Even before Pearl Harbor, pilot Nancy Harkness Love proposed the idea that women could ferry planes within the U.S., freeing men for combat. The following year, on September 10, 1942, the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS) was formed for experienced female pilots. At the same time, Jacqueline Cochran, a premier female pilot, had been campaigning for women pilots in the military, as part of the Army Air Force. The result was the Women's Flying Training Detachment (WFTD), which formed in September 1942 with Cochran at the helm as a separate training program for less experienced pilots. On August 5, 1943, the WFTD and WAFS merged into the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) with Jackie Cochran as the director.
The WASP trained at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Tex., the only all-female pilot training base in the country. Training was rigorous; more than 50 percent of the women washed out of the program. WASP pilots flew bombers, pursuit (fighter) planes, and the first American military jet planes. Among the many duties of the WASP was ferrying aircraft from factories to bases, testing planes, and training pilots. Although many still lost their lives, they were not permitted to fly in combat. WASP pilots never had military status and the program was disbanded in December 1944.
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WASP in PT plane at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Tex., in 1943. PT, for primary trainer, was the common designation for for planes used in the initial stage of World War II flight training. The next level was the BT planes, or basic trainers. (Dorothy Hoover Collection, #WV-0170) |
WASPs in their A-2 leather jackets at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Tex., 1944. This all-female military base housed the WASP. Though they had all logged hours of flying prior to their arrival, these women pilots endured rigorous training. Slightly less than 50 percent received their wings and continued to fly. (Susie Winston Bain Collection, #WV-0185) |
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Before the development of their Santiago blue WASP uniforms, the women were issued Army Air Force flight suits. Referred to as "zoot suits" by the WASP, these flight suits were usually size 42 and much too large for the WASP women. (Dorothy Avery Collection, #WV-0204) |
The Santiago-blue WASP battledress jacket with Fifinella patch. The jacket was worn with matching Santiago-blue trousers. (Susie Winston Bain Collection, #WV-0185) |
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Close-up of the Fifinella patch on the battledress jacket. Fifinella, a “good” gremlin, had been designed by Walt Disney. Disney allowed the WASP to use the character as its mascot. (Susie Winston Bain Collection, #WV-0185) |
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