Hi Puzzlers,
From the moment the puzzle of Mark Karvon’s Airplanes of WWII arrived I have been fascinated by these planes and with thoughts of the people who flew them. I’ve heard stories about warplanes of WWII having been piloted by women but had yet to investigate what capacity of piloting they really did and why it wasn’t in any of the history I had been taught in school regarding WWII.
As it turns out, women were pilots in WWII! The first squadron of twenty-five women was commissioned under Jacqueline Cochran at the request of the British to ferry airplanes for the British Air Transport Auxiliary. At the same time, in the United States, Nancy Harkness Love began recruiting women to ferry planes for the Air Transport Command.
In November of 1942 at the Municipal Airport in Houston, TX training began for the first class of 319th WFTD with Cochran as the commander. This class was known as the “guinea pigs”. In 1943 the name was changed to Women’s Airforce Service Pilots-WASPS!
Training consisted of 210 flight hours and 285 hours of ground school, taking seven months to complete. The 1,074 woman graduates went on to ferry 12,650 planes. “Half of all fighters planes manufactured were ferried by the WASPS who flew over sixty million miles. Thirty-eight of these women gave their lives serving their country.”
These women not only ferried the planes but tested new and repaired planes, which was extremely dangerous. They taught male pilots how to fly the new planes, towed targets, flew tracking, smoke-laying, staffing and simulated bombing missions!
These “guinea pigs” had to pay all of their own expenses, which included room and board, and their own way to Texas. Thirty-five years after being deactivated, in 1977 the US government finally gave the WASPs honorable discharges and veterans’ benefits.
WOW! Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “You go girl” doesn’t it!!!
Happy Puzzling!
From the moment the puzzle of Mark Karvon’s Airplanes of WWII arrived I have been fascinated by these planes and with thoughts of the people who flew them. I’ve heard stories about warplanes of WWII having been piloted by women but had yet to investigate what capacity of piloting they really did and why it wasn’t in any of the history I had been taught in school regarding WWII.
As it turns out, women were pilots in WWII! The first squadron of twenty-five women was commissioned under Jacqueline Cochran at the request of the British to ferry airplanes for the British Air Transport Auxiliary. At the same time, in the United States, Nancy Harkness Love began recruiting women to ferry planes for the Air Transport Command.
In November of 1942 at the Municipal Airport in Houston, TX training began for the first class of 319th WFTD with Cochran as the commander. This class was known as the “guinea pigs”. In 1943 the name was changed to Women’s Airforce Service Pilots-WASPS!
Training consisted of 210 flight hours and 285 hours of ground school, taking seven months to complete. The 1,074 woman graduates went on to ferry 12,650 planes. “Half of all fighters planes manufactured were ferried by the WASPS who flew over sixty million miles. Thirty-eight of these women gave their lives serving their country.”
These women not only ferried the planes but tested new and repaired planes, which was extremely dangerous. They taught male pilots how to fly the new planes, towed targets, flew tracking, smoke-laying, staffing and simulated bombing missions!
These “guinea pigs” had to pay all of their own expenses, which included room and board, and their own way to Texas. Thirty-five years after being deactivated, in 1977 the US government finally gave the WASPs honorable discharges and veterans’ benefits.
WOW! Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “You go girl” doesn’t it!!!
Happy Puzzling!
Very interesting reading. I knew women were involved in service during World War II but didn't know they actually flew. Thanks for the information! Keep writing :-)
ReplyDeleteVery interesting reading,thanks
ReplyDelete