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Fly Girls Page 15


  B-29 Superfortress bombers, 125–126, 127, 129

  B-34 bombers, 97

  barnstormers, 4–6, 56

  bathroom issues, 63, 121–122, 131–132

  Batten, Bernice, 80

  Battle of Midway (1942), 49

  Battle of the Coral Sea (1942), 49

  Baumgartner, Ann

  attitude after WASP’s demise, 157

  background, 9–13, 22

  end of WASP program, 135

  as flight instructors after the war, 162

  Orville Wright meeting, 132–133

  target towing, 97–98

  test-fly first jet airplane, 134–135

  WASP training, 73–74, 76, 79

  Wright Field, Ohio, 130–132

  beep pilots, 101–102

  Bell Helicopter, 168

  Bendix Trophy Race (1938), 15

  Blue Angels, 170

  boasting, bragging and, 17

  bomber planes

  A-24, 109, 111

  B-17 (See B-17 bombers)

  B-26, 123–125

  B-29, 125, 129

  B-34, 97

  P-51 fighter-bomber, 85, 87

  bragging, boasting and, 17

  Britain. See Great Britain

  British Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA), 26–27, 47, 49

  British Royal Air Force (RAF), 21

  Bronze Star, 44, 149

  Brown, Willa, 68

  Buckingham Army Air Field, Florida, 112

  Burchfield, Phyllis, 54

  burials, 91, 175–177

  businesses

  household goods production, 162

  planning for war, 24, 38–39

  switch to military equipment, 160

  war-related businesses, 42

  women in workforce, 41

  C

  C-60 cargo planes, 100

  Camp Davis, North Carolina

  abuse at, 152

  deaths at, 108–111

  maintenance problems at, 105–108

  monthly physical exams, 107

  morale at, 111–113

  photo of, 96

  Canada, pilots flying with RAF, 21

  Carter, Jimmy, 170

  Chamberlain, Neville, 11

  check pilots, 57, 76–77

  China

  Allied alliance, 37

  Japanese land takeover, 33

  Chinese American pilots, 65

  Chrysler, 40

  Churchill, Winston, 21–23, 40

  Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA), 127

  Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP), 48, 54, 56, 67

  Coast Guard Women’s Reserve, 140

  Cochran, Jacqueline

  on African American recruits, 65–66

  background, 15–19

  blamed for WASP’s demise, 159–160

  on Camp Davis conditions, 106–107

  at class graduations, 79

  on conditions at Camp Davis, 111–113

  described in Life magazine, 146

  end of WASP program, 135

  flying to London, 25–26

  gag order, 142–143, 148

  Ninety-Nines member, 52

  photo of, 156

  plan for women pilots, 16, 18, 61, 99

  recruiting women pilots for ATA, 26–27, 47, 49

  support for, 160

  talk with Hap Arnold, 24

  target towing, 98

  Cochran’s Convent, 75

  cohesion, 66

  Coleman, Bessie, 68

  college-educated women, 41

  Combat Action Medals, 149

  combat flying training, 62, 67

  combat pilots, 48

  combat positions, 149

  communist countries, 22

  Congress

  Committee on Appropriations, 150–151

  conscription act (draft) passed, 24

  declaration of war, 33, 35

  investigation committee on WASP program, 149–150

  men lobbying for WASP pilot jobs, 142, 148–149, 152–153

  on militarizing WAFS, 54–55, 72, 137–138, 150, 152–153, 164, 171

  military budget increase (1940s), 8, 24, 37

  on military buildup (1920s and 1930s), 7

  National Security Act (1947), 8

  on veterans’ benefits, 164

  WASP Military Committee, 167–170, 175

  WASP’s burial at Arlington National Cemetery, 176–177

  women in military academies, 166

  women pilots for combat missions, 174

  women’s enlistment in military (1942), 42–43

  Congressional Medal of Honor, 44, 173, 175

  conscription act (draft), 24, 42, 142

  Coral Sea, Battle of the (1942), 49

  D

  Dahl, Roald, 78–79

  Defense Department. See Department of War

  dehydration, 131–132

  democracy, protection of, 13, 24

  democratic countries, 2, 22

  Department of Veterans Affairs, 175–176

  Department of War (later Defense), 138, 148, 150

  depression, economic disaster. See Great Depression (1930s)

