Congressional Gold Medal sought for WASPs

Antipodean Andy · Mar 17, 2009

This is good to see. We've had some recent, although not enough, recognition of the girls in the UK so this is another tribute to those unsung people who toiled "behind the scenes".

The Associated Press: Congressional Gold Medal sought for female pilots

WASHINGTON (AP) — All 17 female senators want to see female pilots who served during World War II receive the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor Congress can give.

The award would go to members of the Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASP, who flew noncombat missions from 1942 to 1944 while male counterparts were sent to combat.

"The Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II were trailblazers and true patriots," said Sen. Barbara Mikulski, a Maryland Democrat who is leading the effort along with Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, a Texas Republican. "They risked their lives in service to our nation, but for too long their contribution to the war effort has been undervalued or under recognized."

Hutchison said the women paved the way for all women who serve in the military today.

"More than 50 years have passed since the intrepid Women Airforce Service Pilots bravely served in World War II, but these women have yet to receive the recognition they deserve," she said.

About 300 of the 1,102 women who served as pilots are still alive. Under the legislation introduced Tuesday, the gold medals would go to all the living pilots and to the family members of those who have died.
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Heidi · Mar 18, 2009

Yes,bout time women get reconition for there efforts during ww2,lovley too see and hear this.
They are intitled too the ww2 medals,test flight the new aircrafts for the male air- pilots and delivering the aircrafts to there male counteparts.

Ps,i think there is some spelling mistakes,but i was not shore on how to spell the words.Sorry.

liverpool annie · Mar 18, 2009

Heres an interesting occasion coming up ..... ! these women were fearless risk takers ... how lucky we were to have them !! :clapping: ....

Nation’s First Female Military Pilots ‘Buzz’ Fantasy of Flight March 27-28

WASP — Women Airforce Service Pilots — a spirited squadron of pilots who left their homes and jobs at the height of World War II to serve their country as the first American women to fly for the U.S. military, will buzz in at Fantasy of Flight for the second event in its three-part “Living History” Symposium Series, “A Passionate Pursuit.”

The event will take place Friday, March 27, and Saturday, March 28, in honor of Women’s History Month, and will bring to life the experiences of some of America’s most courageous aviators through permanent and semi-permanent exhibits, real aircraft, and most importantly, personal stories from real WASP pilots who will answer questions and interact with guests.

When every available American male pilot was absorbed into combat overseas, dangerous non-combat flight duty still required pilots stateside for ferrying, testing, dragging targets and liaison — tasks hardly suited for the inexperienced or the faint of heart. Once again the “greatest generation” stepped forward to meet the challenge, only this time the boots were filled by women.

Fantasy of Flight’s WASP exhibition, which includes aircraft as well as four separate bays that feature historical, anecdotal, and inspirational newsreel footage, original photos, and storytelling panels from the 1940s and today, will serve as the backdrop for historic appearances from WASP pilots Betty Blake, Helen Wyatt Snapp and Bernice “Bee” Falk Haydu.

On Dec. 7, 1941, 21-year-old pilot Betty Blake was scheduled to fly a tourist from one Hawaiian island to another. Lucky for her, the tourist canceled the reservation and Blake was not in the skies when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Although she wasn’t hurt, several of her Navy friends were killed and the event changed her life forever.

She soon enrolled in the WASP program and flew planes from factories to bases on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts where they would be deployed for combat. Blake recalled, “They didn’t think girls would be able to fly military planes,” but together, the fearless female pilots logged nearly 60 million miles before the program was disbanded in December 1944.

Helen Wyatt Snapp was working as a government clerk in Washington, D.C., when she decided to take advantage of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s new Civilian Pilot Training Program and quickly earned her private pilot’s license. While her husband, Ira Benton Snapp, was serving overseas, she heard about the WASP program and wanted to do her part. She was accepted into the program in Jan. 1943 and served at Liberty Field in Camp Stewart, Ga., until WASP was de-activated. By that time, Snapp had completed more than 1,000 hours of flying time and flew numerous target missions, towing targets for live fire on anti-aircraft ranges.

Bernice “Bee” Falk Haydu was an engineering test pilot and utility pilot for WASP for only one year before the program was disbanded, but she later served as president of the Order of Fifinella, the WASP alumnae organization, and was instrumental in the fight to obtain World War II veterans’ status for members of the group. The battle for veterans’ benefits took two years, a national media tour and “much midnight oil being burned,” but the bill was signed into law by President Jimmy Carter in November 1977.

