You're soaring at 20,000 feet in a B-26 bomber with only basic instruments. No radio. No parachute. Engine oil smears the windshield. Below, Texas scrubland stretches endlessly. This was Tuesday for Dora Dougherty Strother, one of those incredible Women Airforce Service Pilots during WW2. Most people don't realize these women faced more than just mechanical failures - they battled skepticism, prejudice, and a military bureaucracy that didn't want them. I remember feeling stunned when I first learned they weren't even considered military personnel until 1977. Let's uncover what really happened.
Who Were the Women Airforce Service Pilots?
The Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program started in 1942 when America desperately needed pilots. With male pilots shipping overseas, someone had to ferry planes from factories to bases. Enter Jacqueline Cochran and Nancy Love – two phenomenal pilots who convinced General Hap Arnold to create a female pilot corps. Their pitch was simple: let women handle stateside flying jobs so men can fight.
Over 25,000 women applied. Only 1,830 made it through training. These weren't hobby fliers – they were serious aviators with commercial licenses or extensive flight hours. They came from all walks: society girls, teachers, even a crop-duster from Kansas. What united them? Pure grit and love for flying.
The Rigorous Selection Process
Getting accepted into the WASP program was tougher than modern flight school. Requirements included:
- Age 21-35 (though some lied about their age)
- Minimum 500 flight hours (waived to 200 when too few qualified)
- High school diploma (rare for women then)
- Passing brutal physicals identical to male pilots
| Training Aspect | Male Pilots | WASP |
|---|---|---|
| Flight Hours Required | 200 hours | 210 hours (minimum) |
| Classroom Instruction | 12 weeks | 23 weeks |
| Avg. Flight Time Before Solo | 10-12 hours | 15-18 hours |
| Pay Grade | Flight Officer ($245/mo) | Civil Service ($150/mo) |
See that pay difference? That still bothers me. These women flew identical missions but earned 40% less. Worse, they paid for their own room and board. And if killed? Families received no death benefits, no flag on the coffin. Thirty-eight WASP died serving.
What Did WASP Actually Do?
Their duties went far beyond flying Piper Cubs between airfields. WASP pilots:
High-Stakes Missions
Ever hear of the "Widowmaker"? That's what pilots called the B-26 Martin Marauder. Male pilots refused to fly it after early crashes. Commanders sent WASP pilots like Dora Strother to prove it was airworthy. She mastered it within days. That takes nerves of steel.
Other dangerous assignments:
- Towing Targets: Flying while live ammunition was fired at fabric sleeves behind their planes
- Radio-Control Testing: Piloting explosive-laden drones via radio signals
- Engine Testing: Pushing planes to altitude limits with questionable engines
I spoke with a museum curator who showed me WASP flight logs. One entry simply read: "Engine quit over Rockies. Glided to alternate field." Like it was nothing special.
Breaking Barriers and Facing Resistance
Not everyone welcomed these women. Many male pilots resented them. Mechanics sometimes "forgot" to service their planes. Congress constantly debated disbanding them. The press mocked them as "fly girls."
Cornelia Fort witnessed the Pearl Harbor attack while training a civilian student. She joined WASP immediately after. Her letters home reveal the tension: "The officers treat us like curiosities. The enlisted men either leer or ignore us completely."
The Aircraft They Mastered
These women flew everything from tiny trainers to heavy bombers. Their versatility was unmatched:
| Aircraft Type | Model Examples | Primary Use | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fighters | P-51 Mustang, P-47 Thunderbolt | Ferrying, testing | High (complex controls) |
| Bombers | B-17 Flying Fortress, B-29 Superfortress | Training, demonstration | Extreme (multi-engine) |
| Transports | C-47 Skytrain, C-54 Skymaster | Cargo, personnel transport | High (heavy aircraft) |
| Trainers | PT-17 Stearman, AT-6 Texan | Primary pilot training | Moderate |
Betty Gillies became the first woman to fly the B-17. Imagine that - no checklists, no simulators. Just raw skill. She later quipped, "The controls felt heavy, but no heavier than my husband's snoring."
