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o l d M e d a l I n Res i dence
THE WASP GOLD MEDAL is now in
dence in the National Air and Space
seum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center,
ated near Dulles Airport outside
shington D.C.
DAWNSEYMOUR,43-5, WASP Memorials
air, visited the museum in April this
r to see the Gold Medal in place and on
ibit for all to see. The medal is part of the
w WASP exhibit at the museum.
wo WASP WAI Hall
f Fame Inductees
WASP MARTY WYALL and HAZEL AH
NG LEE were two of t he five women
ucted into this year's Women in Aviation
AI) Pioneer Hall of Fame, February 26,
1.
Marty, a graduate of the last WASP class
-10), served as unofficial historian of
WASP from the early 1960s until the
ASP selected Texas Woman's University
Denton in 1991 to be the permanent home
their Archives, the repository of their
ries, papers and photos.
Marty stored WASP papers, photos and
ppings in the garage on her Indiana farm
d carefully tended them for 30 years. Had
ot been for Marty's efforts, much of the
ASP history would have been lost.
After holding yearly reunions from 1946
ough 1949, the WASP ceased to meet for
years. "Everyone was getting married,
ing babies, following their servicemen
bands overseas. It became too much,"
s Marty.
It was Marty who organized the next
nion - in 1964 in Cincinnati. She also
s elected president and served until
69 when the women gathered again for a
nion at Jackie Cochran's ranch in Indio,
ifornia. There, she was awarded the
WASP 25th anniversary celebration plaque,
designed by Paul Crews, husband of WAFS
Nancy Batson. Marty was a key participant
in the organization of the 1975 reunion in
Reno, and served again as WASP president
1994-1996.
Two of her sons, Sumner (a Southwest
Airlines pilot) and John, escorted her at the
Awards banquet.Hazel, one of two Chinese-American
women to serve with the WASP, was
honored posthumously. She was a member
of WASP Class 43-4 and went on to ferry
pursuit airplanes for the Army Air Forces'
Ferrying Division.
Hazel lost her life in one of those pursuits.
Landing a P-63 (Bell Kingcobra) in Great
Falls Montana, November 23, 1944, she
collided with another airplane also on final
approach to land. The tower was blamed for
the accident.
Her sister, Frances Tong, accepte
Hazel's Pioneer Hall of Fame plaque at t
WAI banquet Saturday night. Frances a
was in D.C. to accept Hazel's Gold Med
and to lay her commemorative rose at
March 9 Memorial Service remembering
the 38 WASP who died serving in WW
That service was held at the new Air For
Memorial.
Also inducted into the 2011 Pioneer H
of Fame were: WAI founder and preside
Dr. Peggy Chabrian; AF Major Gener
Susan Helms, Director of Plans and Poli
for t he U.S. Strategic Command, and
former NASA astronaut; and Tamm
Duckworth, Army pilot who lost her legs
the crash of her Black Hawk helicopter
Iraq. She is now the Assistant Secretary
Public and Intergovernmental Affairs
the Department ofYeterans Affairs.
See photos on Page 2.
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--;-" --"-."~: ~. -~~, ,.- . ~---- ',
---- ~-- -'~._-_._~._.. .__ " :.J
WASP Cast Golden Glow at WAI in Reno
Sarah Byrn Rickman, WASP News editor
The neon glow from Reno's slot machines couldn't match the golden glow exuded by II WASP at the 22nd annual Women In
Aviation, Inc., conference Feb. 24-26, at the Grand Sierra Resort.
Attending WAI this year were: JAN GOODRUM (43-8), BEE HAYDU (44-7), SHIRLEY KRUSE (44-6), DOT LEWIS (44-5), JEAN
MCCREERY (44-10), ALYCE ROHRER (44-4), DAWN SEYMOUR (43-5), A.J. STARR (43-4), LUCILE WISE (43-7), MARTY WYALL (44-
10), and MILLIE YOUNG (44-10). Jan, Alyce, Dawn, AJ and Lucile had a daughter in tow. (Dawn also had a granddaughter.) Do
and Millie each had a son along for company. I had the pleasure of traveling west on Amtrak with Jean and Marty and rooming
with Bee.
It was my pleasure to present WASP GOLD - a slide show documentary of the events on March 9 and 10,2010, in Washington
D.C., when you-all were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. I showed some gorgeous WASP portraits taken by Bill Young
Millie Young's talented professional photographer son. I also had the use of snapshots taken by Air Force Reserve photographers,
courtesy Major Andra P. Higgs.
Kate Landdeck also gave a WASP presentation, Both of us spoke to nearly full houses and the WASP, out in force for both
held forth and answered questions to the delight of the crowd. WAFS BARBARA LONDON was not in Reno, but her daughter and
granddaughter Terry and Kelly Rinehart were in the audience for my presentation and spoke briefly.
TWU and the WASP Collection and Archives were WELL represented. Libraries Director Sherilyn Bird and Special Collections
Coordinator Kimberly Johnson both were in the TWU booth talking to people, I was fortunate enough to join them as I've done so
much of my research for my WASP books at TWU. I enjoyed being able to talk to other researchers and authors about the wealth
of information available in the WASP Collection. And I was able to sell my four WASP books to visitors to the booth. [See photo
on Page 2.]
Women in Aviation International is Mecca for all women of aviation - and for many men as well. Women aviators of today's
military, as well as women airline, corporate, private and student pilots and non-flying aviation personnel of all callings come to
rub elbows with their peers - to absorb and learn and leave with new goals entered on their life's flight plan.
And above all else, the WASP truly are the rock stars of aviation's women today. They DO draw a crowd!
Albert Z. "Chig" Lewis, KOW
Jean McCreery 44-10
Geri Nyman 43-1
Honey Fulton Parker, sister of
WAFS Dorothy Fulton
Pat Thomas, KOW
Lucile Wise 43-7
Bill Young, KOW
DEADLINE Next Issue Planned for December 2011
Deadline for news is November 1, 2011
Websites:
TWU/WASP Archives: twu.edu/library/wasp
WASP on the Web: http://www.wwii-women-pilots.orgWings Across America: http://www.wingsacrossamerica.org
WASP M useum: waspmuseum.org
Wingtip-to-Wingtip Assn: www.wtwa.org and www.fifinella.com
Contributors for this issue:
Jacque Boyd, Friend
Cappy Bridge 43-2
Radford Crews, KOW
Betty Darst, Friend
Kris Lent Gros 44-3
Bee Haydu 44-7
Pat Jernigan, Friend
Bac k cover pho tos by
Bill You ng, son of
Mil lice nt Young (44-10 ),
taken at the Gold Medal
Ceremony March 10, 2010.
~ Figurativephoto. com
Volume XLVIV NO.1
WASP News is published twice
yearly at Denton, Texas.
Postage paid at Denton, Texas.
Editor - Sarah Rickman
10 N. Johanna Dr., Centerville OH 45459
Phone &Fax 937-434-5979
Cell 937-581-0837
E-mail: [email protected]
Publisher - Kimberly Johnson
Texas Woman's UniversityPhone: 940-898-3743
Cell: 940-390-1188
E-mail: [email protected]
Class News - 1943: Lucile Wise
E-mail: [email protected]
Class News - 1944: Jean McCreery
E-mail: [email protected]
@ 2011 Texas Woman's University
Summer 2011 3
http://www.wwii-women-pilots.org/http://www.wingsacrossamerica.org/http://www.wtwa.org/http://www.fifinella.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.fifinella.com/http://www.wtwa.org/http://www.wingsacrossamerica.org/http://www.wwii-women-pilots.org/
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WASP Endowment $678,270.69
We thank you for all the generous gifts and acknowledgements honoring your classmates, families, and
friends. The following donations were received after October 1,2010.
Outright GiftsBetty June Overman Brown, 44-W-7
Irma "Babe" Story, 44-W-7
Elaine Harmon, 44- W-9Ravenna Leigh Baker, 44- W-7
June Bent, 44-W-3
Bee Falk Haydu, 44- W-7Doris E. Lockness, 43-W-4t
Helen Snapp, 43- W-4
Capt. Lucy B. Young, USN Ret.
