Eleanor Roosevelt and Maine Senator, Margaret Chase Smith felt women should do their active part in the service. In 1942, America took a step toward womenís liberation when all non-combat military services were opened to women.

350,000 women joined the military; by the end of the war there were 280,000 "Dames for Defense" still on active duty.

WAC, The Womenís Army Auxiliary Corps, or WAACs, existed until 1943 when it was shortened to WACS, or the Womenís Army Corps.

WAVES at the Olathe Naval Air Station… WAVES was the acronym for "Women Appointed for Voluntary Emergency Service", a cadre of women who, after 7/31/42 had been accepted for voluntary service in a branch of the U.S. Navy. To be eligible, a WAVE had to be able to swim at least 50 yards. The WAVES recruited 100,000 women for military service.

SPARs were the Coast Guard Womenís Reserve. Special womenís branches were included in the Marine Corps but no special tag or special consideration was given to them.

WASPs at the Army air bases in Kansas and Missouri. WASPS, or Womenís 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 Öflew every type of plane, including B-29s and B-17s.

38 WASPS lost their lives in crashes while ferrying planes to military bases.