Artifacts

Pilots License

In order to be a WASP, you had to have a commercial pilot's license and at least 500 hours of flying. However, it was very difficult for women to be able to meet all of those requirements (mainly 500 hours in the air) and so requirements were revised to make it more attainable for women.

Flight Record and Log Book

A pilot logs (records) each flight in order to get credit flying hours. Each flight must be recorded carefully and accurately. The book must be kept in a safe place; if it is lost the pilot has no proof of flight hours.

PT-19 Fairchild

The PT-19 Fairchild was developed as a primary trainer for the US Army Air Corps. The design was based primarily on wood and fabric. The fuselage was made from a framework of steel tubes with classic wood-construction wings attached. The aircraft was easy to land thanks to its construction as a low wing plane with a widely separated fixed chassis. This made it easier for trainee pilots to learn their new careers.

PT-17 Stearman

The Boeing Stearman is a biplane flown during the 1930s and 1940s as a military tranier aircraft. As the Army PT-17 Kaydet, it served as primary trainer for the miltary forces throrughout World War II. The PT-17 was a conventional biplane of rugged constructioni with large fixed landing gear and tandem open cockpits. WASP classes began receiving primary training in PT-17s in December 1943. The trainees logged a total of 70 flight hours in the Stearman, primarily at auxiliary fields.

Link Trainer

The Link Trainer or “Blue Box” was a commonly used series of flight simulators produced between the early 1930s and early 1950s by the Link Aviation Services, Inc. Ed Link used his knowledge of pumps, valves and bellows to create a flight simulator that responded to the pilot’s controls and gave accurate instrument readings. Pilots needed 50 hours in the simulator as part of ground school.

Towing Targets

After graduation the WASP were assigned to flying duties at various bases all over the United States. One of the duty assignments was to tow targets for anti-aircraft and aerial gunnery training. The WASP pilot would tow long muslin sleeves behind a B-26 and be shot at with live ammunition by diving fighters. Each fighter pilot had a different colored bullet, so the instructors could tell which pilots were scoring hits.

Fire Bell

In addition to being used in emergencies the fire bell was often rung by WASP to celebrate check rides and graduations.

Seat Cushions

The original height requirement of 60” was changed to 64” because so many of the women pilots were too short to see out of the cockpit. They often stacked seat cushions to sit on so they could see out of the cockpit. WASP Mildred Davidson Dalrymple 44-W-4 bragged about being a “three cushion” pilot.

Helen Snap 44-W-4 with her cushions and plane

Helen Snap gets ready to board the plane with her cushions and parachute.

Air Traffic Controller

The Avenger Field Air Traffic Control Tower attached to Hangar One used lights and radios to communicate with pilots. Civilian Air Traffic Controllers handled all air traffic at Avenger Field. Shown is a traffic controller holding a light beam (biscuit gun) while directing traffic by aiming green or red lights. The other controller is using a radio to communicate with pilots.

Makeup and Lipstick

Jackie Cochran always wanted "her girls" to look lady like when they stood up to get out of the plane. They combed their hair and put on fresh lipstick and powder before beginning or ending a flight.

Makeup and Lipstick Cont'd

Jackie Cochran was not only a pilot, but a successful business woman with her own cosmetic line. Shown is a small compact manufactured by Jacqueline Cochran Cosmetics.

Army Air Corp Patch

This official patch was worn on the left shoulder of a pilot's jacket or shirt after graduation. Known as the “Hap Arnold emblem,” it was approved for wear in 1942. Courtesy of Dorothy Bancroft Hammett 44-W-6

Army Air Corp Patch

Donated by Virginia H. Yates 43-W-6. She had her patch sewed on with gold thread.

Avenger Field Leather Patch

This patch was designed and created by WASP flight instructor Marvin A. Krieger. Alhtough an instructor, Krieger was also a graphic designer. He created this leather patch for his flight jacket.

Air Transport Command Patch

Pilots assigned to the Ferry Command wore the Air Transport Command patch on their leather flight jackets. Cornelia Colby, 43-W-4, collection.

WASP Reunion Patch

Designed for the WASP, this Reunion was worn on dress blue reunion jackets on the left pocket. Eleanor Brown, 44-W-10, collection.

Fifi Patch

Fifinella, or "Fifi" was a female gremlin created by Roald Dohl and designed by Walt Disney. During WWII, the WASP were given permission to use Fifinella as their mascot. The women wore Fifinella patches on their leather flight jackets. Doris Zaloudek, 43-W-7,

Fifi Patch in stamped leather

Fifi patches were often designed by the WASP and were hand drawn or painted on leather.

