Congressional Gold Medal
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WONDERFUL WASP OF WWII
THANK YOU to all who have given their very BEST efforts
to help honor the service of the WASP
March 10, 2010, a joyous celebration indeed!
WORDS TO THE WASP, 3.9.2010
LT. COL. NICOLE MALACHOWSKI
WORDS TO THE WASP, 3.9.2010
NANCY PARRISH
DIRECTOR--WINGS ACROSS AMERICA
BILL PASSES -- SENATE
IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL- HOUSE
BILL INTRODUCED--SEN. HUTCHISON
WASP SPEAK
THE OBVERSE: It depicts the portrait of a WASP with three pilots in the foreground in flight uniforms walking toward their aircraft. The clean lines of the edge are strategically broken by the aircraft, the pilot, and the feet of the women pilots ‘crossing the boundaries’ and ‘breaking thru the barrier’ of the edge.
The AT-6 on this design, indicated by the number 264, represents the North America AT-6 "Texan" advanced trainer flown by pilots who went through Army Air Forces flight training. EVERY pilot had to master the AT-6 before graduating.
Inscriptions include ‘WOMEN AIRFORCE SERVICE PILOTS’ and ‘1942-1944’.
Designed by U.S. Mint Artistic Infusion Program Master Designer Joel Iskowitz, and sculpted by U. S. Mint Sculptor-Engraver Phebe Hemphill,
As the medal is turned over, the AT 6 (no. 264)
'flies' from the obverse to the reverse.
The AT-6 on this design, indicated by the number 264, is flying in formation and represents aircraft flown by WASP across America as engineering test pilots and other missions critical to the training of Army Air Forces pilots during World War II.
The P-51 “Mustang” was the fastest fighter aircraft in the Army Air Forces’ arsenal and represents the FERRY COMMAND.
The B-26 (Martin Marauder), indicated by the number 967, represents the TRAINING COMMAND and bomber pilots. WASP flew this twin-engine bomber initially as an experiment to prove to the male pilots that the plane was safe to fly, and then as a tow target aircraft for air- to-air target practice to train gunners for combat.
The WASP wings are depicted at the base of the design.
The inscriptions are: ‘THE FIRST WOMEN IN HISTORY TO FLY AMERICAN MILITARY AIRCRAFT’ and ‘ ACT OF CONGRESS, 2009’.
It was designed and sculpted by U.S. Mint Sculptor-Engraver Don Everhart
US MINT | MEDAL AND MORE | WASP on the WEB | FACEBOOK | FLYGIRLS THANK YOU | CEREMONY PHOTO LINKS| VIDEO LINKS
The amazing women who stepped up:
Senate Democrat Lead
Original sponsor and
Senate Republican Lead
House Republican Lead
House Democrat Lead
To the tweeters, the phone callers, bloggers, letter writers, arm twisters, emailers,
sweet talkers, constituants, buttonholers and all of those who joined the valiant effort
to honor the WASP, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!
and thank you to "TEAM WASP"--those incredible women staffers & one determined lady fighter pilot, who have been behind the scenes, putting their lives on hold and their hearts on the line to make that last phone call or that last connection. What an incredible group of committed and honorable women. I am proud to know them all.
ROXI, ANGIE, SARA, DEANNA, SUZANNE & FIFI
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ABOVE AND BEYOND EFFORTS!
THANK YOU TO THESE WONDERFUL NATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS
supporting the BILL
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NEWS FEED