Sunday, December 14, 2008

"FACES OF THE WASP" ONLINE

The perfect GIFT!  the face of every WASP -- all in one print.

'FACES OF THE WASP' -- a unique 18" x 24" reproduction of the larger WASP Mosaic, created for the 'Fly Girls of WWII' Exhibit.

1,103 individual WASP FACES make up the print of an AT-6 taking off from Avenger Field into the West Texas sunset. SEE IT CLOSE UP ON LINE: http://www.flygirls.org

  • The face of EVERY WASP is featured in the print
  • Order shipped the following day
  • Shipped PRIORITY MAIL
  • Includes alphabetical "mosaic key" of WASP faces
  • Packaged in white mailing tube
  • SHIPPING is FREE
$85
SEND ORDER & CHECK TO:
Nancy Parrish
2911 Wooded Acres
Waco, Texas 76710
For more information: call 254-366-1436

Friday, November 21, 2008

WWII'S UNSUNG HEROES: FLY GIRLS

November 17, 2008 - 11:30am

Markette Smith , WTOPnews.com


Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Fly Girls of WWII Landing in Washington, DC.



MEET the Women Airforce Service Pilots and experience their captivating history. Waco, Texas, November 11, 2008: Wings Across America announces the opening of the ’Fly Girls of WWII” traveling WASP exhibit at the Women in Military Service to America Memorial, November 14, 2008, 11 am. at the gateway to Arlington National Cemetery.

THIS JUST IN-Featuring guest speakers: Nichole Malachowski, first female Thunderbird pilot and Cokie Roberts and Former Ambassador Lindy Boggs--who co-sponsored the bill giving the WASP Veteran status in 1977.

HISTORY: During World War II, this select group of young women pilots became pio-neers. They were the FIRST women in history to fly America’s military aircraft. The Army Air Force used them during WWII to take over military flying jobs here in the US so that the male pilots could go overseas and fly combat missions. In less than 2 years, they flew over 60 million miles--in every type of aircraft and on every type of mission in the Army Air Force except combat. Wings Across America’s “Fly Girls of WWII” shines a well-deserved spotlight on these overlooked, unsung heroes who paved the way for every female military pilot who is serving our country today.


MEET ORIGINAL WASP: Picture ‘A League Of Their Own’ with goggles and para-chutes, as Women Airforce Service Pilots dressed in their 'santiago blues', all well into their 80’s, walk though “Fly Girls,” sharing the memories, the pride, the courage that it took to do what they did during wartime when they were in their early 20s!



CREATED by Wings Across America’s mother-daughter* team “Fly Girls of WWII” is a colorful, comprehensive and captivating history of the WASP, which includes the “WASP Film Strip”, an “Above & Beyond” tribute, a 26 foot WASP Timeline, 7 foot tall WASP standups, scale replica WWII airplanes, uniformed mannequins, hundreds of photos, a tribute to the 38 WASP who were killed flying for their country, WASP memorabilia, a celebration of their final battle for recognition, and the ‘Tribute,’ a unique mosaic featuring every face of the 1,102 Women Airforce Service Pilots in one amazing photo.



The Fly Girls exhibit and the WASP -- an unbeatable combination for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.


*Director, Nancy Parrish, and WASP Deanie Parrish, 44-w-4

For online press kit http://www.wingsacrossamerica.org/PR f you would like more information about the exhibit please call Nancy Parrish at 254-366-1436 or e-mail nancy@wingsacrossamerica.org

For more information on the event, call Marilla Cushman at WIMSA1-800-222-2294 or email pr@womensmemorial.org

BACKGROUND QUTOES:

“These women should be the role models for all of us. Their service, courage, determination, integrity, honor, patriotism and faith are contagious, and we hope Fly Girls will educate and inspire visitors with these larger-than-life heroes of World War II.” Nancy Parrish, Director, Wings Across America

“I am enormously proud to help bring the first major exhibit about the WASP to the Women’s Memorial.” Brig General Wilma L. Vaught, USAF Retired and President of WIMSA



Sunday, September 14, 2008

WASP IRIS CRITCEL--FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TO AN ASTRONAUT!

Latest journey for astronaut lands him at alma matter

It was back in February when Harvey Mudd College watched NASA astronaut Stan Love and the rest of the STS-122 mission crew launch into space in order to deliver the Columbus laboratory module to the International Space Station.

Last Thursday, the Harvey Mudd College campus was able to experience the astronaut in person as part of the school’s convocation event to kick off the new school year.

“Harvey Mudd College is better known now than when I went here,” said Mr. Love, who graduated from Harvey Mudd College in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science degree in physics. “It’s also bigger but the campus still has the same kind of zany energy I remember.”

Throughout the day, Mr. Love met with students before his speech at the college’s convocation ceremony in Galileo Hall. The astronaut gave a video presentation of the STS-122 mission to both elementary and high school students in the afternoon that also included sharing artifacts..

During the convocation ceremony, Mr. Love encouraged students to push forward in their endeavors and added a touch of humor with Dr. Seuss quotes in order to keep the collegiate audience engaged. By the end of the day, HMC junior Nathan Jones came away impressed not only by the astronaut’s accomplishments, but also his character.

