Last year, Congress finally recognized the contributions of America’s first women military pilots, the Women Air Force Service Pilots.
A shortage of male pilots during World War II created an opportunity for women to serve as flight trainers, test pilots, and to carry transport and troops. Women pilots flew material to make the atomic bomb, and also dared to test the most dangerous of aircraft, including the fabled Widowmaker.
Yet the Women Airforce Service Pilots were never officially recognized as members of the military. The WASP program was canceled a few weeks after the last class graduated in nineteen forty-four. For one thing, the war was nearing an end.
The women had paid their own way to get to the training base in Sweetwater, Texas. Now dismissed, they had to pay their own way to get home.
Thirty-eight women lost their lives in the WASP program. There were no military honors for these women. Their own families had to pay for their burials.
You can read more about the pioneering women WASPS here.
Also, for more information about women in aviation, check out The Ninety-Nines International webpage.
The Ninety-Nines, Inc., is an international organization of licensed women pilots from 35 countries – we currently have thousands of members throughout the world. We are a non-profit, charitable membership corporation holding 501(c)(3) U.S. tax status. Our International Headquarters is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Although there are other female pilot organizations in various states and nations, virtually all women of achievement in aviation have been or are members of The Ninety-Nines.
The organization came into being November 2, 1929, at Curtiss Field, Valley Stream, Long Island, New York. All 117 American female pilots had been invited to assemble for mutual support and the advancement of aviation. Louise Thaden was elected secretary and worked tirelessly to keep the group together as we struggled to organize and grow until 1931, when Amelia Earhart was elected as first president and the group was named for the 99 charter members.
Further details on the history of women pilots with special emphasis on military service can be found here.
With most sincere thanks to all the members of our military for your service and your sacrifice. Thank you.
Once again, with special remembrances to:
Private Alfred Edwin Lawrence Jr.
US Marine Corps
Korea
Private Thomas Lowen
US Marine Corps
Okinawa
For more posts dedicated to the memory of our fallen heroes, click here.
