Online Exhibit
Overview
Over 1,000 women served in the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots, better known as the WASPs, during World War II.
WASP Elizabeth Gardiner in the cockpit of her plane at Harlingen Army Air Field, Texas. From the National Archives.
Created in 1943, the WASPs enabled women to serve with the military and perform every kind of flying mission outside of combat. These women ferried planes, towed gunnery practice targets, and flew aircraft coming out of maintenance. Some of these jobs were so dangerous that the men refused to fly them. Yet the WASPs did every job handed to them and excelled. After the war, the WASPs went unrecognized for many years. It was not until decades later that their service and dedication was recognized and rewarded.