“I really liked the guy,” Mr. Jones said. “We had a chance to watch his video at lunch and what he’s done is awesome. Plus he’s a captivating speaker.”

One of the persons who joined Mr. Love was 86-year-old Iris Critchell. She taught Mr. Love how to fly in HMC’s Bates Aeronautics Program. Ms. Critchell, who served as a member of the Women Air Force Service Pilots during World War II, also was the instructor of George Nelson, another HMC graduate and astronaut.

“I’ve taken many students out and introduced them to airplanes,” Ms. Critchell said. “I flew with Stan quite a bit, especially during the time when he came back to California after being in Hawaii. He would come out often to fly.”

After graduating from HMC in 1987, Mr. Love then went on to earn his Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from the University of Washington in 1989 and 1993 respectively. In 1995, the NASA astronaut returned to California after a postdoctoral research stint in Hawaii and worked at the California Institute of Technology as part of a prize postdoctoral fellowship. He then transferred to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in 1997 to work as a staff engineer.

COURIER photo/Gabriel Fenoy
Flight instructor and pilot Iris Critchell helps astronaut Stan Love field questions from the audience on Thursday. Ms. Critchell was one of Stan Love’s flight instructors during Mr. Love’s days as a student at Harvey Mudd.
After working one year at JPL, Mr. Love was then selected by NASA for astronaut training. Yet it would be 10 years before the HMC alumnus would travel into space.

“I served for a few years as Space Station CAPCOM where I was the voice of mission control that talked to the crew in space,” he explained. “Then I spent a few years helping engineer and build the spacecraft that was used in a 2005 mission. In 2006, I was then assigned to be a crew member and from there, I trained really hard until our mission launch.”

Mr. Love completed 2 space walks during the 12-day mission in February that tallied up 6.3 million miles and 202 orbits. According to the astronaut, the mission didn’t allow very much time for leisure.

“The experience is incredibly intense and with a weightless environment, it takes some getting used to,” he said. “There was so much to do that it was easy to lose track. Every once in a while, we had a moment to take a breath. But when we did get a chance to look at our surroundings, it was like ‘wow.’”

Not one to shy away from his Harvey Mudd College roots, he chose to have the HMC anthem “Hail Thee, Harvey Mudd” played as his song of choice during Day 11 of the mission. His friend, Amy Lewkowicz, a 1990 HMC graduate, composed the special rendition of the tune.

On display inside of the Hoch-Shanahan Dining Commons is a collection of memorabilia from aeronautics and space that also includes a helmet and uniform donated by Mr. Love. The NASA astronaut is thrilled to see that while his Alma matter continues to grow, the same spirit still embodies the campus.

“It’s now an upsized version of the Harvey Mudd College I remember,” Mr. Love said.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

FLYGIRLS OFFICIAL OPENING


FLYGIRLS OF WWII AT WIMSA IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

SAVE THE DATE—NOVEMBER 14, 2008

ONE: Just returned from a meeting at the inspirational WIMSA Memorial in Washington, DC, where we learned that the FLYGIRLS of WWII Exhibit is invited to be on display for the next YEAR! YES, this is wonderful news—and we are excited that thousands of people will have the opportunity to learn about the WASP!

TWO: SCHEDULE CHANGE for the OFFICIAL OPENING of the FLYGIRLS OF WWII EXHIBIT and the 11th Anniversary of WIMSA -- NOVEMBER 14, 2008 AT 11 AM.

This date is of some significance to the WASP. On this day, 66 years ago, the first class arrived in Houston and gathered together at a hotel in downtown Houston. The next day, they 'reported in' at the Houston Municipal Airport, raised their right hands, took the 'Oath', and officially became WFTD trainees.

WIMSA will be sending official invitations out to all the WASP, but I wanted to share this date with those of you online ASAP.

I hope some of you will be able to come—and, if not on the 14th, then at some time during the NEXT YEAR!!!


God bless you all,

nancy

Saturday, August 2, 2008

OSHKOSH GATHERING OF WOMEN PILOTS

Female pilots gather, set world record
By Barbara A. Schmitz

Woman pilot? Sign the log book

If you didn't make the group picture of female aviators on Friday, you can still sign the logbook that is tracking the number of female pilots attending EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2008.

Nearly 800 female pilots - current, noncurrent and student - had signed the logbook in the EAA Welcome Center by 1 p.m. Friday.

Female aviators can continue to sign the logbook through Sunday.

Jill Long says we need more PDA. That's public displays of aviation.

Friday morning's gathering of female pilots - current, non-current and student - was just that, a very large PDA that set a world record.

Hundreds of female aviators, the majority wearing pink WomenVenture T-shirts, turned out on AeroShell Square Friday to have their picture taken and set the record for the most female pilots gathered in one place. At the front of the group were Women Airforce Service Pilots, aerobatic pilots like Patty Wagstaff and Julie Clark and Women in Aviation International (WAI) President Dr. Peggy Chabrian.

"To have this many women who have achieved their dream of flight is just amazing," said Long, a lieutenant colonel for the Air Force and aerobatic pilot, who took part in the picture. "The pink shirts are great to make the public aware that women can and do fly."

