This bracelet belonged to Muriel “Mimi” Lindstrom during her time with the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Service. The WAFS, under the command of Nancy Harkness Love, were combined with Jackie Cochran's WFTD to create the WASP in 1943. The WAFS had taken women with little to no flying experience and gave them the proper training, while the WFTD accepted already-qualified female pilots to served ferrying missions within the United States. After the merge, Jackie Cochran took overall command of the WASP, with Nancy Harkness Love commanding the ferrying operations. Many women like Mimi Lindstrom served in one of the original two groups and then continued to serve after the formation of the WASPs. Lindstrom served as a pilot throughout World War II.
Forming the WASPs: Gold WAFS Bracelet
This section overviews the creation and early days of the WASPs.
Overview
The WASP was created from two separate organizations, the Women’s Flying Training Detachment (WFTD) and the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Service (WAFS). In August 1943, the two groups were merged into the WASP and based out of Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas
By using women for stateside flight missions, more male pilots could be sent to the front to fly combat missions. The women initially trained on only the smaller and lighter aircraft, but they soon proved they could easily handle these challenges. Eventually, the pilots trained on every kind of aircraft, including bombers and fighters.
The WASP originally required women to have flying experience and be at least 21 years old, but soon, no flight experience was required, and the age limit was reduced to 18 years old. The women’s training came to be almost exactly the same as that given to men in the Army, without the combat exercises.
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Gold WAFS Bracelet
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Gold WAFS Bracelet
Gold WAFS Bracelet
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WASPs of WWII
Over 1,000 women served in the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots, better known as the WASPs, during World War II....
