Wing serves WASPs at Sweetwater homecoming

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Christina Marks
  • 442nd Human Resources Development Council
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Think back to a time when women were very limited in the career choices they had much less being able to fly airplanes during war time. There was such a time, until World War II when women were being recruited to serve as pilots to fly military aircraft from
September 1942 until December 1944.

They were called Women Airforce Service Pilots better known as WASPs. Little was known about them until 1977, when Jimmy Carter signed a house bill giving the WASPs military recognition. From there, the WASPs slowly began receiving the recognition they deserve.

Over the Memorial Day weekend, five Airmen from 442nd Fighter Wing here and 917th Fighter Group, a geographically separated unit of the 442nd FW, located at Barksdale AFB, La., escorted, supported and honored these women during the WASP Homecoming 2012 in Sweetwater, Texas. Overall there were 13 Reserve wings represented during the ceremony escorting 20 WASPs.

"These ladies are amazing!" said Senior Master Sgt. Cindy Roller, non-commissioned officer in the 442nd Fighter Wing Chaplain's office, who was also a WASP escort for the 2010 Congressional Gold Medal ceremony. "Even though I didn't get to participate as much as I would have liked, I loved the event. I would do it again in a heartbeat."

Staff Sgt. Rikki Welch, an A-10 crew chief with the 917th Maintenance Squadron, agreed.

"Being an escort was opportunity to meet the brave women who paved the path for women who choose to serve in the military today," Welch said. "It's part of our history. I wanted to be a part of that."

During the event, the WASPs were honored with a local parade, went through the WASP museum, signed memorabilia, met fans, and concluded with a special sunset ceremony recognizing 38 women who died during training..

"Honoring our heritage is important to me as a leader and as an American," said Col.
John Breazeale, 917th Fighter Group commander. "It is important that we honor those who laid the foundation of the Air Force we serve."

One of the WASPS, Jane Doyle, was in Class 44-W-4, the fourth class in 1944 to graduate. She was a WASP for 11 months.

Before becoming a WASP, she had her private pilots' license through the Civilian Pilots
Training program, a government-sponsored program. This was offered to her when she was a Grand Rapids Junior College freshman at the age of 18.

"That was the beginning of my love of flying," Doyle said. "So when I heard about the WASP program and was contacted because I had my license; I was eager to sign up."

She was paid $150 during training and $250 after graduation. She received the same training as the male cadets but had more experience in aerobatics and cross-country trips. During her time as a WASP, she flew the Fairchild PT-19, the Stearman PT-17, the
Vultee Vibrator BT-13, the North American AT-6 and the Beech AT-10.

"It was war time, and they were proud of what I was doing," Doyle said. "None of my
friends were interested in flying, and the general public didn't think women could fly military planes. There were 103 in my class and 53 graduated. We did not have any rank. We were civilians."

During that time, the general public was unaware of the WASP program, and even today, many people still are.

"We were hired as civilians, and were supposed to be activated into the Air Force, but Congress would not pass the legislature and there was other opposition, so we were disbanded," Doyle said. "There was some opposition - especially in the male population in and out of the service."

Even during that time, she says she didn't see herself as a role model for others.

"At the time we were flying, we didn't see ourselves as paving the way for future generations," Doyle said." We loved flying, and at the same time we were serving our country by relieving male pilots for overseas duty."

"The Women Airforce Service Pilots were integral to our success in World War II. Without their dedicated service, our nation would have been hard pressed to fight the two-front war," Breazeale said. "These aviators deserve the attention and are awesome mentors to our female Airmen today."

Things have greatly changed for the WASPs since they were disbanded. In addition to former President Jimmy Carter signing a house bill giving the WASPs military recognition in 1977, the WASPs received veterans' status in 1979, and in 2010, the WASPs received the Congressional Gold Medal during a ceremony at the Capitol.

"It took a long time for the WASPs to get recognition because when the program was disbanded, the records were sealed, marked classified, and stored away in the archives of Congress" Doyle said.

Currently a majority of the WASPs are in their 90s, and hopefully it won't be the last WASP event.

"This is a once in a lifetime experience," said Col. Sandra Opeka, 10th Air Force Inspector General, who has been involved with the WASP programs for about 14 years.
"Volunteer. Meet them. It is life changing. I have never talked to an escort that did not cherish this experience," she continued.

"Many escorts stay in touch with the WASP they escorted," Opeka said. "Some members have been blessed to escort the same WASP on multiple occasions. These ladies are humble and gracious. I truly believe that they blazed the trail for each female who wears the uniform. They will each tell you they were just doing their part during time of war."

"The WASPs I have met are spunky ladies with an infectious personality," Breazeale said. "I knew that my Airmen would enjoy the experience!"

For the five 442nd Fighter Wing Airmen who got to be a part of history, it was an experience they said they will remember.

"It was a once in a lifetime opportunity and honor to be a part of their recognition!" Welch said.