The picture and T-shirts were part of WomenVenture, a joint effort by EAA and WAI that aims to get more women interested in aviation through programs, seminars, speakers, and events. Nationwide, women make up about 6 percent of the total number of pilots in the United States, or about 35,784 of the 590,349 pilots.

Ellisa Lines, EAA vice president of commercial and donor relationships, challenged the female aviators to go home, wear their pink shirt, share their enthusiasm and recruit 10 women so that next year the number of women pilots gathered would be 10-fold.


The most female pilots gathered in one place. At the front of the group were
Women Airforce Service Pilots, aerobatic pilots like Patty Wagstaff and Julie Clark and
Women in Aviation International (WAI) President Dr. Peggy Chabrian. Photo by Bonnie Kratz
Larger view

Rita Eaves, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, said this is actually the second picture taken of women aviators at EAA. The first, with about 25-30 women, was taken in about 1967 when the fly-in convention was held in Rockford. It was the start of women's activities at AirVenture, she said.

Eaves, a pilot for 50 years who is attending her 44th AirVenture, said she came to Oshkosh to be in the photo at her husband's insistence.

She guessed money is one reason more women aren't involved in aviation. "Money is the root of all evil, but it's also the root of all fun," she said. "Youngsters really need to be dedicated to start flying today," she said, noting, however, that light-sport aircraft is helping to lower the cost.

Phyllis Deaton, a pilot from Toledo, Ohio, took part in the photo to be a part of history. "We do need to encourage young people to get involved," she said.

"And what woman doesn't like to get her picture taken?" said Pam Fonseca, of Mansfield, Ohio. "I'm amazed at how many women turned out."

Fonseca said she'd like to see another venue for women pilots, allowing them to mingle as a group, vs. just being on the ramp for a picture. Fonseca and Deaton stood next to each other and learned that they live near each other and even have the same plane - T-6s.

Kacy Anderson of Hastings, Michigan, is a recent pilot, earning her certificate on July 3. "It's important to get women in aviation," she said. "There are only one or two women pilots at my airport. We need to get the word out that women can do this. They think it's really hard, but it's not."

Jessica Miller, 17, of Hutchinson, Minnesota, agreed. She earned her private certificate March 1 and works two jobs to afford flying.

"A lot of times you're the only woman pilot," she said. "But here you realize there are more. At home, you're an outsider. But here you are part of a group."

"How cool is this?" asked Kieran O'Farrell, of Lakeland, Florida, as she stood in the group waiting for the picture to be taken. "We have cracked the glass ceiling, but we haven't broken it yet," she said. O'Farrell, a pilot for 31 years, said female aviators must mentor girls, if the ranks of women pilots are to grow.

Lindsay Fay, of Philadelphia, is a recent pilot, but has been around aviation her entire life since her father is a pilot and an air traffic controller. She wanted to be a part of the picture to network with other women and be inspired.
"We need to work on awareness," she said. "Women need to know that flying is something they can do."

To Cherry Householder, of San Antonio, Texas, becoming a pilot was just a way to help her overcome a fear of flying. She got her certificate in 1981.

"We need to change the world through our children," she said. "We need to get to girls when they are young … if we want more women in aviation."

Patty Werner, of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, came to AirVenture on Friday just to be in the picture. "I'm proud to be a woman pilot," she said, noting that events like this will help show the general public that aviation isn't just a male pastime or profession. "We've got to encourage women to try it. They'll know right away if they like it or not."

WASP Jan Goodrum said EAA is doing many things right in encouraging young people, and particularly young girls, to experience aviation. She noted the Young Eagles program, as well as Women Soar, give youth an outlet to explore aviation, particularly when they don't know any pilots.

But the gathering of female aviators also made it apparent that there are more women pilots on the grounds than a lot of people thought.

"This is the first year that I really realized how much depth and history there is of women in aviation," said Anna Dietrich, of Woburn, Massachusetts. "It is the first time I realized there is a sisterhood here."

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Female pioneers of military aviation gather at McChord


Female pioneers of military aviation gather at McChord

Dorothy Olsen meets with Capt. Jammie Jamieson during the July 20 airshow at McChord Air Force Base, Wash. Captain Jamieson, currently stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, is the mobility flight commander for the 525th Fighter Squadron. She is the first operational and combat-ready female F-22 Raptor pilot. Ms. Olsen is a former member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Oshawn Jefferson)

by Staff Sgt. Eric Burks
62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

7/23/2008 - MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. (AFPN) -- One woman flew military aircraft in the waning days of World War II while another woman is the first operational and combat-ready female F-22 Raptor pilot.

Dorothy Olsen, a former member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots, met July 20 at the McChord Air Expo 2008 with Capt. Jammie Jamieson, who flies the the Air Force's newest and most advanced fighter aircraft.


Ms. Olsen, who recently turned 92, read a feature article on Captain Jamieson and requested the opportunity to meet with her.

As a WASP, she primarily flew fighter aircraft in the program from 1943 through the end of the war, said her son Kim Olsen.

"She was qualified on everything the Army flew, as well as some Navy planes," he said.

However, he noted, her favorites were the P-51 and P-38 fighters.
"She felt bombers were like driving busses," Mr. Olsen said.