  dictators, 2

  discharge papers, 169–170

  Disney, Walt, 79

  Distinguished Flying Cross, 44

  Distinguished Service Cross, 44

  Donahue, Barbara, 54

  Dougherty, Dora, 113, 126–128, 163, 167–168, 176

  draft (conscription act), 24, 42, 142

  drill instruction, 58–59, 69–70

  drones, 101–102

  Dunkirk, France, 21, 22

  E

  Earhart, Amelia

  Atlantic Ocean, air flights across, 5

  disappearance of, 6

  as Ninety-Nines president, 19

  possible cause of death, 104

  solo flight from Hawaii to West Coast, 103

  economic disaster (1930s). See Great Depression (1930s)

  economic turn-around, 3

  Ellington Field, Texas, combat pilots training, 62, 67

  end of war issues, 140–141

  Endeavor (space shuttle), 174

  England. See Great Britain

  Enola Gay (B-29), 129

  Erickson, Barbara Jane “B.J.”

  attitude after WASP’s demise, 162

  competing in Powder Puff Derby, 163

  funeral service for Fort, 91

  love of flying, 162

  marathon ferrying, 84–85

  notifying families of deaths, 110

  photo of, 80

  Ernst, Joni, 177

  Europe

  German bombings, 23–24

  German invasions, 11, 21

  U.S. enters the war, 35

  executive order, 39–40

  experimental military test flights, 132

  F

  factories

  converting to military production, 24

  household goods production, 162

  mobilizing for war, 38–39

  switch to military equipment, 160

  women in workforce, 41

  farmworkers, 41

  Ferrying Command. See Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS)