An active pilot, flight instructor and aviation business owner, Haydu also was instrumental in starting a new group, Women Military Pilots, which was later changed to Women Military Aviators to incorporate women other than pilots. Her WASP uniform can be seen on display at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum in Washington, D.C., and she wrote a book detailing her WASP experience, entitled “Letters Home 1944-1945.” For all of her contributions to her country and to the field of aviation, Haydu was inducted into the Aviation Hall of Fame in 2000.

“It’s hard to believe that almost 70 years ago, these gutsy ladies stepped into the cockpits of fighter planes to serve their country in its time of need, and have been breaking barriers for women ever since,” said Fantasy of Flight founder and creator Kermit Weeks. “It is my extreme privilege to welcome them to Fantasy of Flight to share their amazing stories first hand.”

In the end, only 1,830 of the 25,000 applicants were accepted into the program, and 1,074 of those women earned their silver WASP wings. Their indomitable founder, Jackie Cochran, became the first civilian to receive the U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal for her vision and leadership of the WASP program.
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Polk County Democrat > Entertainment > Nationâ€™s First Female Military Pilots â€˜Buzzâ€™ Fantasy of Flight March 27-28

Antipodean Andy · Jun 23, 2009

Waco woman among World War II pilots to be honored if federal bill passes

Waco resident Nancy Parrish fought for over a decade for her mother Deanie’s place in the history books.

Now, thanks to a bill co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas., Deanie and her fellow WASPS can receive Congressional Gold Medals honoring their service as World War II pilots. The bill passed both houses of Congress and now awaits the president’s signature.

The Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASPs) were a group of more than 1,000 women who served during World War II when the Air Force was short on pilots. WASPs were even stationed at Waco’s Army airfield.

“WASPs flew every type of mission the male Air Force pilots did within the continental United States and flew every type of airplane, from the fastest fighters to the heaviest bombers,” Deanie Parrish said.

During her service, Deanie Parrish flew a B-26 twin engine plane nicknamed “the widow maker” on account of its dangerous record. She helped test planes after repairs and flew missions to help train gunners for combat.

WASPs were the first women allowed to fly military aircraft.

“The WASPs proved airplanes don’t know the difference between men and women,” Nancy Parrish said.

Though the WASPs served equally and were sworn in identically to their male counterparts, they did not receive the same awards and recognition.

“These ladies raised their right hands and swore to protect the country, but if a woman pilot was killed, since they were still considered civilians, they had to take up a collection to pay to ship their bodies and they couldn’t have the flag draped over their coffins,” Nancy Parrish said.

In addition, the WASPs’ military records were sealed and classified in 1944 after Congress voted not to militarize the group.

“We disbanded on Dec. 20, 1944 with no honors, no rewards and no benefits. We simply hung up our parachutes and paid our own way home,” Deanie Parrish said.

In 1977, the U.S. Air Force Academy issued a press release saying 10 women would be graduating as the group’s first female pilots.

Outraged, WASPs fought to get their records opened and the recognition they deserved. With the help of Sen. Barry Goldwater, the WASPs were able to achieve their goal, Deanie Parrish said.

However, Nancy Parrish was not satisfied with the public’s general lack of knowledge of her mother’s accomplishments.

“These women were pioneers for all the women flying today in Afghanistan and Iraq. The WASPs did it first,” Nancy Parrish said.

Nancy Parrish owes her existence to the WASPs, as her father, a former military pilot, met her mother on a training mission.

She formed the nonprofit group Wings Across America with assistance from Baylor University to share the history of the WASPs.

From her Waco base, Nancy Parrish worked full time with no pay to interview 100 of the approximately 300 living WASP members and record their history.

In 2003, Nancy Parrish founded the WASP museum at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas, the location of the WASPs’ training facility.

She also displayed a WASP exhibit in Baylor’s Mayborn Museum in 2007. An expanded version of this exhibit now occupies a large space in the Women’s Memorial in Washington, D.C.

For Nancy and Deanie, the congressional medals are a platform to help them educate Americans about the contributions the WASPs made to society.

“I don’t want a medal, I want to educate America,” Deanie said. “The medal helps people learn about this missing part of America’s history. I want it to be taught in classrooms from history books.”

Because Nancy Parrish has dedicated years to proclaiming her mother’s heroism, Deanie claims Nancy should receive equal adulation for her work.

“Nancy has volunteered for the last 11 years without pay. She’s been a liaison between us and the legislators. Without her, no one would be getting a Congressional Gold Medal,” she said.

Currently, Deanie Parrish is working on a book profiling 10 of the most interesting WASPs, and Nancy is finishing a documentary.

