Amidst the sweeping DEI-related media purge, reporters noticed that information and photos relating to World War II's Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) have recently been deleted from the official U.S. Air Force website (Losey, 2025). So, let’s talk about this amazing group of women.
After the events of Pearl Harbor, the United States identified a need for additional pilots on the homefront, and since the armed forces were sending more and more young men to fight, they could spare no soldiers. The combined efforts of accomplished pilots Jacqueline Cochran and Nancy Harkness Love led to the creation of an all-female organization that could provide these services. The women were based at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas, and despite only being allowed civilian status, they performed regular drills and adhered to the army's standards of discipline.
Beginning in 1942, over two years, 25,000 women applied, but only 1,830 were accepted into the program (National WASP WWII Museum, n.d.). As the National Parks Service says, at Avenger Field, the women “studied navigation, meteorology, Morse code, and airplane mechanics,” in addition to logging rigorous flight hours (Wagner, 2023). Their superiors expected excellence as they faced the daunting task of proving that, in a male-dominated field, women were equally capable and competent service members.
After graduating, WASPs would go on to perform test-flights, ferry planes between army bases, tow targets for artillery practice, and train other male pilots. In the process, 38 women died, and it was not until 1977 that they were recognized with veteran status. In 2010, for their brave and selfless service during a time of crisis, the pilots were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal (Smithsonian, n.d.).
There is an excellent WASP museum at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas. I’ll end up talking more about what I learned during my visit, but if you are ever in that area, please, please go support their mission to preserve and promote this amazing story.
Bibliography:
Losey, Stephen. (2025, March 18). Air Force Purges Photos, Websites on Pioneering Female Pilots. Air Force Times. https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2025/03/18/air-force-purges-photos-websites-on-pioneering-female-pilots/.
National WASP WWII Museum. (n.d.). History. About. https://www.waspmuseum.org/history/.
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. (n.d.). Women Airforce Service Pilots. Stories: Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). https://airandspace.si.edu/explore/stories/women-airforce-service-pilots.
Wagner, Ella. (2023, November 30). Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). National Parks Service. https://home.nps.gov/articles/000/women-airforce-service-pilots-wasp.htm.
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