American Legion Auxiliary
AwardsRobert J. Dole Institute of Politics, 2010 Leadership Award
NEW:
Checks to the WASP Endowment
Should Read " TWU Foundation"The Woman's Collection appreciates all that our donors do
to support the WASP Endowment. The initiatives undertaken
to preserve the WASP legacy are made possible in part by the
generosity of our donors. We are committed to keeping you
updated about the WASP Endowment.
However, we must tell you of an important change.
Newly established banking regulations now require that
donations BY CHECK to the WASP Endowment be made out to
the TWU Foundation. The words WASP Endowment should now
be written in the Memo Line. Please see the enclosed graphic
for the example of how the check needs to be made out.
For your donating convenience, credit card donations are also
an option. Please feel free to call me - Kimberly Johnson, 940-
898-3743- if you have any questions. We appreciate all you do to
support the WASP Endowment. Example:
Date _
~~~.:,,~EROFTWUFOUNDATION $ I AMOUNTI
AMOUNT SPELLED OUT Dollars
WASP ENDOWMENT
Honoring Living WASPKatherine ''Kitty'' Willinger. 44-W-8
by Richard Willinger, son
Elizabeth Whitlow Smith, 43-W-2
by Michael J. Rummerfield, son
Betty Wall Stroh/us. 44-W-I
by Becky Seeger
Memorial Gifts
Anna White, 44-W-I
by Pat Young, 44- W-I t
Calendar of Events
July 25-31,2011 - AirVenture at Oshkosh. The
Women in Aviation International (WAI) Connect
Breakfast is Friday, July 29, at 8 a.m. Other
plans pending. Contact Bee Haydu for lodging
information: 281-239-9520; beehaydu @beehaydu.
com.
October 7-9,2011 - Commemorative Air
Force to Honor the WASP, at its annual AIRSHO
- Midland International Airport, between
Midland and Odessa Texas. The contact is Col.
Sharon Short: [email protected];
home phone 817-656-5052; work phone 972-770-
1188.See article on page 12.
November 8,2011 - "The WAFS Story"
at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 8,2011, at
the Warner Student Life Center, Brookdale
Community College, Lincroft, NJ. Reception and
viewing of a WAFS Exhibit to follow. See article
on page 13.
4
Memo Signature
Summer 201
mailto:[email protected];mailto:[email protected];
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Vi Cowden, WASP President 1996-1998, Flies West
Former WASP President Violet Thurn Cowden, 43-4, died
peacefully in her sleep in Huntington Beach, California, on
April 1O,201l.
Vi was born Oct. I, 1916,in a sod house on a farm in Bowdle,
South Dakota. From early childhood, "I wanted to fly like the
hawks," she told an interviewer. She made good on her dream.
After graduating from high school she received a scholarshipto Spearfish Normal School in Spearfish, SD, where she received
her teaching certificate. She obtained her pilot's license while
teaching first grade in Spearfish, and was accepted for WASP
training in February 1943.
Assigned to the Ferrying Division, Air Transport Command,
Love Field, Texas, after graduation from Sweetwater, she ferried
UC-78s, AT-6s and other aircraft and then was sent to pursuit
training in Brownsville, Texas, where she graduated May 15,
1944. She flew all the training planes, plus the P-40, P-63, P-39,
P-47, and her favorite, the P-5l. She called it "the love of her
life" and she ferried a bunch of them!
During WWII, a ferry pilot could bump any passenger on
an airline (other than the president, himself, or his cabinet)
enroute to an assignment. Vi was a ferry pilot. Once, on landing
in Memphis, she saw a huge crowd of young girls waiting at the
gate, jumping up and down and screaming. They were waiting
for Frank Sinatra. Vi learned, to her great amusement, that she
had bumped the popular crooner at the last stop.
After deactivation she went into the ceramic business. She
married Scott Cowden - the other love of her life - in 1955,
and they lived in Huntington Beach, California, just one block
from the ocean. She was Director of the Teacher Resource
For Dora - In Memory of Harry
Center for 10years. In her
later years she became
active in civic affairs and
environmental causes.
At the age of 89 she
became the oldest person
to skydive in tandem with
the Golden Knights, the
Army's elite parachute
team. In May 2009, at 92,
she took a ride in a rare
2-seat P-51 and had the
time of her life. The ride
was captured on film.
In 2010, Wings of
Silver: The Vi Cowden
Story - a 33-minute Vi Cowden, 43-4
documentary on Vi's life
and times as a WASP - was released. www.wingsofsilver.com. The film has won several documentary awards.
Vi was active in the Southern California WASP group and
in the national WASP organization, serving as President 1996-
1998. And of course, on March 10,2010, Vi joined some 200
of her living WASP sisters to receive the Congressional Gold
Medal in Washington D.C.
She is survived by a daughter, Kim, and three grandchildren.
Her husband preceded her in death.
A remarkable woman and a friend to all, she will be sorely
missed. (See Jean McCreery's tribute to Vi, page 35.)
By Jacque Boyd, WASP Friend
Editor's Note: Harry McKeown,
husband of DORA DOUGHERTY
STROTHER MCKEOWN (43-3), took his last
flight Oct. 9 , 2010. Jacque Boyd stood up
for them at their wedding back in 2003.
When Harry and Dora began "dating"
I was the third-wheel-chaperone! When
"we" would go dancing, I'd sit and watch
while Harry and Dora danced. After it
was evident that marriage was in the air
I asked Harry what the date might be.
He said they'd get married when he got
permission from her parents! Talk about
a "stall effort!"
One Saturday evening Dora called me.
"Tomorrow. Church. Be there."
Summer 2011
It told me everything I needed to
know. At church I saw another one of our
mutual friends; Dorothy. The four of us
sat together - three silver-haired Ph.D.s
and Harry. The Episcopal Priest stood up
and told the congregation that we weren't
having a sermon that morning, but that
we were going to have a wedding!
In the years since Dora's first husband,Lester, passed away she and I had a way
of coping with the craziness that often
comes with widowhood. She'd call and
say that a squirrel had invaded her family
room and then "I think I'll have another
Chardonnay." When I'd come back from
a trip to find a tree down in my front yard,
I'd call her and say, "I think I'll have
another Chardonnay." In fact, we had so
many little incidences she wrote them up
in a little book that I refer to quite often,
along with having a glass of Chardonnay.
We stood at the front of the church,
Harry and his friend plus Dora, Dorothy
and me. As the Priest reached the point
in the vows when he said, "Is there
anyone who objects to this marriage,"
Dora leaned over to me and whispered,"I think I'll have another Chardonnay!"
It was far from the first time in my life
that I played the part of bridal attendant,
but it was the first time I got to stand up
as witness for someone I loved and didn't
have to wear a dorky dress! Dora and
Harry, what a pair and what an example
they were.
5
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tFRO~' TH E EpITQR 'S M A I L ~o
Look What We Started!From Cappy Vail Bridge, 43-2
Dear Sarah:
For your interest, and for all the WASP, I call your attention to the
recent issue of Time magazine, dated April 18, 2011. Page 37 has a
most interesting article entitled Air Boss - Major General MaggieWoodward. She is the Air Force general in charge of the mission of
u.S. fighter planes involved in the NATO air cover over Libya!
She has logged (according to the article) more than 4000 hours and
is one of 612 women pilots in the U.S. Air Force. Please note, that is
less than 5 percent among 13,000 Air Force pilots!
Robert Gates pronounced, "Woodward's efforts a success 'because
much of Gaddaffi's military has been destroyed.'"
My reaction of amazement: "Look what we started!"
Editor's Note: Author of the Time article is Mark Thompson. All
WASP,KOWs and FOWs need to read the article in its entirety, but to
give you a couple of quick quotes from it:
"Operation Odyssey Dawn marked the first time in U.S. history
that a woman commanded a military air campaign."
