WASP airwomen more than did their part within the ranks of the male-dominated United States Army Air Force during World War 2.
Women Airforce Service Pilots (or 'WASPs') served under the banner of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) during the fighting of World War 2 (1939-1945). These women initially belonged to a civilian-minded aviation organization that was instrumental in bringing flight to female aviators. The group then fell under a paramilitary standing in early August 1943 and went on to number some 1,074 total certified flyers aviators of the 25,000 or so who actually applied for positions.
These women served in non-combat roles, ferrying warplanes to-and-from (they did not receive combat training) and assisted in training of male pilots (target tugs and the like). Before the end, the women amassed tens of millions of miles in the air for their part in the Second World War. Their primary purpose was to alleviate the demand of male pilots so they may be sent abroad to continue the fight. WASP pilots ended up delivering approximately 12,500 combat aircraft during the war's span.
Thirty-eight WASP pilots lost their lives during service and eleven of these were involved in training-related accidents. Rather sadly, their non-military status did not offer the usual military honors and respects upon their death but this did not detract from their discipline, capability and sacrifice during the war effort that required millions to be on the same operating page to achieve victory. It was only in later decades that the work of WASP pilots was properly acknowledged.
There are a total of [ 26 ] WW2 WASP Aircraft entries in the Military Factory. Entries are listed below in alphanumeric order (1-to-Z). Flag images indicative of country of origin and not necessarily the primary operator.
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