Join us Monday, May 27, 2024 as we remember the WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) by visiting their graves and leaving small tributes as a way of honoring their memory and showing gratitude for their service. If you would like to participate, please email wai.austx@gmail.com for information regarding the meetup location and time.

Some background:

The Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) were a group of female pilots who served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. They were the first women to fly military aircraft in the United States and played a crucial role in the war effort.

The WASP program was established in 1942, and by the end of the war, over 1,000 women had joined the program. They flew a variety of aircraft, including bombers, fighters, and transports, and performed a range of tasks, including ferrying planes from factories to military bases, towing targets for anti-aircraft gunners, and testing aircraft for the military.

The WASP women aviators were trained at various airfields across the country, including Sweetwater, Texas, and Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas. They were led by two of the most experienced female pilots of the time, Jacqueline Cochran and Nancy Love.

The WASP women aviators were not officially commissioned as officers, but they were considered civilian contract pilots. They were paid a salary and received benefits, but they did not receive the same recognition or benefits as their male counterparts.

Despite the challenges they faced, the WASP women aviators played a significant role in the war effort and paved the way for future generations of female pilots. They inspired many young women to pursue careers in aviation and helped to break down barriers for women in the military.

Some notable WASP women aviators include Ola Mildred Rexroat, the only Native American woman to serve in the WASP, and Colonel Kimberly Olsen, who credited the WASP for her opportunity to serve her country.