ASU professor and historian Valerie Adams discussed the role of the WASPs during World War II at the Sun Lakes Aero Club gathering on Nov. 18. She is shown here with Cannon Hill, Aero Club president.
Gary Vacin
How women proved their mettle in the air during World War II and gained recognition for their fellow pilots in a man’s world—that was the topic of a presentation to the Sun Lakes Aero Club gathering on Nov. 18. The speaker was Valerie Adams, professor and historian from Arizona State University.
Adams’ presentation covered the role of the WASPs (Women Airforce Service Pilots) during World War II, their predecessors, and how these remarkable women left a lasting legacy for women in aviation.
Much of her presentation centered on two notable figures involved in establishing the WASP program: Nancy Harkness Love and Jacqueline Cochran, each of whom developed their own women in aviation programs. Those programs merged in August of 1943 to form the WASPs. The organization consisted of civilian women pilots who were attached to the U.S. Army Air Forces. Each member’s service had freed a male pilot for military combat or other duties.
The WASPs logged more than 60 million miles and flew every plane in the Army Air Forces’ inventory and every type of mission a male pilot flew during World War II except for combat. Major missions were transporting military aircraft from factories to military bases, towing targets for live anti-aircraft gun practice, simulated strafing missions, and transporting cargo. The organization was disbanded in December of 1944.
The Nov. 18 presentation was the second in a series scheduled for Sun Lakes Aero Club gatherings. Our next speaker on Jan. 20 will be long-time Aero Club member Jim Theobold who will talk about his 30-year career as a pilot with Flying Tiger Airlines and Federal Express. Other speakers will be Wayne Marshall, retired airline pilot, talking about his experience flying a homebuilt aircraft around the perimeter of the country, on Feb. 17, and USAF Brig. Gen. (ret.) Tom Webster, former A-10 and F-16 fighter aircraft pilot, who will discuss the role of close air support in warfare, on March 17. The April 21 speaker will be announced in a future issue of the Splash.
Additional information on the Aero Club is available from Cannon Hill at 509-539-7857 or Gary Vacin at 480-298-7018.