ohio Civil Air Patrol, against her fathers wishes.

                                              
                                 This is the Historical Marker.

                                    

                                         

                                
The Fifinella, or Fifi, is the official WASP mascot, the designer is none other than Walt Disney Studios.

        
                      A replica of the housing, 6 girls to a room and their desks.

        
Flight trainer, yep we saw a video of some of the women getting into one of  these to do instrument training.

                          
Hope the women were not claustrophobic…….it’s a tight squeeze in there.

                                 

There used to be a runway here……long gone, just like the housing the women used, and almost every other structure out here.  Mother Nature is taking it back over, and the circle of life goes on.

Below are two links to much more information about WASPs, please read and enjoy.
Museum website
Official Archive With many links from TWU
They do a “Homecoming” every year, for the ladies to have a reunion, unfortunately there are only about 108 of them left, and their stories will be gone with them.   Although several have written books, done interviews, etc, there are many more stories to hear, and I wish I could hear them all.  These women are the ones that made it possible for the women of today to be Military Pilots and for that, if nothing else, I salute them, they are my heroes!