  ferrying planes

  bases for, 84, 94

  at Camp Davis, North Carolina, 96

  delivery statistics, 88–89

  marathon ferrying, 84–86

  return trip transportation, 93–94

  risks, 89–93

  unscheduled landings, 86–88

  variety of planes, 83–84

  See also Fort, Cornelia

  Fifinella, WASP mascot, 78–79, 127, 174

  fighter planes

  British planes, 23–24, 81–83

  P-39 Airacobra, 86, 118

  P-47 Thunderbolt, 85

  P-51 Mustang, 85, 87

  Fillmore, Carol, 87

  film documentaries, 163

  fireside chats, 36

  588th Night Bomber Regime
nt (USSR), 26

  Fleishman, Alfred, 70–72

  flight instructors, 29, 30, 100–101, 119–122, 162

  flight path, described, 20

  Florsheim, Marion, 63–64

  “flying coffin,” 118

  Flying Fortress. See B-17 bombers

  “flying jalopies,” 108

  Ford Motor Company, 3, 40

  Form One sheets, 106, 109, 110

  formation flying, 90–91

  Fort, Cornelia

  background, 29–30

  death of, 90–93

  desire to fly for military, 47–49

  as flight instructor, 29, 30

  on flight training completion, 59

  on New Castle training program, 56

  at Pearl Harbor, 31–33, 45

  photo of, 80

  recruited for Flying Command, 47, 52

  on the service of women pilots, 94–95

  WAFS member, 53

  four-engine planes, 122, 126

  France, Allied alliance, 22

  G

  gag order, 142–143, 148, 163–164

  Gardner Field, California, 103

  General Electric, 3, 162

  General Motors, 3, 40

  Germany

  Axis alliance, 2, 22

  Britain bombings, 23–24

  declares war on U.S., 37

  European countries invaded, 11, 21

  Great Britain at war with, 11

  Luftwaffe, 48, 81

  as totalitarian government, 2

  U-boats, 12, 81, 98

  U.S. entrance in WWII, 40

  See also Hitler, Adolf

  Gilbert Islands, 49

  Gillies, Betty Huyler

  attitude after WASP’s demise, 157, 162

  B-17 training and flying, 46, 116–117

  background, 52–53

  at Camp Davis, 113

  end of WASP program, 135

  flying large planes, 57–58

  flying tribute to Fort, 92–93

  as military drill instructor, 59

  New Castle training program, 55

  work after the war, 163

  “Girl Pilots” (magazine article), 144, 147

  glass ceiling, 119

  glider towing, 99–100

  Gold Medal recipients (2010), 174

  gold star families, 92

  Goldwater, Barry, 166

  government jobs for women, 41, 42

  Great Britain

  Allied alliance, 22

  Dunkirk battle, 21

  entrance into WWII, 11

  fighter plane escorts, 23–24, 81–83

  German bombings, 23–24

  North Africa victory, 81

  women pilot’s program, 25–26, 47

  Great Depression (1930s)

  economic slowdown, 2–3

  financial costs, 7

  managing bad news, 36

  stifled dreams, 6

  world-wide, 1–2

  Great Migration, 39

  Great War. See World War I (Great War)

  Green, Frances, 119–122, 131

  Greene, Betty, 130, 132

  The Gremlins (Dahl), 78

  The Gremlins (Disney book), 79

  ground war focus, 141

  Guadalcanal, victory in, 81

  Guam

  Allies’ defeat, 49

  Japanese attack, 35

  H

  Hanrahan, Marion, 107–110, 111

  Harmon, Elaine, 172, 175, 176–177

  Harmon Trophy (1938, 1939), 17

  heavy bombers, 122

  helicopter pilots, 163

  Helms, Susan, 174

  Hiroshima, Japan, atomic bomb attack, 129

  Hitler, Adolf

  growing tensions, 9–11

  military aggression threats, 1

  Nazi Party, 10

  Hollingsworth, Lois, 102, 163

  Holocaust, 10, 158

  Hong Kong, 49

  House of Representatives

  Committee on Appropriations, 150–151

  on militarizing WASPs, 150, 152–153

  household goods production, 162

  Huston, Texas, WFTD training program. See Women’s Flying Training Detachment (WFTD)