No wonder Cappy exclaims, "Look what we started?"
General Woodward asked the reporter if he planned to "get into
the first woman thing?" And when asked if she considered herself
a role model for girls, she responded that she hoped to inspire both
boys and girls.
You REALLY need to read this article. It will make you proud.
Ask your local library Reference Department to access it for you on
the Internet and e-mail you a link. That's what 1did.THANK YOU, CAPPY!
Passing the Torch[Note: The author of this letter is Radford Crews. His Mom, WAFS
NANCY BATSON CREWS, was his flight instructor when he earned his
private pilot's license in 1975. He went on to become a captain with
Sky WestAirlines, the job from which he retired this spring.}
Dear Sarah,
Thanks for sending the newsletter along.
In mentioning what those bold ladies did regarding furthering the
cause of women, don't forget how many young men were mentored
and trained by those gals. Their influence has reached far and wide
in aviation.
1 know of one fortunate young guy who was lucky enough to
achieve an entire career flying because of them.
And now, 1 am retired. I am enjoying the early stage of my
Continued on Page 13
6
Veterans' Day 2010
Editor's Note: The following report -
Veterans' Day 2010 Celebration at the WWl
Memorial in Washington D.C - is courtesy
WASP Friend Pat Jernigan, Us. Army
Colonel (Retired). Please also note her PosScript regarding the individual Gold Medal
the WASP received March 10, 2010.
Veterans Day (2010) in Washington DC wa
a lovely day and there was a lovely early mornin
ceremony at the World War II Memorial to hono
veterans, particularly WW-2, and within that group
particularly women vets. It was great to see ELAINE
HARMON (44-9) representing the WASP.Don't believ
other WASP attended. It was early and brisk whic
would have discouraged some.
Women from all the military services were presen- Elizabeth McIntosh representing the OSS (Jul
Childs worked for her when she was with OSS), an
several who had worked in industry. A Gold Sta
mother (also a veteran) was also among the specia
honorees. The ceremony keynote speaker was GE
Ann Dunwoody.
The oldest vet there was retired WAC LTC Lu
McGrath who celebrated her 103rd birthday the ne
week... she's an inspiration! Still fully with it, and sh
gets around fairly well, though for today's events sh
was in a chair. At the Women's Memorial Veteran
Day remembrance in 2009 Colonel McGrath gave aexcellent ten minute talk, off the cuff, telling abou
her military service.
Thanks to all the veterans, WASP, KOW, FOW
ai, best wishes on this Veterans Day!
P.S. re: the Gold Medal
I suspect quite a few people thought the [Gold
medals were "issued" by the government - it wasn
so! WIMSA purchased them. Only the original (no
in the Smithsonian - see photo on Page I) wa
provided. Individual medals, when a Congressiona
Gold Medal is issued, are available from the UMint, but purchase is strictly optional. This was on
reason that the Women's Memorial staff worked har
to identify a single recipient, either the WASP hersel
or a single family member. I know there were som
family members who also wanted medals.
Pat Jernigan, WASP Friend
Summer 201
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News From The TWU WASP Archive
By Kimberly Johnson, Special Collections Coordinator, TWU
I am delighted to share with you a recap of last year's WASP activity involving the
archives as well as to preview some of our goals and initiatives for this year. In future
editions of the WASP News, you will receive updates about the projects we have been
supporting and assisting across the country. My staff and I are committed to doing all
that we can to ensure that the legacy of the WASP endures for generations to come.
What an amazing and incredible year 2010 was for the Woman's Collection. As aresult of the Congressional Gold Medal, the WASP received unprecedented media
coverage around the nation. This extensive coverage included interviews, news and
feature stories, and articles online and in printed publications about the WASP before
and after the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony held in Washington, D.C., in March.
Producers and editors from major news outlets such as ABC, NBC, and Hearst
Television utilized resources from the WASP archive including photographs and film
for their broadcast and print stories. Last year the staff responded to approximately
300 requests for archival assistance about the WASP. We continue to support students,
researchers, scholars, authors, and educators with materials from the archive to complete
and propel their projects forward.
Spring 2010, the History Channel visited the Woman's Collection and filmed footagefor its Saving History Project. This project featured footage shot by ALBERTA KINNEY,
44-7, while she was at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas. During March, National
Public Radio interviewed Dr. Kate Landdeck, WASP historian. The story entitled
Female WWII Pilots: The Original Fly Girls on NPR's website credits the Woman's
Collection for source materials.
In April, PEARL JUDD, MICKEY BRIGHT and her daughter, Mary Ann Slate (niece of
DORIS BRISTOL TRACY), and Nancy Hoing (daughter of BUCKY RICHARDS) joined the
TWU community to celebrate Founders' Day. Dr. Landdeck was the keynote speaker at
the luncheon, which honored the WASP for their achievements during their country's
hour of greatest need.
Last summer, MARTYWYALLAND JEAN MCCREERY visited the Woman's Collection.
They spent their time working with our collections and especially our photographs to
identify photos for the WASP digital collections. Their dedication to assuring that as
many photographs as possible are identified is invaluable as was their willingness to
give their time. Our student assistants were thrilled to have had the opportunity to meet
Marty and Jean. As one student said as they were leaving, "I have met celebrities, just
wait until I tell my family."
I am happy to report that we began digitizing your oral history interviews last
summer and we are planning to have this project wrapped up by the end of the year.
With this digitization initiative underway, we foresee using portions of this audio online.
In addition, 12 new oral history interviews were conducted and 34 others transcribed.
We are steadfastly working to complete this project and get finished books in the hands
of WASP and family members.We continue to support exhibitions featuring the WASP around the country. Last
year alone, we assisted with more than 30 exhibits including the Bob Bullock Texas
State Historical Museum, The Women's Museum in Dallas, Texas, and the Museum of
Flight in Seattle, Washington, just to name a few. Users of the collection have included
various news and print organizations around the country from east to west and all points
in between - more than 60 last year. Articles were printed in such publications as
WARBIRDS Digest, The Daily Astorian, the Statesman-Journal, Michigan History, the
Dallas Morning News, and the Maine Independent Journal.
Continued on Page 8
Summer 2011
Jean McCreery, 44-10
@BiII Young, Figurativephoto.com
Pearl Judd, 44-8
Marty Wyall, 44-10
@BiII Young, Figurativephoto.com
7
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News From The WASP Archive
As 2010 drew to a close with Gold Medal excitement still lingering in th
air, the staff at the Woman's Collection could not help but wonder what 201would have in store for the WASP. Preparing ourselves for summer 2011, th
momentum and enthusiasm is at an all time high as requests for information
continue to come in to the archive daily.
Each of us looks forward to the second half of 2011 and what it mean
for the WASP and their archive. But one thing is certain, we are sur
that whatever our days are like, we will continue to educate and support
researchers, historians, students, and aviation enthusiasts about the story o
the WASP -transforming one patron at a time.
TWU Has Presence
at WAI in Reno
Submitted by Kimberly Johnson,
Coordinator Special Collections
During Women in Aviation's annual
conference held in Reno, Nevada, earlier
this year, the TWU Libraries were on hand "womaning" a booth and discussing with
women from across the aviation industry and
throughout the military the importance of
preserving their history and archiving their
papers.
Sherilyn Bird, Director of TWU Libraries,
and Kimberly Johnson, Coordinator of Special
Collections, along with Sarah Rickman,
WASP historian/author and editor of the
WASP News, spent time sharing the WASP
legacy with women of all ages. Throughout
the conference, WASP JEAN MCCREERY,
LUCILE WISE, DAWN SEYMOUR, and DOT
SWAIN LEWIS spent time at TWU's booth
signing autographs and passing out literature
about the archive to interested persons.
"This was a time to network and reconnect
with friends and supporters of TWU," said
Kim berly Joh nson, Coord inator of Collections.
"We had a wonderful time meeting the movers
and shakers of the aviation industry.