Why the Program Ended Suddenly
December 1944. Victory in Europe seems certain. Without warning, Congress deactivates WASP. No ceremony. No thanks. Just dismissal notices. The official reason? "Male pilots need these jobs."
The real story was messier:
- Commercial airlines lobbied to reserve postwar jobs for men
- Congress objected to militarizing female pilots
- Public perception shifted as casualties decreased
Pilots had to pay their own way home. No veterans benefits. No recognition. For 33 years, they were forgotten military anomalies. That still angers historians I've interviewed.
The Long Road to Recognition
In 1977 - thirty-three years after disbanding - Congress finally granted WASP military veteran status. Not full veterans, mind you. "Active duty designees." Still, it allowed access to VA benefits.
Key Recognition Milestones:
- 1977: Veteran status granted (after intense lobbying)
- 2002: Texas Woman's University hosts first WASP archives
- 2009: Congressional Gold Medal awarded collectively
- 2010: WASP inducted into National Aviation Hall of Fame
I visited the National WASP WWII Museum in Sweetwater, Texas. Seeing Hazel Ying Lee's flight jacket - the first Chinese-American WASP - brought tears to my eyes. She died ferrying a P-63 in 1944.
Where to Experience WASP History Today
For those wanting to explore this history firsthand:
Top Museums and Memorials
- National WASP WWII Museum (Sweetwater, TX): Original training hangars with flight simulators
- National Museum of the USAF (Dayton, OH): WASP uniforms and personal artifacts
- Women in Military Service Memorial (Arlington, VA): Oral histories and service records
- Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum (Honolulu, HI): WASP exhibit near Cornelia Fort's station
Many WASP memoirs are still in print. "Yankee Doodle Gals" by Amy Nathan remains the most comprehensive. I found Ann Carl's "A WASP Among Eagles" particularly gripping - she tested jet engines before they were reliable.
Frequently Asked Questions About Women's Airforce Service Pilots
Were WASP considered real military during WW2?
No, and this caused endless problems. They were civil service employees without military rank or benefits. When a WASP died, fellow pilots had to collect money to ship her body home.
What percentage of applicants became WASP pilots?
Only about 7% succeeded. The 1943 class had 1,830 graduates from over 25,000 applications. Training washed out nearly 25% of trainees.
Did any WASP see combat overseas?
Officially no. But rumors persist about women flying transport routes over occupied France. Declassified files suggest some flew classified weather reconnaissance missions near conflict zones.
How were WASP different from Soviet night witches?
Unlike Soviet female combat regiments, WASP focused on stateside support. They didn't drop bombs but enabled those who did. Soviet women flew flimsy wooden planes on night raids - equally brave but very different missions.
Why did it take until 2009 for Congressional recognition?
Simple bureaucracy and fading memories. Most WASP were in their 80s before receiving the Gold Medal. Sadly, 200 attendees passed away before the ceremony. Typical government foot-dragging if you ask me.
The Lasting Impact of Women Airforce Service Pilots
These pioneers cracked aviation's glass ceiling before the term existed. After the war, they became:
- Commercial aviation's first female executives (like Jacqueline Cochran at Eastern Airlines)
- NASA consultants during the Mercury program
- Flight instructors who trained the Apollo astronauts
- Advocates for military equality leading to 1991's combat pilot repeal
Modern female fighter pilots stand on WASP shoulders. When Major Jackie Parker flew the first F-35 combat mission in 2019, she carried a WASP patch. "They cleared the turbulence," she told reporters. That metaphor sticks with me.
So next time you see a female pilot, remember the Women Airforce Service Pilots of WW2. They weren't just flying planes - they were fighting for legitimacy with every landing. Their story remains one of aviation's most inspiring chapters. Worth learning about, don't you think?
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