FEMALE AVIATORS

Early Pioneers
Bessie Coleman was just one of several women who fought for her right for a place among flying pioneers. From the very first days of aviation women risked their lives to claim recognition for aviation achievements. Amy Johnson & Harriet Quimby were two others to hold such merits.

• Amy Johnson (1903 - 1941)

• Harriet Quimby (1884 - 1912)

• Ameila Earhart (1897-1937)

WASPs
It took the stamina of two women to create the first Corp of women pilots for the US Army during World War II, Jackie Cochran and Nancy Harkness Love. Independently, Cochran wrote to Eleanor Roosevelt and Love wrote to Lieutenant Colonel Robert Olds both about creating a squadron of women pilots who could transport planes to military bases. They were met with resistance. Again they (independently) submitted proposals in 1942, this time the response was more enthusiastic. Cochran's program was designed to train women to become pilots, while Love's squadron was made up of women who already possessed pilots licenses. In 1943 the two groups merged to become to the Women's Air Force Service Pilots.

At the Army air bases in Kansas and Missouri, WASPS, or Women's Air Force Service Pilots, were not officially recognized until 1979 when, 34 years after the war ended, they were given official discharges and veteran benefits by the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force.

The first group of WASPs arrived at Fairfax Airport in April 1944, most transferred from the 2nd Ferrying Group in Wilmington, Delaware. The squadron lived at Hotel Boulevard Manor, 1115 East Armour Boulevard in Kansas City.

Many of the 1074 women who completed the program flew every type of plane, including B-29s and B-17s.

38 WASPS lost their lives in crashes while ferrying planes to military bases. One of those being Cornelia Fort, who would become the first American woman to die on active military duty.

• Jackie Cochran (1906 -1980)

• Nancy Harkness Love (1914 - 1976)

• Cornelia Fort (1919 -1943)