"As we move forward to grow the collection,
we are focused on further developing and defining our concentration of women in
aviation and women in military collections.
Because of the WASP, Whirly Girls, and
Women Military Aviators collections, we are a
premier resource for researchers and scholars
whose work is about women's military and
aviation history," Johnson said.
Following their return to Dallas, the Special
Collections immediately began receiving
photograph collections for the library's
digital initiative. The staff has been working
diligently to get these photos processed for upload to their digital collections by the end
of the summer.
The TWU Libraries is planning to return
next year to WAI, scheduled to be in Dallas,
Texas. The staff had a debriefing meeting a
month after the event and planning is already
under way for next year.
Continued/rom Page 7
As with any archive, the digitization
of materials and photographs remains
a top priority. Plans are already
underway to determine the next series
of WASP photograph collections
to be digitized and made available
online. The $25,000 gift award fromthe Robert Dole Institute for Politics
is enabling us to create new web
pages rich in content and graphics.
This prestigious award recognizes the
achievements and accomplishments
of individuals because of their public
service that encourages and inspires
others. The WASP were the first
group to be awarded this honor.
As your official archive, one of
our major objectives with the new
website is to illustrate the richnessand uniqueness of the WASP
collection and the vast resources
available. This includes primary
source materials such as letters
written during wartime, diaries
detailing daily activities, more
than 1000 biographical files on
WASP, trainees, instructors, and
staff, as well as an array of official
documents, log books, accident
reports, and military orders. We are
creating detailed finding aids for each of the manuscript, clothing,
and artifact collections intended to
aid historians and scholars in the
research process. Further, we are
enhancing the collection of data we
capture for our digital collections
and, beginning this summer, will be
modifying our records again with the
purpose of making searching easier
for users.
Kate Landdeck
Mickey Bright, 43-7
Photo courtesy
the Air Force Reserve
8 Summer 2011
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Six WASP Buzz the Big Apple! By Jean McCreery, 44-10
When the invitation came inviting the WASP to a Recognition banquet of
THE WINGS CLUB of New York, a venerable pilots association of 68 years,
I was surprised and thrilled. Even though it came on top of the Women in
Aviation International Conference in February in Reno, six WASP answered
the call and off we went to New York City not knowing what to expect.
Where could we stay? The flights on Jet Blue were provided, but housing
was up to us. Fortunately my son lives on Long Island and offered his home
even though I invited two WASP from my class (44-10) and their families. My
daughter-in-law welcomed us graciously and we had a wonderful house party
with, believe it or not, beautiful weather! How lucky can we get?
We rented a great Toyoto van, with MILLIE YOUNG'S son, Bill, to drive,
and using a Garmin to tell us where to go, we really did the town! Millie's
daughter, Martha Young, flew in from Montana to enjoy her mother's honors.
The WINGS CLUB Recognition Program was on Wednesday, March
30, 2011, at the Yale Club. The WASP received the Annual Wings Club/
IAWA Outstanding Aviator Award. IAWA stands for International Aviation
Women's Association - a group of women in executive positions in the field
of aviation.
Dinner afterwards at the Cafe Centro was hosted by IAWA and their
president-elect, Mylene Schotnick. We were treated so graciously by these
organizations and everything went without a flaw! WASP attending were:
JAN GOODRUM, DAWN SEYMOUR, JEAN MCCREERY, MARTY WYALL,
MILLICENT YOUNG and KATHERINE WILLINGER. Katherine, whose
address is 35 Park Avenue, simply walked around the corner escorted by her
nephew, Charles Willinger. Other family members accompanied us. They
included Dawn's son and daughter and Jan's granddaughter and her husband.
Somehow, I am always astonished at what a great "show" we can put on
when we get together! We seem to inspire each other and I am so proud of
all the WASP when we accept honors for our distant past as though it wereyesterday.
Since we had a week to spend in the "Big Apple" we took a day for a self-
guided tour of Manhattan and a day to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
We even toured Theodore Roosevelt's home, Sagamore Hill, in Oyster Bay
on Long Island.
And we had a wonderful surprise when, at lunch at a local bistro (Louie's)
in Port Washington, JAN GOODRUM and her granddaughter, with family,
walked in! What a wonderful coincidence!
Thankfully, we made all plane connections and dinner engagements and
even found a parking place to see the Statue of Liberty from the Bowery Park!
And DAWN SEYMOUR adds:
What a happy, delightful evening we had and we thank the WINGS Club,
the IAWA, and Jet Blue for their generosity in honoring the WASP WWII.
It was a delight to meet Sallie Bondy, Director Sales &Marketing Operations
Commercial Airplanes The Boeing Company, who attended the Annual IAWA
Meeting and the lovely dinner at the Cafe Centro later that evening.
What fun for all of us WASP to be together again.
(See photo on Page 39)
Summer 2011
Monument Honors
Four Local WASP By Pat Thomas, daughter of
Audrey Tardy Brady, 43-7
A WASP Monument that honors
four "home town girls" - WASP with
connection to the Antelope Valley -was dedicated Memorial Day at the
Lancaster Cemetery, Lancaster CA.
The monument is of black granite
with porcelain portraits of the four
WASP: MARGARET MCANALLY, 43-
6; IRMA "BABE" STORY, 43-6; FLORA
BELLE REECE, 44-4 and MARGARET
"TY" KILLEN, 44-8.
Recessed in the granite are U.S.
Mint replicas of the front and back
of the Congressional Gold Medal theWASP received March 10, 2010. A
steel archway and Fifinella top the
granite monument, symbolizing the
entrance to Avenger Field.
On either side of the walkway
leading up to the monument are 38
engraved bricks to honor the 38 WASP
pilots who were killed during their
service. The bricks carry names, class
and hometown of each of the 38.
Three Kids of WASP (KOWs)
attended in honor of their deceased
mothers: Tom Sword, Bruce Guthrie,
and Pat Thomas, as well as family
members and friends of t he three
WASP who were present. We lost Ty
Killen in January of this year. WASP
Jan Wood attended, as did Sallie
Russell, Doris Tanner's sister.
The keynote speaker, Col. Dawn M.
Dunlop, USAF, is the Commander of
the 412th Test Wing at the Air Force
Flight Test Center, Edwards Air Force
Base. Her resume includes combat
time in the F-15E.
The local community has supported
this monument with funds raised by a
local middle school, Rotary Club and
the AV 99s.
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Tornado Uninvited Guest at WASP Sun n Fun Luncheon
By Bee Haydu, 44-7
A tornado with 90-100 mph winds turned out to be the
surprise - and most unwelcome - guest at the annual
WASP luncheon hosted by the Ninety-Nines, March 31, at
Sun n Fun, Lakeland, Florida.
WASP BEE HAYDU instantly became our on-the-scene
reporter and, here, provides an eyewitness account of themayhem created when the storm hit their tent and the
amazingly quick response of the 70 occupants. Here's her
account:
The luncheon was being catered in a large tent adjacent to
the museum. We were all seated at long tables and the caterer
was starting to put out his special buffet as the black clouds
and high winds hit.
Lana Kraeszig, a Ninety-Nine, shouted, "Get under the
tables." A group tried to close the tent openings but the wind
was too strong. KAY HILBRANDT was having back problems
that prevented her from getting completely under. When the
roof collapsed, the water began accumulating and pressing
against her back. Her niece, Marie Friese, managed to get
to her and stood over her allowing the water to drain. She
remained there until we were rescued.
Susan King pulled JANET SIMPSON to the floor and
shielded her from debris. An unidentified Ninety-Nine [we'd
like to have name] helped lower TEX MEACHAM to the floor
and shielded her. It got very crowded under those tables
and things started blowing around. The storm lasted 10-15
minutes. We learned later that a tornado was imbedded in the
thunderstorm.
When I finally got out from under the table, I was surprised to see that a portion of the tent was lying on the tables and
when I stood up, the top of the tent was on my head. We were
all very wet but Susan and Marie were soaked to the skin.