Ms. Olsen h
ad always wanted to fly growing up, and she took flying lessons in a Piper cub, her son said. As soon as she heard about the WASP program, she signed up. The pilot wings his mother wore were among the rarest from World War II, with only about 1,000 issued, he said.

The Air Force currently has 13,202 pilots, of which 596 are female, according to Air Force Personnel Center statistics.

Ms. Olsen said she ferried the planes from factory to points of shipment in the United States, but did not have the opportunity to take any overseas.

"I loved every minute of it," she said.


As the former WASP and current F-22 pilot shared stories and flying experiences, they learned that the two had both flown in the same airspace over at least one town, more than 50 years apart.


One of her favorite memories was flying a P-38 at night over Coolidge, Ariz. She said she caused a stir when she buzzed the field and "woke the whole town up."


Captain Jamieson said she spent a week in Coolidge during her junior year at the U.S. Air Force Academy learning aerobatics during glider training.

The captain, a Washington native who graduated from Prosser High School in 1996, received her commission through the Academy in 2000. She said she was very inspired by the astronaut program, specifically with their courage in the face of the unknown.

She said she loves flying the F-22, and that aerial "dog fighting" is her favorite part.

Captain Jamieson is currently stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, where she is the mobility flight commander for the 525th Fighter Squadron.

LINK to original story.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

OPERATION FIFINELLA

Operation Fifinella is a historic fly-in of WWII Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) to Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas, which will take place on Thursday, September 25, 2008.

Members of the Texas 99s and other pilots are volunteering to fly WASP from Fort Worth Alliance Airport to Avenger Field, where the National WASP WWII Museum will host the WASP with a reception and tour of the museum.

Flights, ground transportation, refreshments and lunch will be provided, courtesy of the organizers, Wings of Dreams Aviation Museum, National WASP WWII Museum, volunteer pilots, donors and sponsors. This event will coincide with the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) 2008 Reunion in Irving, Texas.

For more information, call the organizers:
Cindy Wiesner, KOW (Kid of WASP) at 802-464-1110 or
Susan King, FOW (Friend of WASP), Wings of Dreams Aviation Museum, at 352-256-8037

WASP – To register for Operation Fifinella and a flight to Avenger Field on September 25, 2008, please refer to Registration and Itinerary section of this website.

Volunteer Pilots – To register to fly a WASP to Avenger, please refer to Pilot Info for details.

This event is being organized through Wings of Dreams, a nonprofit 501( c)(3) organization located at Keystone Heights Airport (42J), Florida. (www.wingsofdreams.org)

** note from Buglegirl: This mission, created by Cindy Weisner, daughter of WASP Sunny (Miller) Burrill, 44-W-7, is a unique opportunity to actually MEET THE WASP at the place where they trained--AVENGER FIELD!

Monday, June 2, 2008

Flygirls of WWII is Counting Down T0

"LIFT OFF" FOR WASHINGTON, D.C.

I have the honor to officially announce that Wings Across America's 'FLYGIRLS OF WWII' traveling WASP exhibit will open at the WIMSA MEMORIAL on ***NEW DATE: NOVEMBER 14, 2008 (to be on display thru March (Women's History Month), 2009. This wonderful opportunity comes after several months of conversations and a lot of prayer. This week we received the following official statement:

"The Women In Military Service For America Memorial Foundation is delighted with the opportunity to showcase the Women Airforce Service Pilots at the Women's Memorial. It is a great honor for us to open the FLYGIRLS exhibit on ***NEW DATE*** NOVEMBER 14, 2008, *** the 11th Anniversary of the Memorial's dedication. We've always tried to do something special on that date and I can't think of anything more fitting than honoring the WASP in this way during their 66th Anniversary year. "
Brig Gen Wilma L. Vaught, USAF (Ret.)
Women's Memorial Foundation President.

WHAT A PRIVILEGE AND WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY!
WE ARE SO EXCITED—AND HOPE YOU SHARE OUR ENTHUSIASM!

"THE LIFT OFF CAMPAIGN"

WIMSA is a WORLD CLASS NATIONAL MEMORIAL, and it will be an honor to take this exciting exhibit to our nation's capital and share it with America. After the Flygirls of WWII Exhibit was held over twice (due to popular demand) at the Mayborn Museum in Waco, we consider this invitation to WIMSA as an extraordinary opportunity—and the most important first step on a NATIONAL FLYGIRLS TOUR.

However, since WIMSA is a memorial and not a museum, there are some major unforseen expenses, which will be our responsibility. This includes shipping costs, shipping crates, insurance, display cases for mannequins and historical memorabilia. Ordinarily, museums can provide shipping costs and display cases, but this is a special circumstance and it requires extra effort, planning and dollars.

So, we need some help, or, you might say, we need a little " WIND beneath our wings!" If you can help, or if you know of any person, organization, business or corporation that might be willing to help, we would be so grateful if you would forward this message on to them or let us know. (Every donation is 501c3 tax deductible.)

You may ask how I can announce that we will be going to Washington, DC, even when we haven't raised the money to do it? Because I believe that this is absolutely the right thing to do! With your help, we WILL make this happen.

