Heritage, Fall 2005 Page: 16
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1940, a plane that many male pilots
refused to fly because it was relatively
untested. Lieutenant Colonel Paul W.
Tibbits, who was in charge of training the
army's pilots on the B-29 decided to use
the WASP in this particular model in
order to get the men over their fear of the
plane, which was plagued by problems
such as engine fires. Tibbits enlisted two
WASP, Dora Dougherty and Dorothea
Moorman, to fly the B-29. After being
trained, but without being warned about
the possibility of engine fires, Dougherty
and Moorman flew exhibition flights for
male pilots, helping many overcome their
fears.
Training in the B-29 was only one of the
dangerous missions flown by the WASP;
staying out of combat did not mean staying
out of harm's way. WASP such as Deanie
Bishop, originally from Florida, flew planes
like the B-26 Martin Marauder, or Widow
Maker, with an attached target. Pilots in
training would shoot at the targets with
color-coded bullets so that instructors
could determine the accuracy of the
trainees. Despite the danger involved with
such an exercise, no WASP died
while target towing.
All missions carried
some danger though,
and not all WASP survived
the war. In
total, 38 WASP lost
their lives during
wartime service.
Some, such as Hazel
Ying Lee, the first
Chinese American
woman to serve in the
United States Army, and
Cornelia Fort, the pilot who
witnessed the attack on Pearl
Harbor from the air, lost their lives in
mid-air collisions. Evelyn Sharp was killed
when an engine on her P-38 failed during
takeoff.
Sadly, since the WASP were not recognized
as military personnel, they received
no burial or survival benefits and no
recognition from the Army. When one
WASP died shortly before her training
ended, her family received a telegram that
said only "Your daughter was killed thisC- . p
morning. Where do you
want us to send the
body?" Other
WASP set up a
fund so that the
fallen trainee
and other
WASP who
died in the
line of duty
could be returned
to their
families and
buried with honor.
In early 1944 there
began to be rumors that
the Women Airforce Service
Pilots would be militarized. This would
mean benefits, better pay, and recognition.
WASP who had completed their
training were encouraged to enter officer
training, in anticipation of their inclusion
in the military. In June, however, a bill to
militarize the WASP came before the
United States House of Representatives
and was defeated. The House even went
so far as to recommend the discontinuation of the WASP program.
In August of 1944 the House began
hearing testimony regarding the WASP.
Much of it was from male pilots returning
from Europe who were now facing the possibility
of serving on the ground in the
continuing Asian theater. Many of these
men feared that the WASP would take
their places as pilots, forcing them into
more dangerous infantry positions.
Meanwhile, all WASP had been ordered
to maintain silence about their program.
With no way to defend themselves before
the House, the WASP could do nothing
while their future was decided for them.
On December 7, 1944, the final class of
WASP graduated in Sweetwater, Texas.
General Hap Arnold, known as the father
of the WASP, spoke at the ceremony,
telling the women that they had proven
they could "fly wingtip to wingtip with
their brothers." At 12:01 a.m. on December
20, 1944, the WASP program was officially
disbanded. The women were sent home, at
their own expense, and their accomplishments
were consigned to history.
For 33 years after it had been disbanded,HERITAGE SIFALL 2005
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Texas Historical Foundation. Heritage, Fall 2005, periodical, Autumn 2005; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth45371/m1/16/: accessed August 15, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Texas Historical Foundation.