During World War II the United States witnessed the first Women Air force Service Pilots. This was a group of civilian trained women pilots in a first of its kind program. They were best known as WASP.

Many women contributed to the growth and success of the WASP program and thanks to their efforts and sacrifices Women today have the opportunity to be active members of the armed forces.

Two women in particular are Nancy Harkness Love & Jacqueline Cochran.

Nancy Harkness Love

Nancy an accomplished pilot herself lobbied for the creation of a program that would allow women pilots to ferry planes from factories to air bases.

Jackie (Jacqueline) Cochran

"Jackie, one of the most-accomplished pilots of her era, demonstrated the feasibility of such an idea by flying a lend-lease bomber to England and organizing a group of female pilots for war transport service as part of the British Air Transport Auxiliary."

The Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS) was organized by Love in September 1942. New Castle Air Base in Delaware welcomed over two dozen of the best civilian pilots for transport training.

On November 16, 1942 Cochran persuaded Army Air Forces commander Gen. Henry (“Hap”) Arnold to activate the Women’s Flying Training Detachment (WFTD), a similar program based at Howard Hughes Airport in Houston, Texas.

WFTD was responsible for; ferrying, testing and delivering planes for repair. The WFTD also performed check flights, put flying time on new engines, towed targets for anti-aircraft gunnery practice, flew searchlight tracking missions, and instructed male pilot cadets.

The Women’s Flying Training Detachment (WFTD) moved to Avenger Field in Sweetwater, TX on August 5, 1943 and joined the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS) resulting in the creation of the Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASP) program.

After the merger Love became the Director of the Ferrying Division and Cochran served as Director of WASP, and its training division.  During the less than 2 years that WASP existed, more than 25,000 women applied for training. Only 1,879 of the candidates were accepted and among them only 1,074 successfully completed the program. "A better "wash-out" rate than 50 percent of male pilot cadets."

Life with the WASP was not always easy, and came with many risks. During the 16 months that the Women Air Force Service Pilots program was in operation 38 WASP and trainees were killed in service to the United States. However, they received "no recognition, no honors, no benefits, no gold star in the window, and no American flag allowed to cover their coffins."

The 'Great 38'

Margaret Sanford Frances Fortune Grimes

Cornelia Fort Evelyn Sharp

Jane Dolores Champlin Marie Ethel Sharon

Kathryn Barbara Lawrence Jayne Elizabeth Erickson

Mabel Virginia Rawlinson  Mary Holmes Howson

Margaret June "Peggy" Seip  Edith "Edy" Clayton Keene

Helen Jo Anderson Severson  Dorothy Mae "Dottie" Nichols 

Betty L. Taylor Marjorie Doris Edwards 

Virginia C. Moffatt  Gleanna Roberts 

Mary Elizabeth Trebing  Lea Ola McDonald

Dorothy F. Scott  Bonnie Jean (Alloway) Welz 

Marian J. Toevs Susan Parker Clarke

Betty Pauline Stine  Paula R. Loop