Rescuers - both in the tent, strangers outside, and museum
volunteers - came quickly to lead us out of the rubble. One
young man actually carried LIZ STROHFUS out. [Editor's
note: We heard via the grapevine that Liz told her rescuer tha
it was the "mostfun " she'd had all day!}
We were next to the museum, so made our way there, stil
getting drenched from the falling rain. Inside, we were give
box lunches and placed in the safest part of the building in th
event more tornados came.
We stayed in the museum for several hours since mor
storms were predicted and all roads were closed. Extensiv
damage was done to the airport, several airplanes were severel
damaged, turned upside down, etc. Trees were uprooted an
flooding was everywhere.
Our deepest THANKS to the many unsung heroes who di
so much for us. We wish we had all your names.
Susan King and Bob Oehl of Wings of Dreams mad
it possible for the following WASP to attend Sun n Fun i
Lakeland, Florida. KAY HILBRANDT 44-10, PENNY HALBERG
44-6, BEE HAYDU 44-7, SHIRLEY KRUSE 44-6, TEX MEACHAM
43-7, BETTY JO REED 44-7, HELEN SNAPP 43-4, JANET SIMPSON
44-6, LIZ STROHFUS 44-1.
Susan and Bob have been doing this for a few years and giv
us VIP treatment. The Ninety-Nines have a permanent buildin
on the grounds and generously invite the WASP to make it the
headquarters. They are exceptionally gracious hosts.
Wings of Dreams is in the process of building a hanga
museum at Keystone Heights Airport, Florida, near Gainesville
They have already been awarded the Guidance & Navigatio
Simulator used to train astronauts and are planning a larg
exhibit featuring the WASP. More about them on their websitewww.wingsofdreams.org.
Observation: Every WASP came out from under the ten
with her pocket book.
Question for Susan and Bob: What do you have planne
for us next year?
See photos on Page 39.
CAF to Honor WASP at An nual AIRSHO, Oct. 7-9
The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) plans to honor
the WASP at its annual AIRSHO, Oct. 7-9, at Midland International Airport - located between Midland and
Odessa TX.
To view the show, WASP attending - and an escort -
will have reserved seating in the Prime Viewing area. This
is an opportunity to see many flyable warbirds and witness
reenactments of WWII's notable air battles. And there will
be flight demonstrations of today's finest military airplanes.
WASP also are asked to participate in the Saturday parade on
the airport grounds. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
10
Ifinterested in attending -and FOR MORE INFORMATION
- contact Col. Sharon Short: email sharonshort@mfppoercom; or by phone. Her home number, 817-656-5052; her wor
number, 972-770-1188. Arrangements are being made to cov
much of the WASP's travel and lodging expenses, as well a
those of her escort.
The CAF hopes this will be an opportunity for a WAS
Reunion, Colonel Short says. "You played a very special an
important role in our nation's history and we have not forgotten
so please make a decision to honor us with your attendance an
allow us to show our appreciation for your service."
Summer 201
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Bean Salad, Bamboo Bombers
For 'Guinea Pig' Class 43-1 By Ger; Nyman, 43-1
Twenty-five women from all over
the U.S. headed for Houston. For this
first class Jackie Cochran had selected
members who had lots of flying hours.
She said if this first 25 didn't make it
the whole program would go down the
drain. She warned us to expect bad stuff
in Houston.
Four of us from New York drove to
Houston in two cars. We headed for the
municipal airport - not Ellington Field,
which was next door. We would be given
$150 a month and had to pay our own
room and board. We were told we had to
find our own housing. A lot of the girls
went into town to a hotel because theyhad to take a bus or cab to the airport.
Eventually, the base found an old cattle
truck without seats to transport the girls
from town. MAGDA TACKE and I found a
nice room in a private home near the field
and fortunately had a car to drive back
and forth.
Even though we were using the only
nonmilitary field in Houston, the brass
did not want anyone to know what we
were doing. We were to tell anyone who
asked that we were a basketball team.With two 5-footers and three close to 6
feet, it was truly a comic opera.
Our headquarters were in an old shack
at the end of the field. That's where
we were to do all our studying and
training. If we wanted to eat or go to the
bathroom, we walked a half-mile up to
the terminal. They did eventually put in a
port-a-potty for us. In the lunchroom, the
commanding officer and the instructors
would sit in the middle ofthe room eating
their steaks, etc. We sat on high stools athigh tables eating starchy foods that were
really bad. We asked for salads for lunch.
So they gave us beans on a lettuce leaf.
\t~J'" - . . W I -
Summer 2011
To show their good humor, they gave us
brown beans one day and white the next.
One of our girls was a stunt pilot.
When she got aboard for her qualifyingrun, her young instructor asked her if she
could really fly.
"Do you really want to know?" she
asked. She took off down the field, turned
and flew back over the field upside down,
righted and flew straight up in the air until
she stalled out. What a performance! The
young lieutenant staggered off the plane
and vowed he would never get in a plane
with one of those wild women again.
We really had a comedy when the PTs- open cockpit trainers - arrived. Two
of our girls were only 5 feet tall. Those
girls required two pillows tied to their
parachute and another pillow to sit on.
Otherwise they could not reach the rudder
pedals. In January, it was so cold in the
PTs that we complained. They brought
in several boxes of cast-off winter gear
from Ellington. Not a suit was under size
44, and the smallest boots were size 11.
Ifwe used the boots we couldn't feel the
rudders.
One day some heavy equipment
removed a section of fence between our
field and Ellington. They shoved five
airplanes through the hole. We couldn't
understand why they didn't just fly the
planes over. I got a call that night from
a friend at Ellington who said the planes
had been junked when termites were
discovered in the wings.
If we had complained they would've
said we were scared, and it would've been
a good way to get rid of us. So we flewthem - the bamboo bombers. We had
one minor accident with one plane when
its wing gave way. Our girl was okay, but
the male instructor was slightly hurt.
They started a second and a third class
and they stayed in a motel downtown for
a few weeks and rode back and forth in
Geri Nyman
Photo courtesy
the Air Force Reserve
the old truck with no seats. The Air Force
realized this program was going to fly so
it was transferred to Sweetwater, Texas
to a great facility. We were the only class
to graduate from Houston.
Twenty-three of us graduated. tWO
dropped out for health reasons. For th
graduation ceremony, we each flew a
plane over to next-door Ellington fo
the ceremony and formed a half circl
around the podium. There, Jackie
Cochran presented us with our wings
She had purchased the wings herself a
the Army still didn't acknowledge us a
real Army Air Force pilots. We had n
uniforms but our own tan pants and tan
shirts so at least we had something to pin
our wings on.
From the February 2011 Roadrunner
Extra, the newsletter for the residents
of the Beatitudes Campus in suburban
Phoenix and published monthly by Th
Writer's Group, (Used with permission.)
Thanks to WASP Friend Betty Darst for
"finding" the story for us.
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WASP Homecoming Held
At Avenger Field, May 28Twenty-two WASP returned to Sweetwater and Avenger
Field on Memorial Day Saturday 2011 to celebrate
Homecoming at the scene of the training and initial
experiences of most WASP OF WWII. Here's the list:
MERIEM ANDERSON, BETTY BLAKE, MICKEY BRIGHT,
EDNA DAVIS, LEE DOERR, MARY HELEN FOSTER, PENNYHALBERG, BEE HAYDU, KATHLEEN HILBRANDT, DOTTIE
HOEY, SHIRLEY KRUSE, MARY LAMY, KRIS LENT GROS,
DOT L EWIS, TEX MEACHUM, BETTY JO REED, DAWN
SEYMOUR, BARRY SMITH, A.J. STARR, HELEN SNAPP, LIZ
STOHFUS AND MARY ALICE VANDEVENTER.