“We were the first females to fly military aircraft. Whether you like it or not, we’re a part of Air Force history,” Deanie said.

For more information, visit WASP, Women Airforce Service Pilots of WWII Home Page.
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Antipodean Andy · Jun 23, 2009

Waco woman among World War II pilots to be honored if federal bill passes

Waco resident Nancy Parrish fought for over a decade for her mother Deanie’s place in the history books.

Now, thanks to a bill co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas., Deanie and her fellow WASPS can receive Congressional Gold Medals honoring their service as World War II pilots. The bill passed both houses of Congress and now awaits the president’s signature.

The Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASPs) were a group of more than 1,000 women who served during World War II when the Air Force was short on pilots. WASPs were even stationed at Waco’s Army airfield.

“WASPs flew every type of mission the male Air Force pilots did within the continental United States and flew every type of airplane, from the fastest fighters to the heaviest bombers,” Deanie Parrish said.

During her service, Deanie Parrish flew a B-26 twin engine plane nicknamed “the widow maker” on account of its dangerous record. She helped test planes after repairs and flew missions to help train gunners for combat.

WASPs were the first women allowed to fly military aircraft.

“The WASPs proved airplanes don’t know the difference between men and women,” Nancy Parrish said.

Though the WASPs served equally and were sworn in identically to their male counterparts, they did not receive the same awards and recognition.

“These ladies raised their right hands and swore to protect the country, but if a woman pilot was killed, since they were still considered civilians, they had to take up a collection to pay to ship their bodies and they couldn’t have the flag draped over their coffins,” Nancy Parrish said.

In addition, the WASPs’ military records were sealed and classified in 1944 after Congress voted not to militarize the group.

“We disbanded on Dec. 20, 1944 with no honors, no rewards and no benefits. We simply hung up our parachutes and paid our own way home,” Deanie Parrish said.

In 1977, the U.S. Air Force Academy issued a press release saying 10 women would be graduating as the group’s first female pilots.

Outraged, WASPs fought to get their records opened and the recognition they deserved. With the help of Sen. Barry Goldwater, the WASPs were able to achieve their goal, Deanie Parrish said.

However, Nancy Parrish was not satisfied with the public’s general lack of knowledge of her mother’s accomplishments.

“These women were pioneers for all the women flying today in Afghanistan and Iraq. The WASPs did it first,” Nancy Parrish said.

Nancy Parrish owes her existence to the WASPs, as her father, a former military pilot, met her mother on a training mission.

She formed the nonprofit group Wings Across America with assistance from Baylor University to share the history of the WASPs.

From her Waco base, Nancy Parrish worked full time with no pay to interview 100 of the approximately 300 living WASP members and record their history.

In 2003, Nancy Parrish founded the WASP museum at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas, the location of the WASPs’ training facility.

She also displayed a WASP exhibit in Baylor’s Mayborn Museum in 2007. An expanded version of this exhibit now occupies a large space in the Women’s Memorial in Washington, D.C.

For Nancy and Deanie, the congressional medals are a platform to help them educate Americans about the contributions the WASPs made to society.

“I don’t want a medal, I want to educate America,” Deanie said. “The medal helps people learn about this missing part of America’s history. I want it to be taught in classrooms from history books.”

Because Nancy Parrish has dedicated years to proclaiming her mother’s heroism, Deanie claims Nancy should receive equal adulation for her work.

“Nancy has volunteered for the last 11 years without pay. She’s been a liaison between us and the legislators. Without her, no one would be getting a Congressional Gold Medal,” she said.

Currently, Deanie Parrish is working on a book profiling 10 of the most interesting WASPs, and Nancy is finishing a documentary.

“We were the first females to fly military aircraft. Whether you like it or not, we’re a part of Air Force history,” Deanie said.

For more information, visit WASP, Women Airforce Service Pilots of WWII Home Page.
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Antipodean Andy · Jul 6, 2009

Genevieve Rausch honoured

Female pilot during World War II receives 'long overdue' award in Hillsborough ceremony - NJ.com

The wind rushed into her face as she flew high over the Army base. She navigated the cockpit controls with the same skill of male pilots, while sitting in a uniform that carried none of the prestige.

She, like many other female aviators had given up lives as teachers, homemakers and nurses to make history as the first women to fly with the U.S. Army.

As the machinery rumbled around her the only thing louder than the engine was the heavy artillery screaming toward the target she was towing just 25 feet behind her. But for Genevieve Landman, it was just another day of target practice.

