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The Women Aviators of WWII
By Lisa Lane March 2004
Table of Contents
• The Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) • The Women's Flying Training Detachment (WFTD) • The Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP)
In the early 1970's, women were officially authorized to fly military aircraft, most believed that they were the first but many knew otherwise. If you mention to most people that there were women pilots in WWII, most did not know that particular fact and some found it hard to believe. In fact, over 1,130 women flew planes ranging from Piper cubs to B-29 long range bombers. It is said that every aircraft used in World War II had been flown by a woman. They were utilized in flight instruction, ferrying (overseas and domestically), towing targets for anti-aircraft and aerial gunnery practice, engineering testing, tracking and searchlight missions among other assignments. When the war broke out and after much persistence, the U.S. government turned to women to take over the roles of men so they could be released for combat. Many believed that women were just responsible for building the planes but women flew them too. These women were wives, mothers, secretaries, actresses, socialites… they came from a wide range of different backgrounds but had the same motivation. They came for the love of their country and the desire to fly. At one point, 25,000 women applied to fly for the military. It was virtually a secret and a well kept one until the 1970's when the women of WASP fought for the recognition, benefits and rights they so absolutely deserved. With the help of Bruce Arnold, son of General Hap Arnold and the political help from Senator Barry Goldwater, who commanded women pilots in his squadron, the WASP finally gained their overdue militarization from Congress. President Jimmy Carter signed a bill providing Veteran's status to the WASP for their efforts in the Army Air Forces (AAF) during World War II in November 1977 despite the opposition from the American Legion and other Veteran's groups. In May 1979, the women of WASP were officially awarded retroactive military status. It took more than 30 years for this to happen. The following details women's involvement in flight operations in World War II in the Aircraft Transport Auxiliary, Women Aircraft Ferry Squadron, Women's Flying Training Detachment and Women Airforce Service Pilots.
"This is not a time when women should be patient. We are in a war and we need to fight it with all our ability and every weapon possible. WOMEN PILOTS, in this particular case, are a weapon waiting to be used." Eleanor Roosevelt, 1942
The Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) was formed in Great Britain in September 1939 with the primary function of carrying urgent mail, medical supplies and non-operational aircraft. After the war broke out in Europe, the ATA's role changed to a more important mission of ferrying planes from the manufacturers to the Royal Air Force bases in Great Britain . At the start of ATA, the pilots were all men but that soon changed when the men were desperately needed for combat missions. In January 1940, the British Government realized that they were in need of experienced women pilots. They commissioned Pauline Gower, a pilot with 2,000 flying hours, to recruit other women aviators to fly for the ATA. The original 8 women pilots eventually rose to 150 not only from Britain and the United States but Australia , Canada , Chile , Holland , Ireland , New Zealand , Poland and South Africa . Jacqueline Cochran was given the task by General Hap Arnold to recruit qualified female pilots to join the ATA in Great Britain and to observe the women and their capabilities since the U.S. was not ready to take that chance. To generate publicity for the ATA for Great Britain in the United States , Cochran ferried a Hudson Bomber to Britain on June 17, 1941 . She was not, however, allowed to take off and land but she flew the aircraft for most of the flight. She was responsible for recruiting all but six of the American women who flew for the ATA. In the spring of 1942, the first 25 American women pilots were used in official military operations for the ATA under the supervision of Jacqueline Cochran. In order for these women to fly for the ATA, they were required to sign an 18-month contract. To some the thought of women flying for the military was unconscionable. Even though some of the women