Chig Lewis, son of DOT SWAIN LEWIS (44-5), gave your
editor an email head's up that they had all arrived and made
it to the Pecan Plantation in Granbury, TX. Chig continues,
"There, they were safely lodged with our generous hosts, the
Los Brazos River 99s, where we had a nice barbeque dinner
poolside Thursday night."
Friday, the WASP contingent were guests at a public
media gathering (see photo of Tex Meacham on page 39)
and Saturday they all headed for Avenger Field for the BIG
EVENT, HOMECOMING, and all the goings on.
Saturday was full of activities with a Fly-In beginning at 8
a.m. and a membership breakfast/ meeting. A car/motorcycle
show began at 9:30 at the Texas Theater and a parade wound
its way from there out to Avenger Field.
BEE HAYDU (44-7) was the luncheon speaker. Bee is the
author of Letters Home, her account of her time in the WASP
and her flying life after.
Students from Highland High School performed a one-act
play about Jackie Cochran, "Fastest Woman Alive," at the
WASP Museum at 1:30 p.m. The WASP were available for
autographs and photos all afternoon and a dinner with Big
Band 1940s era dance was held in Hangar One that evening.
Other highlights included airplane rides given to 60 Young
Eagles - ongoing throughout the day - and, thanks to
Andy and Mike Porter, the appearance of their Stearman
PT-17 - #12 - that served as a trainer for the WASP going
through primary training at Avenger in 1944.
At the moving sunset memorial service, Brig. Gen. Linda
McTague, Air National Guard Retired, read the names of the38 WASP who died in World War II.
Special thanks to the partnership of American Airlines
and Air Compassion for Veterans who make the free airplane
tickets for the WASP possible.
4620 Haygood Road Suite#l
Virginia Beach, VA 23455
Phone: 888-662-6794
www.aircompassionforveterans.org
12
Wind Still Howls at Avenger By Kris Lent Gros, Class 44-3 Secretary
My flight to Homecoming in Sweetwater was delayed by
hailstorm in Dallas on Thursday so I didn't arrive until Friday
When I came in to the hangar where the day's gathering wa
being held, the WASP were lined up at a long table to introduce
themselves and speak about their experiences. Each one ha
a mike and we were to speak for 4 minutes. Some went on a
greater length. An attentive crowd was seated on chairs in th
hangar.
Afterwards we were taken by different hosts to their homes
Marcia and Roe Walker hosted LEE DOERR, BETTY JO REED
and me. They live on a Pecan plantation in Granbury, TX
located in the Air Park area where they all have planes an
custom trailer homes.
Saturday they drove six of us to Sweetwater - a 3 hour an
30 minute drive! It was 106 degrees with winds ono mph an
gusts of 50 to 60 mph. We saw a tractor-trailer truck on th
highway that had been blown over!
Avenger Field is vastly different from our training days. Texa
looks a lot greener, but the wind still howls with authority an
the sun beat relentlessly. Despite the huge fans they had in th
museum, it was HOT. The museum had photos of all the WAS
mounted at the top of the walls so you could find yourself there
We WASP were seated at adjoining tables and people cam
to have us autograph books, cards, shirts etc. Four hours of tha
convinced me I won't write a book! The High School play abou
the life of Jackie Cochran was beautifully acted. Did you know
she had a son when she was 15 and he died in a fire? We didn't
A brief rest and back for dinner at 6. They had a great danc
band and some of the gals were up dancing.
Attending from Class 44-3: LEE DOERR, MARY HELEN
FOSTER, and yours truly, KRIS LENT GROS. MERIEM ROBY
was there. She began with our class but dropped back when he
buddy RUTH FLEISHER was sick and graduated with 44-4.
was great to see her.
Sharron and Lana and everyone did a terrific job ...God bles
them. Coordinating this was a challenge.
I am blessed with good genes, go to the Y for aquati
exercise 2 times a week and it keeps me walking at 90.
would recommend that we old relics be treated more gently a
the schedule was strenuous. Betty Jo had just had chemo anamazed us by coming.
I was given the royal treatment on my flight back to PA. Th
Captain announced my service in WW2 to all aboard. I wa
escorted to the cabin and a photo taken of me in the pilot
seat! Upgraded to first class. Passengers applauded. It erase
the rude dismissal we had when we were deactivated!
Summer 201
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All-Female Airmen Team
Launches Historic Mission
from Bagram Afgh anistan By Tech. Sgt. Michael Voss
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
Monday, 04 April 201122:14
Editor's note: Thefollowing article appeared in my e-mail inbox.
I'm not sure who sent it to me, but! thought the WASP would be
interested.
3/31/2011 - BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (AFNS) - A
team of female Airmen made history here March 30 when the
F-15E Strike Eagles of "Dudette 07" blazed down the runway to
provide close air support for coalition and Afghan ground forces.
The two-ship formation consisted of all females, two pilots and
two weapons system officers, but more importantly, it marked the
first combat mission flown from Bagram to be planned, maintained
and flown entirely by females.
This mission represents the first combat sortie on record to
involve only female Airmen from the pilots and weapons officers
to the mission planners and maintainers, said Lt. Col. Kenneth
Tilley, the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing historian. Although the
call sign for the mission may have been lighthearted, the sortie was
all business calling for the pilots to travel to the Kunar Valley just
west of the Pakistan border in support of a large Army operation
that was underway.
"I have flown with female pilots before, but this was the first
time 1 have flown in an all female flight," said Maj. Christine Mau,
a 455th AEW executive officer. "This wasn't a possibility when I
started flying II years ago."
Editor's note #2: Like CAPPY VAIL (43-2) says in her letter on
Page 6: "Look what we started."
Passing the TorchContinued from Page 6
retirement and am building and racing drag cars. What a thrill.
You will recall how my Mother tried the horseracing thing. I guess
I am still influenced by her personality.
In my study, I have all manner of historic aviation memorabilia.In one photo you will see Nancy's Gold Medal, along with my
wings, now retired. Her old cloth helmet and goggles are also
visible, as well as my combat helmet from Vietnam. (See photo on
Page 39) My Father's WWII medals are also on display. Did you
know he was awarded the Bronze Star?
Thanks again for all you have done.
Radford Crews, son of WAFS Nancy Batson Crews
Summer 2011
'WAFS Evening' Set
at New Jersey College
Tuesday, November 8Submitted by Honey Fulton Parker,
sister of WAFS Dorothy Fulton
Honey Fulton Parker, sister of WAFS DOROTHYFULTON, has given talks about the WAFS - the firs
WASP, recruited and led by Nancy Love - for more
than ten years in communities throughout hers and
Dorothy's native New York/New Jersey region.
A year ago, her efforts came to the attention o
Professor Paul Zigo, Associate Professor & Director
of the Center for World War II Studies and Conflic
Resolution at Brookdale Community College
Lincroft, NJ. Professor Zigo invited Honey to bring
her WAFS presentation to Brookdale for a WAFS
evening at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 8, 2011, a
the College's Warner Student Life Center.
Joining Honey at the speaker's podium that evening
will be Nancy Love's youngest daughter, Allie Love
and Nancy's biographer, Sarah Byrn Rickman, who
also serves as editor of the WASP News.
"In attending the 2010 Congressional Gold Meda
ceremony last year- as my late sister's representative
- I was disappointed that nothing was said abou
Nancy Love and those original 28 who started it all
nor was there anything about the WAFS in the Fly
Girls Exhibit at WIMSA. 1 could find no photo o
Nancy Love, and yet she was the founder of the firsgroup of women to fly for the Army - the WAFS,
Honey says.
The college will have on display many vintage
photos of Dorothy and others from Honey's persona
collection, as well as photos of "The Originals,"
provided by Kimberly Johnson and the WASP
Archives at Texas Woman's University. The exhibi
may become a permanent part of Brookdale College'
Center for WWII Studies.
A reception will follow the lecture. Honey and Sarah
will sign copies of Sarah's book about the WAFS, Th
Originals - in which Dorothy is featured. Sarah wilalso have copies of her biography Nancy Love and th
WASP Ferry Pilots ofWW!! available for signing.