Now Genevieve Rausch, the 93-year-old sat tall last week in her navy blue uniform with several wings adorning her lapels. She clasped her petite hands in her lap and waited patiently for the recognition that had been more than 60 years in the making.

Rausch was honored for her service in the Women Air Force Service Pilots of World War II by local and state officials at the Emeritus Senior Living Center in Hillsborough.

Though she has changed quite a bit from the black-and-white photos of her 28-year-old self circulating around the room, it was clear two things had not changed - her smile and her passion for flying.

When she graduated high school Rausch, originally from Danville, Ill, became a civil service secretary and stenographer for the Air Training Command Head Quarters at Chanute Army Air Base. After hearing famed aviator Amelia Earhart speak, she was inspired to earn her private pilot's license in 1944 and applied to the WASP program.

"I was very surprised to find that I could become a pilot," she said. "I decided to let them have me for a student and when they said a certain number of us weren't going to make it, I thought I might as well be one of those ... But I made it. "

Of the 25,000 women who initially applied, 1,830 were accepted. Of that group 1,074 graduated from the grueling 200-hour training at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas.

From 1942 to 1944, the women took over non-combat military missions across the U.S. - test-flying planes, teaching male pilots, and towing targets for artillery practice - so that male pilots could be deployed for combat. The pilots were skilled in the areas of navigation, meteorology, Morse code, and firearms.

The WASP was disbanded in 1944. However, Rausch continued making history as one of the first female aviation writers for "Skyways" magazine in New York. "That was a wonderful experience because I still got to fly and then write about it. What more could I ask for?" she said.

On a visit to Danville in the early 1950s, she met and married John Rausch, president of the WASH Company, a manufacturer of specialty nails. From Danville, the couple moved to Florida, where she lived for over 30 years improving her golf game and becoming active with the Sarasota County area Meals on Wheels. In 2007, she moved to Hillsborough to be near her nephew, Robert Ellwood.

Though the WASP program lasted just 16 months, U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance (R-7th Dist.) said their service was invaluable to the war effort, noting that the pilots flew every kind of military aircraft and logged 60 million miles on missions across the U.S. Though they were never awarded full military status and were not eligible for officer status, the WASP were finally granted veterans' status in 1977.

Today, only 300 WASP members have lived to see President Barack Obama sign legislation acknowledging and awarding them the Congressional Gold Medal - Congress' highest honor.

It is long overdue for Genevieve Rausch of Hillsborough to receive this distinguished award," Lance said at Thursday's ceremony. "... It is fitting that we honor Genevieve Rausch as a brave American. Her hard work, dedication and selfless sacrifice is deeply appreciated by all Americans. I have great respect and admiration for her and she makes all the residents of Hillsborough proud."

One such resident, Lynn O'Donnell, learned to fly 35 years ago and said her time in the sky was particularly inspired by pilots like Rausch. "I became a pilot because these rabble-rousers had the foresight to demand recognition," she said. "They made it known that women were capable and competent and had served their country. I owe these ladies my career."

O'Donnell has piloted planes for Eastern, Pan American World Airways as well as United Airways. A member of the Ninety-Nines, a female pilot association founded by Earhart, O'Donnell recently finished working on a display at the Aviation Hall of Fame in Teterboro, dedicated to the WASP. "These women deserve every bit of kudos they get," she said.

"We are so proud to have Hillsborough represented in such a way, being a female pioneer in the country at that time is a tremendous accomplishment," said Hillsborough Mayor Frank DelCore. DelCore said plans to honor Rausch at an upcoming township committee meeting.

Rausch was humbled by the honor. "I always wondered what I would do, because I would watch other people receive an afternoon like this and I tell you, my heart is in my feet," she said.

Somerset County Freeholder Jack Ciattarelli, joined several others who had no knowledge of the WASP. "As a student of history it embarrasses me that I never knew of the WASP, but I am not embarrassed to learn so on my next trip to the library I intend to," he said. He presented Rausch with a citation from the county for her service and called her a "National Treasure."

After the ceremony Rausch's nephew helped her show off all of the documents she'd saved from her military service. Yellowed and slightly tattered, the pages told the story of her countless flights around the country.

Looking at the old letters Ellwood felt the day was bittersweet. "This is long overdue, but I've met so many men and women who will never get recognized for things like this," he said.

A little uncomfortable to be in the spotlight on her own, Rausch made sure include her fellow aviators. "We all came from little towns and little places, my story is all of our stories," she said. "I'm just glad it's being shared."
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liverpool annie · Jul 6, 2009

It's official now !

Decades After WWII, Female Pilots Finally Honored : NPR

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