  I

  imperialism, 2

  industries

  converting to military production, 24

  growth and migration changes, 39

  household goods production, 162

  mobilizing for war, 38–40

  switch to military equipment, 160

  women in workforce, 41

  instrument flying skills, 99

  Italy

  Allies’ invasion, 81

  Axis alliance, 2, 22, 35

  declares war on U.S., 37

  as totalitarian government, 2

  U.S. entrance in WWII, 40

  J

  Jacqueline Cochran Cosmetics, 17

  James, Teresa, 85–86, 88, 157–159, 162

  Japan

  Axis alliance, 2, 22, 33

  China, land takeover,, 33

  Pearl Harbor attack, 28, 31–34

  Southeast Asia, land takeover,, 33

  as totalitarian government, 2

  U.S. entrance in WWII, 40

  Java (Indonesia island), 49

  jet propulsion engine planes, 132–135

  Jews, in Germany, 10, 158

  Jim Crow laws, 39

  job variety for women pilots

  air taxi service, 101, 111

  assisting mechanics, 108

  commitment to, 61, 99

  flight instructors, 100–101

  flying redlined planes, 105–106

  glider towing, 99–100

  maintenance testing, 103–105

  military pilots training, 101

  night flying, 99

  safety pilots, 102

  searchlight flying, 99

  target towing, 97–98, 165

  See also ferrying planes

  jobs for WASP pilots after the war, 162–163

  Johnson, Didi, 126–127

  K

  K rations, 38

  Kellogg Company, 38

  Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, 4

  L

  Ladies Courageous (movie), 145

  Ladybird, B-29 Superfortress, 127

  LGBTQ in military, 66

  Life (magazine), 136, 144–148

  lift, air, 20

  Lindbergh, Charles, 5, 6

  Lockbourne Army Air Base, Ohio, 119

  Long Beach Army Air Field, California, 84, 85, 90, 112, 152

  Love, Nancy

  with 1930 circa plane, 14

  advocate for recruiting women pilots, 19–20, 27

  B-17 training, 116–117

  B-17 trans-Atlantic flight, 118–119

  background, 19

  end of WASP program, 135

  Ferrying Command approval, 51

  Ferrying Command recruiting, 51–55

  fighter planes, 87

  at Fort’s funeral, 91

  as military drill instructor, 58–59

  on New Castle training program, 56

  Ninety-Nines club member, 19

  Queen Bee B-17 pilot, 46

  rooftop navigation points, 19

  Luftwaffe, 48, 81

  M

  Malachowski, Nicole, 174

  mascot, 78–79, 127, 174

  McSally, Martha, 176–177

  Memphis Belle, 153, 154

  Menges, Kay, 111

  Meserve, Gertrude, 57

  Midway, Battle of (1942), 49

  Midway Island, Japanese attack (1941), 35

  migration changes, 39, 42

  Mikulski, Barbara, 177

  militarism, 2

  militarization of women’s service

  Appropriations Committee, 150–151

  congressional position on, 137–140

  30 years after the war, 164–166

  timing of request for, 140

  for WAFS, 54


  for WASP, 72, 137–138

  military

  African Americans in, 42

  foreign aggression threats, 1

  medals and honors, 44, 149, 173, 175

  military budget increase, 8

  U.S. expansion of, 7, 16

  women’s jobs in, 18, 41–43, 48, 51

  See also specific military units

  military academies, admitting women, 166, 173

  Military Affairs Committee, 153

  military auxiliaries, 140

  military discipline, 167–168

  military flying for women pilots, 61–62

  military pilots training, 101

  minority population, opportunities for, 41–42, 66

  Mitchell, Logue, 119–122

  monthly physical exams, 107

  Morgan, Robert “Bob,” 153, 154

  mother ships, 101

  Muccie, Marie, 70–71, 167

  Mussolini, Benito, 35

  N

  Nagasaki, Japan, atomic bomb attack, 129

  national cemeteries, 175–177

  National Museum of the United States Air Force, 154

  National Security Act (1947), 8

  nationalism, 2

  Native American pilots, 65, 68

  navigation points, rooftops as, 19

  Navy. See United States Navy

  Navy Cross, 44

  Nazi Holocaust, 10, 158

  Nazi Party, 10

  New Castle Army Air Base, Delaware. See Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS)

  New World, called to help Britain, 23, 40

  New York Times (newspaper), 1, 145

  New York, World Trade Center terror attack, 34

  New York World’s Fair (1939-1940)

  jet engines, 132

  passenger plane exhibit, 6–7

  visitors to, 3, 21

  women’s image, 3, 162

  “World of Tomorrow,” x, 1, 3–4

  night flying, 99

  Night Witches, 26

  Nineteenth Amendment, U.S. Constitution, 161

  Ninety-Nines (club for women flyers), 19, 52

  noncombat military jobs, 18, 43, 51

  Noonan, Fred, 5

  North Africa, 35, 81, 174

  Noyes, Blanche, 15

  nuclear age, beginning of, 129

  nurse corps, 43–44, 146

  O

  Obama, Barack, 175, 177

  Odlum, Floyd, 17

  Olds, Robert, 19–20

  Order of the Fifinella, 164

  P

  P-39 Airacobra fighter, 86, 118

  P-47 Thunderbolt fighter, 85

  P-51 Mustang fighter and fighter-bomber, 85, 87

  Pearl Harbor (1941), 28, 31–34

  Pennsylvania, September 11, 2001 terror attack, 34

  Pentagon, September 11, 2001 terror attack, 34

  Philippines

  Allies’ defeat, 49

  Japanese attack, 35, 49

  physical exams, monthly, 107

  physical training (PT), 68–69

  pilots

  barnstormers, 4–6, 56

  early days, 6

  ferrying pilots (See ferrying planes)

  Ninety-Nines club, 19, 52

  regular AAF pilots, 83

  size and strength issues, 57–58, 69, 116–117, 120