Meantime, please feel free to forward this to your email lists and give them an opportunity to help. Every donation will make a difference!


Flygirls link for more information and photos of exhibit:
http://www.wingsacrossamerica.us/flygirls

Article on Wings Across America & Flygirls exhibit: http://wingsacrossamerica.us/news/wingandaprayer/index.htm


Donations may be made to: WINGS ACROSS AMERICA

Address:
Nancy Parrish
WINGS ACROSS AMERICA
2911 Wooded Acres
Waco, Texas 76710

OR, by phone to:
Baylor University Development
1-800-BAYLOR U
option #4--please designate 'for WINGS ACROSS AMERICA'

THANKS so much for your support and for your prayers and encouragement!
I'll keep you updated.

Nancy Parrish, Director
Wings Across America

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Memorial Day--2008

On December 7, 1944, General Barton K. Yount, Commanding General of the Army Air Forces Training Command remembered the sacrifices of the Women Airforce Service Pilots and WASP trainees who were killed while flying for their country, in a speech at the last WASP graduation:

"Let us treasure their memory as women whose sacrifice has brought honor not only to their country, but also to their organization...we shall always keep and remember the brave heritage of the women (fliers) who gave their lives.
It is the heritage of faith in victory and faith in the ultimate freedom of humanity.”

On behalf of Wings Across America and WASP on the WEB, this tribute, from our ABOVE AND BEYOND page:
"...WE WERE YOUNG. WE HAVE DIED. REMEMBER US. ...OUR DEATHS ARE NOT OURS; THEY ARE YOURS; THEY WILL MEAN WHAT YOU MAKE THEM... ...WHETHER OUR LIVES AND OUR DEATHS WERE FOR PEACE AND A NEW HOPE OR FOR NOTHING WE CANNOT SAY; IT IS YOU WHO MUST SAY THIS. ...WE LEAVE YOU OUR DEATHS. GIVE THEM THEIR MEANING. WE WERE YOUNG... WE HAVE DIED. REMEMBER US." from "Young Dead Soldier" by Archibald MacLeish.

______________________________

WASP / WAFS / WASP TRAINEES KILLED FLYING FOR THEIR COUNTRY
__________

JANE DOLORES CHAMPLIN
Class 43-W-4 Trainee
Born: May 14, 1917 Chicago, Illinois
Graduate: Arcadia College St. Louis University

Jane entered flight training to become a WASP at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas on February 21, 1943. On the night of June 7, she and her instructor were killed in a BT-15 while on a training flight near Avenger Field.
__________

SUSAN PARKER CLARKE
Class 44-W-2
Born: 1918 Cooperstown, New York
Graduate: High school, Cooperstown Attended: Secretarial school, NY City.

Susan entered WASP flight training at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas in September, 1943 and graduated on March 11, 1944. She was then stationed with the 33rdFerrying Group at Fairfax Field, Kansas City, Missouri.

She lost her life on July 4, 1944 when the BT-13 she was ferrying crashed near Columbia, South Carolina.
__________

MARJORIE LAVERNE DAVIS
Class 44-W-9 Trainee

Marjorie learned to fly in Sparks, Nevada, and entered training to become a WASP at Avenger field, Sweetwater, Texas in June, 1944.

She was killed on the night of October 16, 1944 while on a cross country training flight in an AT-6 near Walnut, Mississippi.
__________

KATHERINE ‘KAY’ APPLEGATE DUSSAQ
Class: 44-W-1
Born: Dayton, Washington
Graduate: Harrington High School
Attended: Stanford, Washington State College, Pullman, WA.and Whitman College, WA

Kay entered flight training to become a WASP at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas on August 9, 1943, and graduated on February 11, 1944. Her first duty station was Sioux Falls Army Air Base, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She was then transferred to Randolph Army Air Base, San Antonio, Texas (HQ/CFTC)), then to Fort Worth, Texas (FTC, Hq.)

She was killed when the AT-6 she was flying on an administrative cross-country flight crashed on the night of November 26, 1944 near New Carlisle, Ohio.
__________

MARJORIE DORIS EDWARDS
Class: 44-W-6 Trainee
Born: September 28, 1918 Fullerton, California
Graduate: Anaheim Union High School and Santa Barbara State College

Marjorie entered WASP flight training at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas on December 7, 1943.

She died in the crash of an AT-6 near Childress, Texas, while on a cross-country training flight.
__________

JAYNE ELIZABETH ERICKSON
Class: 44-W-6 Trainee
Born: April 24, 1921 Seattle, Washington
Graduate: High School: Issaquah, Washington
Attended: University of Washington, Seattle, WA.

Jayne reported for WASP flight training to Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas in January, 1944.

While flying an AT-6, she was killed in a mid-air collision in the traffic pattern at Avenger on April 16, 1944.
__________

CORNELIA FORT
WAFS
Born: February 5, 1919 Nashville, Tennessee
Graduate: Ward-Belmont and Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, NY.

Cornelia reported for duty as a WAFS in October, 1942. She lost her life on March 21, 1943 in a mid-air collision near Abilene, Texas, while on a ferrying mission in a BT-13.