had better flight records than their male counterparts they were not welcomed. C.G. Grey, the editor of Aeroplane magazine stated that, “they (ATA women) do not have the intelligence to scrub the floor of a hospital properly” and continued by saying, “that they (ATA women) were a "menace" when flying. At first, women were only permitted to fly lighter types of aircraft. As the shortage of male combat pilots increased, the ATA started to realize the benefit of their competent women pilots. During their missions, the women flew everything from Tiger Moths to heavy four-engine bombers such as the B-29. The planes that were ferried were basic airframes with no instruments or navigational aids, radio or fitted weapons. All this while trying to avoid balloon barrages. The pilots were only given handling notes that were strapped to their knee for reference during the flight. Seldom was there time for the pilots to train or practice in the aircraft before it was to be taken to the bases for combat. During its six year history, the ATA had delivered 309,011 aircraft of 120 different types. They employed 1,318 pilots; of them more than 150 were women. By June 1943, the women pilots earned the same wage as the men. Of the 100 casualties of the ATA, 15 were women. On May 22, 1943 one American woman, Mary Nicholson, lost her life while serving with the ATA. Oddly enough, she was Jacqueline Cochran's assistant before she joined the ATA. She was not given any special distinction for her sacrifice since at the time any American women flying under contract for the ATA was considered a civilian, not military. The Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron
While the women flew overseas with the ATA, the U.S. government had its own ferrying division called the Air Transport Command (ATC) under the AAF. The ATC was a worldwide operation responsible for ferrying aircraft and transporting personnel, materials and mail. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December of 1941 and the U.S. 's entry into the war, it was apparent that our own government was in need of women pilots. In September 1942, the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS) was formed under the ATC. The squadron was a select group of women who had to meet extremely high requirements; much higher than men pilots. Nancy Harkness Love, who was chosen to direct the WAFS, set the standard high because she knew that the women where going to be scrutinized. In order to be considered, the women had to be commercially licensed pilots with at least 500 hours flying time and a 200-horsepower rating but most of those who applied had an average of 1,100 hours flying experience. The WAFS were a small group at 28 but were the absolute best female pilots the U.S. had to offer (except those who were serving in ATA). They are known as the “Originals.” The WAFS missions were to ferry AAF trainers and light aircraft from the factories but later they were delivering fighters, bombers, and transports as well. The Women's Flying Training Detachment
Jacqueline Cochran returned to the U.S. after observing the women pilots in the ATA in Great Britain . She expected, upon her return, to start her own women's ferry squadron where she would be in command. When she arrived in the U.S. , she was notified that one had already been assembled. She was not very happy and the WAFS were not want she had envisioned. After negotiating with General Arnold, a training program for women pilots, under her direction, was approved on September 15, 1942 . They were known as the Women's Flying Training Detachment (WFTD). The 23-week training program started at Howard Hughes Field in Houston , Texas and included 115 hours of flying time. With the anticipated growth of the program, it was moved to Avenger Field at Sweetwater , Texas and increased to 30 weeks with 210 hours of flight training. It was the only all female Airforce base in history. The Army estimated that more than 700 women pilots would be needed in 1943 and another 1,000 in 1944. The initial trainees were between 21 and 35 years old and had at least 200 hours pilot experience. Later the requirements were reduced to 18 ½ years of age and 35 hours since there were not enough women to fill the initial requirements. The women trained as if they were men, “the AAF way”. The first WFTD class (43-W-1) of 29 women began training on November 12, 1942 . When the training was completed in April of 1943; there were 23 in the first graduating class.