"I am indebted to Professor Zigo for his grea
interest in World War II history and its stories and fo
letting us tell this important story," Honey says.
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* * * Memorial Day * * * By Chig Lewis, son of Dot Swain Lewis, 44-5
Memorial Day is about memory. And, as we know, if we honestly
reflect, memory is not always very accurate or even consistent.
Memorial Day reverberates with this ambiguity, even in its origins,
and in the celebrations and observances throughout this nation.
My favorite explanation of the origin of Memorial Day is the Civil
War story in which a group of Southern women, on a traditionalDecoration Day, after some initial discomfiture, chose to decorate the
graves of Union soldiers as well as their own fallen, recognizing all
the graves that filled that quiet cemetery. This is consistent with what
I know of Southern women, most prominent in my memories, my
mother, and the proud Southern military traditions that would have
required an act of remembrance for fallen comrades, yet perhaps forget
the consequences to the other side, until a mother, sister, daughter,
girlfriend or wife would recognize and point out the obvious. Southern
men, in particular, have always needed Southern women to get it right.
And I suspect Yankee men could benefit as well.
I chose this explanation/memory over the other popular origin
stories: General Logan's General Order, or LBJ's proclamation,
because it represents what Memorial Day later changed to be, a day
in which all the graves, all wars, all sides" are decorated. We decorate
the graves of those that have served and perished. And it matters not
where or how they served or for what cause. What matters is Service,
and Loss, and, for those of us who remain, to Remember.
Every memory is personal - the vision projected in our human
mind to help each of us cope with our current choices and decision-
making, to avoid the mistakes our predecessors have made or to mimic
the heroic positive conduct, which that memory approves.
I wince when I hear the expression "Fallen Heroes." For me, Death
or Loss is not, in itself, heroic, it is simply Loss or Death. Deathmay result from a foolish choice, a lack of experience or training, an
impossible coincidence, an act of ugly cowardice, or an act of selfless
bravery. Talking to those that served and survived, I have often heard
them credit their survival either to their fortunate extensive training,
or to the intercession of incredible good luck or, for some, to the hand
of God. For me, I don't lay the rap on some sentient power up there
deciding which stupid fool should be excused the consequences of
complete arrogance, and some other super skilled brave soul should
be rewarded by having their physical body ripped apart and mangled.
If God exists, which I chose to believe, he or she has long since said
"hands off' or "you've got the controls" and lets the consequences
play themselves out with all the physical, biological, emotional,
historical, statistical, and intellectual forces that our presence on this
planet creates.
Since death and loss is universal to all - hero, coward, enemy,
friend, smart, stupid - our only rational goal is to to lessen its useless
frequency. This is the purpose of Memory - to Remember what is
important, and, in that clear frame of mind, to Serve.
r,y ,a < f.o
14
My mother does not remember the details of he
own service sometimes. .. I gently remind her, correc
some false memory, or start off a chain of remembrance
which brings pride or laughter. And we travel to such
places as Sweetwater, Texas, where she instructed
and trained, played her guitar, and visited briefly back
in the 1940's with her brother near the hangar tha
now houses the WASP National Museum, as he flew
through in his P-40, headed for the Pacific (. .. if that's
exactly how it happened). And we meet up with her ol
comrades of the sky, and a local elderly gentleman tell
how he heard the WASP buzzing his father's haystack
and fellow WASP Lillian confesses that somehow th
lower parts of her plane (was it an AT-6 or a BT-13?
seemed to end up stained with a lot of green chlorophyl
following some of her training flights through that par
of west Texas, way back then.
I think of my brothers, Andy, Charles, John ... m
sisters, Barb, Nancy, Kit ... so many others, KOW
not KOW (Kids of WASP!). I think of the smiles an
laughter, and yes, the memory loss of their mothers
so many of whom I have met over the years, almos
as much as I think of the confident skill of my mothe
barrelling fearlessly down a road in Arizona in he
'51 Chevy convertible, her quiet directions to me i
the cockpit of a small airplane many years ago, and
the picture of her goggled joy in the BreeZ ultraligh
over Glenbury Texas, her challenging discussion i
the Modern History class she taught 48 years ago, and
now, some confusion as to details, people and facts tha
once were so clear and immediate. I also remember my
father who served, traveling and analyzing bombing photos with the 8th Army, in England, in North Africa
Sicily, and Italy, but about which he talked so little -
his choice not to remember - to me, at least ... mor
Loss, of a different but also painful, clearly troubled
sort.
It is inevitable on Memorial Day that each family re
experiences Loss - Loss that is new and progressive
or losses that are old memories, mellowed and perhap
imaginary, or quietly deteriorated and fading, each
memory personal, as is each loss. Memory loss is
personal double whammy, an emptiness that hurt
without form, that troubles and frustrates with a shorexhaled breath, a blank darkness that alarms by wha
one knows is missing, a fierce, angry premonition
without shape, color or name. We feel the loss even
as the memory disappears. And because of thi
burgeoning reality, each family remembrance become
more important, heavier, on Memorial Day.
Continued next page
Summer 2011
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Loss of memory poses direct
immediate dangers that each of us must
mitigate - sons, daughters, mothers
and fathers. This Loss is largely limited
to each family, but, in my case, we're
doing great and having a wonderful
time together, remembering, reliving
her service as a WASP, as a teacher, as
an artist. But the Loss will inevitably
become more severe, as it already hasfor so many of my dear friends, brothers
and sisters, each of whom I determinedly
remember this Memorial Day.
Last year some criticized our President
for not staying in Washington to lay a
wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns, and
to parade for our national media, as if
not doing so was an affront to our grand
American military honor and our nation.
For me, it was wise and appropriate
that he chose to go to a local cemetery
near his family home, reminding us that
Memorial Day is about each family, and
what we share with every other family
who has lost, is losing, or will lose a
loved one to Service .... To remember
each family, in each city, in each country,
across this world, each gathering that
honors Service, and feels the pain of
Loss, Yankee, Rebel, white, yellow or
brown, rich or poor, enemy or friend .
... To remember the piercing pain thatshould dedicate each of us to lessening
that loss .... To remember the impact
of Education, Compassion, Hard
Work, Creativity, Imagination, Skill,
Determination, the factors which directly
impact, and either lessen, or increase the
probability of Loss of those who choose
to Serve, and ironically also how memory
loss progresses.
Memorial Day should refresh our
collective memory of the pain suffered
when our leaders fail collectively,
suffered not just by our nation, not just
our military, but by those who we mus
sometimes call our enemy. We should
remember that they suffer as much as we
and that if we do not feel their suffering,
we are likely doomed to future Loss
And that, knowing and remembering
that pain, we will tend naturally to work
intelligently, diligently, compassionately,
strongly and effectively, to create better, more peaceful world.
This broader remembrance is the
symbolic decoration that we should place
on the graves of those who have served,
heroes or not, this Memorial Day and
each day thereafter, honoring the pas
by working for Peace, not the Peace o
the grave, but a Peace that allows ou
children to walk in old cemeteries, where
ancient losses are remembered, and new
graves reserved only for those who hav
lived a full and happy remembered life.
God Bless Us All!
WASP Last Flight
NAME OF WASP CLASS DECEASED
Marcella Fatjo Tucker 43-4 11-8-20 I0
Velta Snyder Haney Benn 44-W-7 12-1-2010
Ruth Humphreys Brown 43-8 1-6-2011
Mary Jane White La Plante 44-I-T 1-14-2011
Katherine "Ruth" Kupferberg Kornblum 43-6 1-16-2011
Marguerite "Ty" Hughes Killen 44-8 1-17-201 I
Anna Hopkins White 44-1 1-29-2011
Mildred House Ferree 44-9 2-1-2011
Martha McKenzie Carpenter 44-5 2-6-2011
Dolores M. Meurer Reed 44-1 2-20-2011
Violet Thurn Cowden 43-4 4-10-2011
Lois Nash 43-8 4-24-2011
Justine Fletcher Woods 44-8 5-26-2011
Emma Coulter Ware 43-3 5-29-2011
Dottie Dormandy-Hoey 44-4-T 6-7-2011
Betty Whitlow Smith 43-2 6-16-201 I
Summer 2011
Note to Class Secretaries:
Please notifY Kimberly Johnson
at TWU, 940-898-3743,
when you learn of
a classmate's death.
