Women Airforce Service Pilots

Women Airforce Service Pilots
US Department of the Air Force. · Public domain · source
Name	Women Airforce Service Pilots
Abbreviation	WASP
Formed	1943
Disbanded	1944
Purpose	ferrying, testing, training, tow-targets
Headquarters	Avenger Field
Membership	~1,100 (completed training)
Notable people	Jacqueline Cochran, Nancy Harkness Love, Cornelia Fort, Betty Gillies, Ann Baumgartner

Women Airforce Service Pilots

The Women Airforce Service Pilots program trained and employed American female aviators to fly military aircraft during World War II, integrating personnel drawn from civilian Civil Air Patrol, Ninety-Nines, and civilian flight schools to support United States Army Air Forces operations; organizers included aviation leaders such as Jacqueline Cochran and Nancy Harkness Love, and training occurred at facilities like Avenger Field and bases associated with Wright Field, Randolph Field, and Ellington Field. The program delivered pilots for ferrying, testing, target towing, and training duties that relieved male pilots for combat assignments in theaters such as the European Theater of World War II and the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II, while members included pioneers like Cornelia Fort, Betty Gillies, Ann Baumgartner, Florence "Pancho" Barnes, and Harriet Quimby (note: early aviator).

Origins and Formation

Early proposals for women aviators were advanced by figures affiliated with United States Army Air Forces Ferrying Division, led by Colonel Robert Olds and later General Henry H. Arnold, and by civilian leaders of organizations such as the Ninety-Nines and Women Flyers of America. The program developed from parallel initiatives: Nancy Harkness Love's Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron concept and Jacqueline Cochran’s independent recruiting and training efforts supported by the Office of the Chief of Air Corps and approved by officials in Washington, D.C. and at the Pentagon. Recruit selection drew licensed pilots with ratings from civil registries maintained by agencies linked to Civil Aeronautics Administration and training obligations were coordinated with airfield commanders at Avenger Field, Waco Regional Airport, and Love Field.

Training and Duties

WASP candidates underwent transition and instrument instruction at primary bases associated with Randolph Field and advanced training at military depots and engineering centers such as Wright Field and Air Technical Service Command units, receiving type ratings for aircraft manufactured by companies like Boeing, North American Aviation, Lockheed, Curtiss-Wright, and Douglas Aircraft Company. Duties included ferrying new and repaired aircraft between depots and embarkation points, performing test flights for Air Materiel Command and United Aircraft Corporation overflight checks, towing aerial targets for anti-aircraft artillery training for units attached to Army Ground Forces, and instructing in military flight schools aligned with Army Air Forces Training Command.

Operational Contributions During World War II

WASP pilots ferried thousands of military aircraft types including bombers such as the B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator, fighters like the P-51 Mustang and P-47 Thunderbolt, and transports such as the C-47 Skytrain from factories operated by Northrop Corporation and Consolidated Aircraft to operational units at depots tied to the Air Transport Command and forward staging areas supporting the Normandy landings and Pacific logistics chains. They conducted acceptance flights for contracts with manufacturers including Republic Aviation and participated in flight test programs at Edwards Air Force Base predecessor facilities, reducing delivery times for units serving under commanders such as General Dwight D. Eisenhower and General Douglas MacArthur.

Challenges, Discrimination, and Legal Status

From inception, WASP personnel faced resistance from Congressional committees in United States Congress, opposition from some senior officers in the United States Army Air Forces, and unequal treatment by bureaucracies housed in Washington, D.C. agencies such as the Veterans Administration; they were classified as civilian employees rather than military members, denying them military benefits, survivor pensions, and official casualty status when accidents occurred at fields like Eglin Field and Newark Army Air Field. Efforts by advocates including Eleanor Roosevelt allies and later litigation and lobbying involving figures such as Bob Hope and veteran groups led to prolonged debates in United States Senate and hearings before committees chaired by lawmakers from states with major manufacturing centers like California and Texas.

Postwar Careers and Recognition

After disbandment, many alumni returned to roles in civil aviation, commercial airlines regulated by the Civil Aeronautics Board, aerospace industry positions at firms like Bell Aircraft and Grumman, or pursued careers in education and public service in cities including Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. A sustained campaign for recognition culminated in honors such as inclusion in commemorative exhibits at institutions like the Smithsonian Institution and posthumous awards presented by presidents including Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama, with legislative milestones achieved through acts introduced in the United States Congress that acknowledged service and restored veteran status.

Legacy and Cultural Impact

The program influenced later integration of women into United States Air Force roles and inspired generations of aviators represented in museums such as the National Air and Space Museum and the Pima Air & Space Museum, alumni associations, and media portrayals in works referencing figures like Amelia Earhart, Bessie Coleman, Willa Brown, and Sally Ride. Commemorations include monuments in locations such as Arlington National Cemetery adjunct memorials, exhibits in aviation heritage centers in Texas, Ohio, and California, and citations in histories by authors and scholars associated with Air University and the Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press, shaping discourse in biographies, documentaries, and curricula at institutions like Mount Holyoke College and Smith College.

Category:Women in aviation Category:United States Army Air Forces history