Cornelia was the first casualty of an American woman pilot on active duty.Her death was attributed to the 'pilot error' of a young male pilot flew too close to her plane...causing a mid-air collision and Cornelia's death.
__________

FRANCES FORTUNE GRIMES
Class: 43-W-3
Born: Deer Park, Maryland
Graduate: High school, West Virginia, West Virginia University, University of Pittsburgh

Frances entered WASP flight training at Houston Municipal Airport, Houston, Texas on January 15, 1943 and graduated at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas, July 3, 1943.

Her active duty assignment was to the 5th FG/ATC at Love Field, Dallas, Texas. She was killed shortly after take-off from Otis Field, Massachusetts in an A-24 attack bomber on March 27, 1944.
__________

MARY E. HARTSON
Class: 43-W-5
Born: January 11, 1917 Portland, Oregon
Graduated: Washington High School, Portland, Oregon

Mary entered flight training to become a WASP on April 6, 1943 at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas and was graduated on September 11, 1943. She was progressively stationed at four different bases: Dodge City Army Air Base, Kansas; Coffeyville ArmyAir Base, Kansas; Independence Army Air Field, Kansas and Perrin Army Air Base, Sherman, Texas.

She was killed on August 14, 1944, while flight testing a BT-13 at Perrin.
__________

MARY HOLMES HOWSON
Class: 44-W-4 Trainee
Born: February 16, 1919 Wayne, Pennsylvania
Graduate: Smith College

Mary began her flight training to become a WASP on November 1, 1943 at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas.

While returning from a cross-country flight in a PT-19, Mary was killed in a mid-air collision in the traffic pattern at Avenger Field, on April 16, 1944-- just three weeks before her scheduled graduation.
__________
EDITH ‘EDY’ CLAYTON KEENE
Class: 44-W-1
Born: Canton, Montana
Graduate: Pomona schools Pomona Junior College and UCLA

On August 9,1943, Edith arrived at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas to begin training to become a WASP, and graduated on February 11, 1944. She was assigned to Hondo Army Air Field, Hondo, Texas and later transferred to Moore Army Air Base, Mission, Texas.

She was killed on April 25, 1944 while on a routine flight in an AT-6 that crashed near Mission.
__________

KATHRYN BARBARA LAWRENCE
Class: 43-W-8 Trainee
Born: December 3, 1920 Grand Forks, North Dakota
Graduate: High school, Grand Forks University of North Dakota

Kathryn entered training to become a WASP at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas on July 10. 1943.
She was killed on August 4, 1943, while flying a PT-19 on a routine training flight at Avenger Field.
__________

HAZEL YING LEE
Class: 43-W-4
Born: August, 1912 Portland, Oregon
Attended: Commerce High School, Portland

Hazel entered WASP flight training on February 21, 1943 and graduated from Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas on August 7, 1943. She was assigned to the 3rd Ferrying Group, Romulus, Michigan.

While flying a P-63, she was killed in a mid-air collision on the final approach at Great Falls, Montana, November 23, 1944.
__________
PAULA RUTH LOOP
Class: 43-W-2
Born: August 25, 1916 Wakita, Oklahoma
Graduate: Manchester H.S., OK
Oklahoma College for Women Attended: Oklahoma A&M

Paula began her training to become a WASP on December 19, 1942 at Houston Municipal Airport, Houston, Texas and graduated at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas on May 28, 1943. She was then stationed at Romulus Army Air Base, Michigan, with the 3rd FG/ATC, as a ferry pilot.

She was killed in the crash of a BT-13 near Medford, Oregon on July 7, 1944, while on a ferrying mission.

Embeded into Paula's granite tombstone--her precious silver wings
with these words: "Into The Mosiac Of Victory, This Priceless Piece Was Set"
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ALICE E. LOVEJOY
Class: 43-W-5
Born: Scarsdale, New York, 1919On April 6, 1943

Alice entered WASP flight training at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas. She graduated on September 11, 1943. Her first assignment was to the 3rdFerrying Group,Romulus, Michigan, later being transferred for pursuit training to Brownsville, Texas.

During a training mission near Brownsville on September 13, 1944, she was killed in a mid-air collision in an AT-6.
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LEA OLA McDONALD
Class 44-W-3
Born: October 12, 1921 Hollywood, Arkansas
Graduate: High school, Plainview, Texas
Attended: Wayland Baptist College and West Texas State Teachers College

Lea entered WASP flight training at Houston Municipal Airport, Houston,Texas on October 4, 1944.

She graduated at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas on April 5, 1944. After graduation, she was stationed at Biggs Army Air Field, El Paso, Texas, and was killed while flying an A-24 attack bomber on a practice flight on June 21, 1944.
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PEGGY WILSON MARTIN
Class: 44-W-4
Born: Feb 8, 1912 Seattle, Washington.

Peggy entered flight training to become a WASP on November 1, 1943 at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas, and graduated on May 23, 1944. She was stationed at Marianna Army Air Base, Marianna, Florida.

She was killed while engineering test flying a BT-13 on October 3, 1944.
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VIRGINIA C. MOFFATT
Class: 43-W-2
Born: Los Angeles, California area.
Graduate: Fremont High School, Los Angeles

Virginia reported to the Houston Municipal Airport, Houston, Texas on December 19, 1942 to begin her flight training to become a WASP, and was in the first class of women to graduate at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas, May 28, 1943. She was then assigned to the 6th Ferrying Group, Long Beach Army Air Base, California.