The Women's Airforce Service Pilots
In August 1943, all the women flying for the WAFS under the AAF and the WFTD were consolidated into the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program with Jacqueline Cochran as AAF Director for Women Pilots. Nancy Harkness Love was named as a WASP executive on the Air Transport Command 's Ferrying Division. More than 25,000 women applied for pilot training under the WASP program. Of these, only 1,830 were accepted and 1,074 graduated. By the end of the program, 900 were active with 16 former WAFS . One notable contribution by the WASP was their training in the B29 long-range bomber. After rumors of the death of a test pilot and constant engine fires on the B29, the AAF had difficulty convincing male pilots that the plane was safe to fly. In order to convenience them, General Paul Tibbets of the AAF called on Dorothea Johnson and Dora Dougherty. These two women trained for 3 full days so they could fly into Clovis , New Mexico , a B29 training camp and show the men that if women could fly it then they could fly it to. This was the plane used to bomb Hiroshima . Initially, both Cochran and Love believed that it was best for the women pilots to be considered civilians so they could prove themselves military worthy. Both believed that militarization would be the natural next step. Cochran wanted the WASP to be a separate group in the military under her command while others felt that they should be incorporated in the Women's Army Corps (WAC). There were several reasons why Cochran did not like that plan but the most notable was control. If the WASP were to be part of WAC, Cochran would lose control since at that time only one female Colonel was allowed. The WAC was overseen by Colonel Olveta Culp Hobby, therefore, that was not acceptable. Cochran gave General Arnold an ultimatum, either militarize WASP or close the program. General Arnold personally testified at the hearing at the House Committee on behalf of the WASP, however, on June 21, 1944 the bill was denied. When the bill went to Congress, the war was changing. Many flight training programs that utilized male pilots were being cancelled and air combat was virtually at a stand still. Major lobbying by male pilots who could be drafted to face ground combat instead being able to fill the flying jobs that were otherwise being handled by WASP impacted the House's decision. The final class of WASP graduated on December 7 th , 1944 with General Hap Arnold thanking the women for their excellent work and a successful experiment. He also said that is was tiime for them to go home. He concluded by saying, “So on this last graduation day, I salute you and all WASP. We of the AAF are proud of you; we will never forget our debt to you.” The WASP program officially closed on December 20, 1944 . Thirty-eight women lost their lives while being a WASP. Since they were not officially military personnel, their families did not receive any military benefits. They were not given a gold star to put in their window to show their sacrifice nor did they receive a flag. Perhaps, the most disturbing is that their bodies were not returned to the families at the expense of the AAF. Sometimes, the women themselves had to pool their own money in order to get their bodies home.
"You don't need legislation to prove something...you can be whatever you set your heart and head to be, and don't let anybody tell you can't be, because 1078 women pilots did it in World War II." WASP Annelle Henderson Bulechek 44-w-2 In 1992, the WASP received an invitation to be honored at the Experimental Aircraft Association's celebration of the 50 th anniversary of the end of WWII. This was pivotal since they were finally being recognized by their fellow servicemen as being participants in the war effort. It has been since then that WASP and their stories have been heard. In the aviation community, especially for female aviators, these women are heroines and are admired for their courage and tenacity. As of October 2003, there are 304 WASP still living. Currently Wings Across America is trying to digital videotape interviews all of the remaining WASP to create an archive to educate adults and children about these forgotten women. With most of the women over 80, it is a race against time. Currently, they have 104 interviewed. Some WASP are still active with speaking engagements at venues such as Oshkosh , Wisconsin and conferences around the country. They are active in raising funds for the Women's Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery . Dorothy Swain Lewis (44-W-5), who has written books on WASP and is the artist who created the memorial sculpture at the Women's Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery , was inducted into the Women in Aviation Hall of Fame in March 2004.
WASP Flight Operation Statistics
Qualifications for Women Pilots
Pilots Completing AAF Central Flying Training Command
Accidents (per 1,000 hours flight time)
Flight Training Cost/Benefit s
The most recent WASP graduate, assigned to fly training planes, received the same pay as WASP who had been on duty since the inception of the women pilot program and were flying the most complex and dangerous warplanes. WASP squadron officers had no boost in pay with the added duties. AAF squadron C.O's, on the other hand, usually were at least majors, and had the added pay increase.
Statistics taken from "On Final Approach" by Byrd Howell Granger. Falconer Publishing Company, Scottsdale , AZ , 1991. References Books "On Final Approach" by Byrd Howell Granger. Falconer Publishing Company, Scottsdale , AZ , 1991. “Women Airforce Pilots WWII” by Kate Landdeck, Aviatrix Publishing, Inc., Arlington Heights , IL , 2001. “On Silver Wings” by Marianne Verges, Random House, Inc, New York , NY , 1991. “Those Wonderful Women In Their Flying Machines” by Sally VanWagenen Keil, Four Directions Press, New York .
Websites http://home.swbell.net/cahailey/ http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/flygirls/filmmore/reference/primary/index.html#wasprecord http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/history/wasp/wasp2.htm
Video “Fly Girls”, Written, Produced, and Directed by Laurel Ladevich, A Silverlining Productions film for The American Experience, WGBH Educational Foundation, 1999.
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