15 May 1942 - This Day in History - Womens' Army Corps

Women In the Military: 70 Years of Full Status

In, May 1941, as Stalin was named Soviet premier and London was being hit with its most intense Luftwaffe bombing of the war, the first congresswoman ever from New England, Edith Nourse Rogers from Massachusetts, introduced legislation that would enable women to serve in the Army in non-combat positions but with full military status.

Over the course of the months following, as the bill was debated, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in December. On the 15th of May 1942, the bill was made law, and the Womens' Army Corps was born.  WACs performed jobs from North Africa to Asia and everywhere in between as clerks, radio operators, electricians and air-traffic controllers, among other positions to "release a man for combat", as the Army put it.  The Navy WAVES soon followed (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) in July 1942, thanks to Eleanor Roosevelt convincing Congress to quickly authorize the women's component of the Navy. On November 23, 1942, President Roosevelt signed Public Law 773, which launched the U.S. Coast Guard Women's Reserve, SPARS, short for the Coast Guard Motto, Semper Paratus - or "always ready".

But, there was a group left out of full status with the military, and it truly brings tears to my eyes as I write this.  In September 1942, the Women's Flying Training Detachment (WFTD) and the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS) organized themselves. They were civilian female pilots, employed to fly military aircraft under the direction of US Army Air Forces during WWII.  On the 5th of August 1943, they merged to form the paramilitary WASPs  or Women Airforce Service Pilots.

Elizabeth Gardner

Twenty-five thousand women applied to join the WASP, but only 1,074 were accepted, took the oath and passed their training. After training, they were stationed at 120 air bases across the US, assuming all sorts of flight-related missions and relieving their male counterparts for combat duty.  More than just an aircraft ferrying service, they towed targets for live anti-aircraft artillery practice, simulated strafing missions, transported cargo and some were even allowed to test rocket-propelled planes, pilot jet-propelled planes, and work with radar-controlled targets.  In all, they flew 60 MILLION miles on nearly every U.S. military plane known at the time.

Sadly, 38 women lost their lives in this service, but because they were not considered military under the existing guidelines, a fallen WASP was sent home at the family's expense. There were no military honors, no notes of heroism, and not even a US Flag on their coffin, as the Army wouldn't allow it.

WASPs & their plane Pistol Packin' Mamas

Finally, in 1977 the WASPs were granted full military status for their service.  In 1984, each WASP was awarded the WWII Victory Medal. On the 1st of July 2009, President Barack Obama and Congress awarded the WASP the Congressional Gold Medal. Three WASPs, Elaine Danforth Harmon, Bernice Falk Haydu and Lorraine H. Rodgers were present with President Obama as he signed the bill awarding the honor. On the 10th of March 2010, the surviving 200 WASPs arrived at the US Capitol to accept the Congressional Gold Medal from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Congressional leaders.

July 2009 - Oval Office

Being in the Oval Office while the president signed the bill awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the WASP was exciting and "an honor," Ms. Harmon said. "It's really nice that all these women will be honored for their service. We didn't join the WASP looking for recognition, but were just doing what was needed during the war," she remarked. "Most everyone else in the country worked very hard too and did their part to contribute to the war effort."

On December 17th, 2003 at the Centennial of Flight Celebration in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina where the Wright Brothers first flew, I had the distinct honor to meet one of these amazing women.  She was in a flight jacket with a WASP scarf around her neck, and sported bright red lipstick.  She walked tall in long strides as she passed by me.  My husband said quietly, "she was a WASP...wow", and I ran after her - just to shake her hand. As I stood with her and the ocean winds blew our hair about, I asked for a photo and her autograph.  She gave me a large smile, and seemed a bit perplexed, but I explained through watery eyes that my grandfather was a Lt. Col. in the US Army and served in the China/Burma/India front of the war.  I told her I was grateful for her service.  After handshakes and hugs for my husband, son and myself, she walked off toward the parking lot as the sun set.  I watched some planes take off from First Flight airstrip immediately to my west, and smiled at what pilots, and female service members in particular have accomplished over those 100 years.  I was proud to be an American and a woman.  I gave a short prayer of thanks as some tears fell, before we turned and left the Memorial.

With WASP Florence Watson - First Flight Centennial  Dec 2003

Websites like fold3.com, myheritage.com, archives.com and ancestry.com all have wonderful databases where you can look up your family members' military records, which give incredible insight into your genealogical searches.  And, when you have a bit of time, you can honor these brave women I spoke about, right here in Cleveland.  Their stories and more can be found at the International Women's Air & Space Museum at Burke Lakefront Airport.  Find out more here.  Keep 'em flying, ladies.