She was killed while flying a BT-15 on a routine flight, 5 October 1943.
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BEVERLY JEAN MOSES
Class: 44-W-5
Born: December 21, 1923, Des Moines, Iowa
Graduate: North High School & AJB Business School.

Beverly entered training to become a WASP on December 7, 1943 and graduated on June 27, 1944 at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas. She was stationed at Las Vegas Army Air Field, Nevada.

While flying as the co-pilot in an AT-11, she was killed in a crash in the mountains near Las Vegas on July 18, 1944.
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DOROTHY MAE ‘DOTTIE’ NICHOLS
Class: 43-W-2
Graduate: UCLA

Dottie reported to the Houston Municipal Airport, Houston, Texas on December 19, 1942 to train to become a WASP. She was a member of the first class to graduate at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas on May 28, 1943. She was assigned to the 6thFerrying Group at Long Beach Army Air Field, California.

While ferrying a P-39 from Buffalo, New York, she was killed just aftertake-off outside Bismarck, North Dakota on June 11, 1944.
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JEANNE LEWELLEN NORBECK
Class: 44-W-3
Born: November 14, 1912, Columbus, Indiana
Graduate: Columbus High School, Washington State College, Pullman, Washington.

Jeanne entered WASP flight training at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas in October, 1943 and graduated on April 15, 1944.

She was assigned to Shaw Army Air Base, Sumpter, South Carolina (BT-13 Modification Center), and was killed there on October 16, 1944, while flight testing a BT-13.
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MARGARET SANFORD OLDENBURG
Class: 43-W-4 Trainee
Graduate: University of California

Margaret was the first trainee fatality in the WASP program. She began her flight training to become a WASP at Houston Municipal Airport, Houston, Texas on February 21, 1943.

She was killed on a routine training flight in a PT-19 on March 7, 1943 at the training base at Houston.
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MABEL VIRGINIA RAWLINSON
Class: 43-W-3
Born: March 19, 1917 Kalamazoo, Michigan
Graduate: Western Michigan College of Education, Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Mabel reported to Houston Municipal Airport, Houston, Texas on January 15, 1943 to begin her flight training to become a WASP. She graduated from Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas on July 3, 1943.
She was then assigned to a tow-target squadron at Camp Davis Army Air Field, North Carolina.

She was killed in the crash of an A-24 attack bomber on August 23, 1943.
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GLEANNA ROBERTS
Class: 44-W-9 Trainee
Born: January 11, 1919 Sharon Township, Iowa
Graduate: Sharon Center H.School & University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa

Gleanna entered training at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas in June, 1944 to become a WASP.

On June 20, 1944, she was killed while on a routine training flight in a PT-17 near Lorraine, Texas.
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MARIE MICHELL ROBINSON
Class: 44-W-2
Born: Michigan
Graduate: National Park Junior College,Washington, D. C.

Marie began her flight training to become a WASP at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas in September, 1943 and graduated on March 11, 1944. She was stationed with the 5thFerrying Group at Love Field, Dallas, Texas, and later transferred to the Bombardier Training School, Victorville, California.

On October 2, 1944, Marie was killed when the B-25 she was co-piloting crashed in the mountains near Victorville, California.
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BETTIE MAE SCOTT
Class: 44-W-3
Born: July 26, 1921 Monrovia,California
Graduate: Arcadia-Duarte High School Attended: Pasadena Junior College

Bettie Mae entered flight training to become a WASP in October, 1943 at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas and graduated on April 15, 1944. She was stationed at Waco Army Air Field, Waco, Texas, a Basic Flying Training School.

She was killed while flight testing aBT-13 on July 8, 1944.
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DOROTHY E. SCOTT
WAFS
Born: February 16, 1920 Seattle, Washington
Attended: University of Washington

Dorothy entered the WAFS in October, 1942. She wasfirst assigned to the 5thFerrying Division, Love Field, Dallas, Texas and later transferred for pursuit training to Palm Springs Army Air Base, California.

While flying with her instructor in an AT-6, she was killed in a mid-air collision on December 3, 1943.
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MARGARET JUNE ‘PEGGY’ SEIP
Class: 43-W-5 Trainee
Born: June 24, 1916 Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Graduate: Lawrence College, Appleton, Wisconsin

Margaret entered flight training atAvenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas on April 6, 1943 to become a WASP. She, together with her instructor and a fellow class-mate, was killed in the crash of a UC-78 near Big Springs, Texas, August 30, 1943, on a routine training flight.
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HELEN JO ANDERSON SEVERSON
Class: 43-W-5 Trainee
Born: November 2, 1918 Marvin, South Dakota.
Graduate: South Dakota State University & University of Illinois

Helen Jo reported to Avenger Field,Sweetwater, Texas on April 6, 1943 to begin her training to become aWASP.

