Memorial Day
On this Memorial Day of 2007 when we remember the men and women who sacrificed in the service of their country there is one group particularly memorable for me. They are the Women Airforce Service Pilots – WASP’s (see a brief video about them here).
During World War II when there was a severe shortage of male pilots a plan was hatched. Led by Jacqueline Cochran, Nancy Harkness Love and General Henry “Hap” Arnold the WASP’s were created in 1942. There were over 25,000 applicants of which only 1,830 were accepted for training. They were put through the same training as the male Army pilots including ground school and instrument flying. They lived in barracks at Avenger Field, Sweetwater Texas and were expected to perform all of the tests male officers were subjected to. Only 1,074 women graduated and earned their wings. My mother, Doris Duren, was one of them.
The WASP’s were disbanded in December 1944. They received no military honors or benefits (38 of the WASP’s were killed in service). They had flown over 60 million air miles. They delivered 12,650 aircraft of 78 different types from factories to ports for shipment over seas, ferried men and equipment, and towed gunnery targets. Of the combat aircraft ferried within the United States during WW II , over 50% were done by the WASP’s. The WASP’s flew aircraft and missions some of the male pilots had refused. When they were disbanded the WASP’s were offered jobs with the emerging commercial airlines . . . . as flight attendants. In 1977 the WASP’s were finally granted military veteran status though a bill sponsored by Senator Barry Goldwater. They have been included in the Women In Military Service For America Memorial, dedicated in 1997 at the Ceremonial Entrance to Arlington National Cemetery.
One of the WASP’s, Jean Hixson, went on to become one of the first team of female astronauts, the Mercury 13 (another Mercury 13 member Irene Leverton tried to join the WASP’s by lying about her age but didn’t make it). These courageous and talented ladies were treated no better than their predecessors this time suffering indignities directly from President Johnson.
Today I am the father of three young girls and I still see subtle (and sometimes overt) ways in which society treats them as second-class citizens. Given by background in technology I am particularly sensitive to the way girls are not encouraged to be interested in math and science (not to mention the poor treatment in our schools of math and science in general). There are some indications things are changing, however slowly. ZifDavis CIO magazine recently named their top 100 CIOS and the number one slot went to Patricia Hewlett , VP ExxonMobil. When you look at the other 99 you see only19% are women. It seems we still have a way to go.