Fifi Patch, embroidered

Fifi patches were embroidered on fabric which varied in size from large to small.

Zoot Suits

The women pilots did not have official uniforms and wore hand-me-down suits from male pilots. The Army had surplus flight suits in men’s size 44 which were issued to the WASP. Affectionately called Zoot Suits, they were much too large. In order to wear the suits, the women had to roll up the pants legs and sleeves and tightened the waist bands with anything they could find.

Flight Instructor Uniform

Courtesty of WASP instructor Rigdon Edwards family.

WASP Santiago Blue Dress Uniform

In 1943, WASP commander Jacqueline Cochran, convinced Gen Hap Arnold that the women pilots should have their own uniforms. The Quartermaster Corps offered 40,000 yards of olive drab wool material. Cochran commented, “My girl pilots will never wear that!" Cochran, together with fashion designers at Bergdorf Goodman in New York, designed a uniform for the approval of Gen Hap Arnold and Gen George C. Marshall. Two sample uniforms were made: one with olive drab wool material and one with Santiago blue wool gabardine, that coincidentally resembles a color now called “Air Force Blue.” A gorgeous French woman was selected to model the blue uniform and a Quartermaster Corps clerk was recruited to model the olive drab uniform. The generals chose the blue uniform, and it became the official WASP uniform. Neiman Marcus fashion coordinators from Dallas personally fitted each woman for her uniform before her class graduated from training.

Eisenhower Flight Uniform

The Santiago blue uniform for flying consisted of an Eisenhower jacket, with the same hardware as that on the dress uniform, slacks, a blue cotton shirt and a black tie. A baseball style cap topped off the uniform for flying. The 1,102 WASP were not only the first women to fly America’s military aircraft, they were also the first pilots to wear the "Ike" jacket, the first to have their uniforms professionally fitted, and most significantly, they were the first to wear blue uniforms—three years before the Air Force.

Diploma

After approximately six months of training, WASP trainees graduated and were assigned to duty bases all over the United States.

They received a diploma for satisfactory completion of the course of instruction for Women’s Airforce Service Pilot at the 2563^rd Army Air Forces Base Unit. Each diploma was signed by Roy P. Ward, Lt Col, Air Corps Commanding.

Silver Wings

In addition to a diploma, the women received silver WASP wings which were presented by Jacqueline Cochran. Rita Joan Moynahan 43-W-2 is shown receiving her wings after graduation. Although pilot wings are common, WASP wings have a distinctive diamond shape in the center of the wings.

Veterans' Recognition

After the WASP program was disbanded in December 1944 their records were sealed and marked "classified" or "secret" and stored in the National Archives for over 30 years. The WASP were considered civilian employees and were denied military status or recognition until a bill was passed in 1977. Thirty-three years after the WASP were disbanded, Congress finally voted to give them military veteran status. Sadly these heroic pilots were not invited to the signing ceremony at the White House, and it was not until seven years later that their medals were delivered through the mail in plain brown envelopes.

Honorable Discharge

On May 21, 1979, thirty-three years after the WASP program was disbanded, the first Honorable Discharge from the Air Force was issued to the WASP. The Honorable Discharge was back dated to December 20, 1944.

American Campaign Medal

Awarded for service between December 7, 1941 - March 2, 1946.

Obverse: a Navy Cruiser and a B-24 bomber flying over, with a sinking enemy submarine on the foreground; background buildings represent the "Arsenal of Democracy;" embossed text, "AMERICAN CAMPAIGN.”

Gold Medal

Presented by Congress to the WASP on March 10, 2010 for their service, record, and “revolutionary reform in the Armed Force” during World War II. Obverse: bust of a female wearing a flying helmet and goggles right center, three female pilot figures doning one piece flight suits and carrying parachute bags on lower left, North American AT-6 aircraft flying over the female pilots, raised letter text "WOMEN AIRFORCE SERVICE PILOTS, 1942-1944" on outer edge of medal; Reverse: North American AT-6 Trainer, North American P-51 Mustang, and Martin B-26 depicted flying in formation; WASP winged diamond pilot badge depicted in the bottom center; raised letter text "THE FIRST WOMEN IN HISTORY TO FLY AMERICAN MILITARY AIRCRAFT, ACT OF CONGRESS 2009."