She, together with her instructor and a fellow class-mate, was killed on a routine training flight in a UC-78 near Big Springs, Texas, August 30, 1943.
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MARIE ETHEL SHARON
Class 43-W-4
Born: April 21, 1917 Forsythe, Montana
Graduate: Jefferson High School, Portland, Oregon

Marie began her training to become a WASP on February 14, 1943 at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas. She graduated from Avenger Field on August 7, 1943. She was then stationed at Long Beach Army Air Base, California and assigned to the 6thFerrying Group.

She and her instructor were killed on April 10, 1944 near Tecumseh, Nebraska, while flying a B-25 on a night flying instrument training mission.
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EVELYN SHARP
Class: WAFS
Born: October 20, 1919 Melstone, Montana. (Grew up in Ord, Nebraska.)

Everyn entered the WAFS in October, 1942. She was assigned to the 2nd Ferrying Group, New Castle Army Air Base, Wilmington, Delaware.

She was killed on April 3, 1944 when an engine on the P-38 she was ferrying failed on take-off at New Cumberland, Pennsylvania (Evelyn was one of the most experienced women pilots in America, with 2,968 hours of flying time when she entered the WAFS.)
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BETTY PAULINE STINE
Class 44-W-2 Trainee
Born: Fort Worth, Texas
Attended: University of Arizona

Betty entered training to become a WASP at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas in September, 1943.

On February 25, 1944,during her last cross-country flight before graduation, she was killed when she was forced to bail out of her AT-6 over the mountains near Tucson, Arizona.
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MARIAN TOEVS
Class: 43-W-8
Born: Aberdeen, Idaho
Graduate: Albion State Normal School & Eastern Washington State College

Marian began her training to become a WASP at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas on July 10, 1943 and graduated December 17, 1943. She was stationed at a Basic Flying Training School at Lemoore Army Air Base, Lemoore,California.

She was killed near San Jose, California, while flying a BT-13 from Lemoore to Fresno, California on February 18, 1944.
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GERTRUDE TOMPKINS-SILVER
Class: 43-W-7
Born: October 16, 1912 Jersey City, New Jersey,
Graduate: Private School, Summit, New Jersey & Pennsylvania School of Horticulture.

Gertrude reported to Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas in June, 1943 to begin her training to become a WASP. She graduated on November 13, 1943. She was stationed at Love Field, Dallas, Texas, with the 5th Ferrying Group.

After departing on a ferrying mission from Los Angeles, California in a P-51 for the East Coast, she never arrived, and no traces of her were ever found. (She is the only WASP not accounted for.)
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MARY ELIZABETH TREBING
Class: 43-W-4
Born: Dec. 31, 1920 Royalton, Illinois

from Mary's brother Bill: "She attended the first four years of grade-school there and at that time our family moved to Lafayette, Colorado where she went to grade school. We then moved to Louisville, Colorado and she went to more grade school there. These were tough times for the whole nation and in order to find work we moved to Gowen, Oklahoma in the 30's. She graduated from High School in Hartshorne, Oklahoma in 1941 and from there went on to graduate from Oklahoma A&M college in Wilburton, Oklahoma.".

Mary reported for WASP training at AvengerField, Sweetwater, Texas on February 21, 1943, and graduated on August 7, 1943. She was stationed at Love Field, Dallas Texas, with the 5thFerrying Group.

She was killed on November 7, 1943, when the PT-19 she was ferrying crashed southeast of Blanchard, Oklahoma.
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MARY LOUISE WEBSTER
Class: 44-W-8
Born: June 30, 1919 Ellensburg, Washington
Attended: Central Washington State College

Mary Louise went into training to become a WASP at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas in March, 1944 and graduated on October 16, 1944. She was stationed with the 33rdTraining Wing of the AFTS SE at Frederick Army Air Field, Frederick, Oklahoma.

She was killed on December 9, 1944, while flying as co-pilot in a UC-78.

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BONNIE JEAN ALLOWAY WELZ
Class: 43-W-6
Born: June 22,1918 Bridgeport, Washington
Attended: UCLA

Bonnie reported for training to become a WASP on Easter Sunday, April 25, 1943 at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas. She graduated and became a WASP on October 9, 1943. Bonnie was sent to Dodge City, Kansas for B-26 training, and was then stationed at Harlingen Army Air Field, Harlingen, Texas, (a B-26 Flexible Gunnery School).

She was killed in the crash of a BT-13 near Randado, Texas,while on an administrative flight.
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BETTY TAYLOR WOOD
Class: 43-W-4
Born: March, 1921 New Berlin, Illinois
Graduate: Sierra Junior College, Auburn, California

Betty began her training to become a WASP at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas on February 14, 1943, and graduated at Avenger on August 7, 1943. She was assigned to Camp Davis Army Air Field, Camp Davis, North Carolina, an Anti-Aircraft Artillery School.

She was killed in the crash landing of an A-24 attack bomber on September 23, 1943.

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For photos and links to more information, visit "ABOVE AND BEYOND" at WASP on the WEB.
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As Director of Wings Across America and the proud daughter of 2 Army Air Force pilots, for me, every day is a day to remember and to honor all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Every day is a day to pray that God will continue to watch over those who are serving and will continue to bless America, all of us, every single one.

Nancy Parrish

ps: this posting is a copy of an existing web page--but, in posting, it gives the information another format and another way to reach search engines and a broader audience. It is important, even if it is repetition.