1
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Following In Our FootstepsSubmitted by Bee Haydu, 44-7
Notice the similarity in the two photos? Four women
pilots, carrying their parachute bags, striding away from a
large airplane. The difference in the photos?
Sixty-one years!!!
Photo #1 was taken at Lockbourne Army Air Field outside
Columbus, Ohio, in late 1943. It shows four WASP B-17 pilots, FRANCES GREEN (43-5), MARGARET KIRCHNER,
ANN WALDNER and BLANCHE OSBORN (ALL 43-6) walking
away from the B-17 known as Pistol Packin' Mama.
Photo #2 was taken in May, 2004: SMsgt Kim Burton
Frey snapped a photo of Capt. Vickie Quinn, Capt. Barb
Bartch, Maj. Stefanie Perkowski, and Lt. Heather Arehart
(Burris). The four, at that time, were pilots with the 121st
Air Refueling Wing (Ohio National Guard) and the 166th
Air Refueling Squadron. Notice how they all are stepping
forward with their right feet and carrying their bags in the
same hands as the WASP - three using the right hand and
the farthest to the right of the photo using her left.
Msgt. Don "Pop" Porter coordinated the photo, and it was
taken in front of a KCI35R at the same airport, except that
the facility is now known as Rickenbacker lAP.
Today, seven years later: Lt. Col. Quinn is now an Air
Force Reservist and Government Flight Representative with
the Defense Contract Management Agency. Major Bartch is
still affiliated with the 121stAir Refueling Wing.
Lt. Col. Perkowski, a graduate of the Air Force Academy,
is currently in two forward-deployed geographic combatant
commands: U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa
Command, both located in Stuttgart, Germany. As an Air
Force Reserve Officer, she supports the Headquarters
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WASP pilots Frances Green, Margaret Kirchner, Ann
Waldner and Blanche Osborn walking away from a B-17.
Summer 2011
U.S. European Command Plans and Operations Center and as
a government civilian, supports the Headquarters U.S. Africa
Command Outreach Directorate.
Major Burris is a Reservist at Scott AFB in the Flight PlanningShop. She builds and maintains flight plans for all Air Mobility
Assets. She is the mother of 3 young boys.
Highly recognizable, photo #1 may well be the most famous
WASP WWII photo around. All four of the women have now
taken their final flights - the most recent, Blanche Osborn Bross
in 2008. They are four of the seventeen from the WASP Fligh
Training Facility at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas, who were
sent to Lockbourne in the fall of 1943 for B-17 training. Thirteen,
including all four of these ladies, graduated.
Four WASP B-17 pilots survive: DAWN SEYMOUR and JULIE
LEDBETTER (43-5) and VIRGINIA WATERER (43-6) from thetraining school and BARBARA JEAN "B.J." ERICKSON LONDON,
one of the original WAFS, who was the third woman to fly a B-17
She had two orientation flights on October 8 and 9, 1943, and
checked out on the Fortress on April 9, 1944.
The first two women to fly the B-17 were NANCY LOVE,
executive for WASP in the Ferrying Division and the founder o
the WAFS, and BETTY GILLIES, Nancy's second-in-command
and the leader of the WASP squadron stationed with the 2nd
Ferrying Group, New Castle Army Air Base, Wilmington
Delaware. Nancy, followed by Betty, was signed off to fly the
B-17 on August 16, 1943.Already in Goose Bay, Labrador, Sept
5, 1943, they were ferrying a B-17 to England when General
Arnold cancelled their flight.
Capt. Vickie Quinn, Capt. Barb Bartch, Maj. Stefanie
Perkowski, and Lt. Heather Arehart (Burris) walking
away from a KC135R.
37
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impossible this could have happened. Yet, on each field we visited
saw some of the remains of bomb shelters, Quonset huts, buildin
bomb storage pits, etc.
May 9th we made our way to London and the Kensington, anoth
first class hotel. Our leader and driver, Timothy Davis, has got to be
best driver in the world. He could squeeze through impossible plac
Anyone who has visited London in particular would appreciate
driving expertise.
We visited Churchill War Rooms and museum in the origin
underground location. Going beneath the ground and seeing how th
lived and conducted the war during those years was an eerie experienc
The Imperial War Museum is a must, covering many wars and
complete it would really take about 4 days to see everything.
The Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial was anoth
beautiful and interesting place. Mike Quering and Bee Haydu w
privileged to do the flag lowering and folding at the end of the day.
Of course, we also saw the many important sites in Lond
and throughout England, enjoyed many pubs - great eating (a
drinking), places where so many gather.
I encourage anyone desiring to take a trip to the many sites offer
by The Greatest Generations Foundation to visit their website wwtggf.us. There you will find an application form you can submit.
Elaine Harmon adds: We had a fabulous time. There were only
people on the trip - 3 tour guides, 3 Americans who flew from ba
in England and the 3 of us. As a small group, we had time to talk m
about our wartime experiences and get to know each other better.
We hoped to meet up with WASP Friend Wendy Cooper - curren
in England - but it didn't work out in spite of planning. There ju
wasn't enough time for her to get to London before we had to leave. T
bad. We tried.
In England: Bee Haydu (left), Elaine Harmon and Shirley Kru
(4th and 5th) and their traveling companions with the tour bThe next day we visited Lavenham Air Base - the
site of where the air base had been during the war. This
is where StaffSgt. Mike Quering had been stationed in
WWII. He was an Armorer Gunner in B-17 Bombers
with the 8th Air Force. The runways and most of the
buildings were no longer there having been given back
to the farmers, but we could make out most of the
outline. We learned from Mike what it was like some
67 years ago.
Then to Mendlesham Airfield, Stowmarket, Suffolk,
UK, also north of London. This was where Major
Joseph Clark had been stationed. He was a B-17 pilot,having completed 31 missions. Again, the location had
been returned to the farmers and yet we could make
out where the runways had been, especially since some
portions of runway remained. Joe could still hear the
engines of the B-l7s taking off.
Next was Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire
County, Thurleigh Airfield, where Staff Sgt. Homer
Goodman, ball turret gunner on B-l7s had been
stationed. His first mission was on D-Day June 6,
1944. On his 30th mission he was shot down in enemy
territory. He spent 6 weeks hiding behind enemy
lines. He came back with the advancing infantry.
Although the field had been returned to the farmers,
a tower was preserved in which a museum was
established. From the tower we could see the runway
layouts.
Most memorable and touching was to listen to these
three veterans re-live their life of so many years ago.
We listened to their individual experiences, so vivid we
could imagine being there. Now amongst the beautiful
fields of yellow flowers and greenery it seemed almost
3 WASP Tour AAF WWII Air War Sites in England By Bee Haydu, 44-7 and Elaine Harmon, 44-9
Three WASP are JUST back from England - a
trip they made May 5 to 11through THE GREATEST
GENERATION FOUNDATION. SHIRLEY KRUSE
(44-6), BEE HAYDU (44-7) AND ELAINE HARMON (44-9)
were the three lucky gals.
There were only nine of them on the bus. The otherswere three men who flew out of bases in England in
WWII - Mike Quering, Joseph W. Clarke and Homer
Goodman - and the hosts from the foundation,
President Timothy Davis, Alicia Harms, Vice President
of Communication and Jon Bunyak, Chief Financial
Officer.
Bee writes: From London our first stop was Duxford
Air Museum, Cambridgeshire County, about one hour
north of London and 10miles south of Cambridge. Our
first day ended at Bedford Lodge Hotel in Newmarket,
Suffolk. Accommodations and food the best!
38 Summer 20
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