* * * I N T E R A C T I V E    N E W S     R E L E A S E * * *

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                             OCTOBER 6, 2002

“Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP)

                                                    Rally in Tucson for 60th Reunion”

                                       

Tucson, AZ--  Almost two hundred of America’s first female military pilots gathered in Tucson, Arizona October 2-6 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of their patriotic service during World War II.  Some 350 family, friends, and historians also attended the bi-annual event to honor the original 1074 women pilots who earned their wings from the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1942-44 and the 28 Women Auxiliary Ferrying Service (WAFS),  who merged with the WASP in 1943.

 

Sixty years ago, this elite corps of volunteer women pilots from across the U.S. quit their jobs, left their families and paid their own way to Texas  to train to fly “the Army Way.”  After months of military flight training, they received their WASP wings and were deployed to 120 air bases nationwide, relieving male pilots for combat duty. In just over 2 years, WASP flew more than 60 million miles in all 77 types of military aircraft manufactured in this country, including the B-29 (the same type aircraft which delivered the atomic bomb to end the war). .  Missions included ferrying planes from the factories to air bases and factories to points of embarkation, towing targets for ground artillery practice and air to air gunnery training, instructing male pilots in instrument training, radar tracking, simulated straffing, engineering test piloting, flying aircraft to train male bombardiers and navigators, and all the other type missions flown by their male Army Air Forces counterparts within the Continental United States. 

 

Thirty-eight WASP lost their lives while flying in service for their country. Their remains were sent home and buried at family expense, without any military honors.  Unlike other women who served in WWII, the WASP were denied any military benefits when they were abruptly deactivated by Congress on December 20, 1944.  In 1977 Congress finally recognized their military service to their country and gave them the Veteran’s status they had earned 33 years earlier. 

 

Many WASP continued flying in civilian and commercial venues after the war, inspiring many of their children to learn to fly.  Many WASP continue to fly—some in their own aircraft.   WASP are in great demand as speakers.  They give presentations to groups and to school children  to educate them about the history of the WASP and to inspire and motivate the children and instill in them a love of flight and aviation.

 

During the reunion, WASP and their families enjoyed a tour of Davis Monthan AFB, an active HQ for the 12th Air Force Combat Command and home to more then 4,500 military aircraft in storage.  The group also toured the Pima Airfield Space Museum, now ranked as the third largest aviation history museum in the U.S. --with more than 280 aircraft on display.

 

The Reunion concluded with a 40’s theme gala dinner and dance in Hangar Four at Pima. Following the reading of letters from the Governor of Arizona and Secretary of the Air Force, a Proclamation was read from the Mayor of Tucson officially proclaiming September 29, 2002  “THE WEEK OF THE WASP!” Special tribute was paid to Jacqueline Cochran, Pioneer Aviatrix, who convinced the Army Air Forces and Congress to commission the WASP military flight program in 1942.  Guest speaker,  Marta Bohn-Meyer , NASA test pilot and World Aerobatic Champion, called the WASP her ‘inspiration’ and her ‘heroes’, as she ended the evening with her personal tribute to the WASP.   

 

WASP will hold their next reunion in 2004 in Williamsburg, Virginia.

 

To download photographs of the event for publication:  Wings Across America (http://www.wasp-wwii.org/wasp/conventionphoto.htm)

 

For more information on this incredible group of American heroes, visit http://www.wingsacrossamerica.org or contact Nancy Parrish, Director  254-772-8188    or email  wingsacrossamerica@baylor.edu

 

Hyperlinks in this release:

WASP WINGS:  http://www.wasp-wwii.org/wasp/wings.htm

BASE LIST: http://www.wasp-wwii.org/wasp/baselist.htm

AIRCRAFT FLOWN BY WASP: http://www.wasp-wwii.org/wasp/military_aircraft.htm

38 WASP: http://www.wasp-wwii.org/wasp/38/38.html

HOUSE BILL – VETERAN STATUS FOR WASP: http://www.wasp-wwii.org/wasp/bill.htm

DAVIS MONTHAN AFB: http://www.dm.af.mil/355th.htm

PIMA AIR MUSEUM: http://www.pimaair.org/
JACQUELINE COCHRAN: http://www.wasp-wwii.org/wasp/jacqueline_cochran.htm

MARTA BOHN-MEYER: http://www.edwards.af.mil/articles98/docs_html/splash/feb98/cover/marta.html

WASP CONVENTION PHOTOS: http://www.wasp-wwii.org/wasp/conventionphoto.htm

WINGS ACROSS AMERICA: http://www.wingsacrossamerica.org

Wings Across America is a non-profit, educational, multi-media project to inspire the next generations with the history of the incredible WASP!