WASP Newsletter ~ 04/01/79

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    VOL. XVII

    WJlS1'NEWSLE T TER

    Editor - Betty Cross

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    APRIL 1979

    VW DAY

    MARCH 8, 1979

    Upon the recommendation of the Department

    of Defense Civilian/Military Service Review

    Board, it is the determination of the Secretary

    of Defense that the service of the Women Air-

    force Service Pilots (WASP) shall be considered 

    active military service in the Armed Forces of 

    the United States for purposes of all laws

    administered by the Veterans' Administration.

    Tha t was the glorious day, and those the magic words. In order 

    to share with you as fully as possible that splendid event, I

    must start back on Oct. 2, 1978, the day that I returned home

    to Pasadena from Colorado Springs. I came away from the

    reunion believing, as I feel most of us did, that our honorable

    discharges and resultant veterans benefits were imminent. But

    the reports that started coming to me almost immediately

    from Washington, D. C., revealed a considerably less optimistic

    reality. I soon learned that the operative word was "determina-

    tion," as in: such a determination must be approached with

    infinite caution as there is no precedent; much time will be

    needed to research all questions and conclusions relating to

    such a determination; the machinery for making such a deter-

    mination must be very carefully structured; much patience is

    required as there is no way to predict how much time will beneeded in making a determination of this magnitude; it is not

     possible to say when or if an affirmative determination will be

    forthcoming. If? That alarming small conjunction sent me

    directly to a study of the G. 1. Bill Improvemen t Act of 1977.

    And, sure enough, there was the "if."

    Unfortunately, there had been so much cheering that this small

    "if' had been generally overlooked. In section 40 I of Public

    Law 95-202, dated Nov. 23, 1977, all of the great sounding

     prose about the WASP was followed by, " ... if the Secretary

    of Defense ... determines ... that the service a T   such groupconstituted active military service ... ". Later, in the summary

    of the Proposed Rule (3810-70) Department of Defense

    (32CFR Part 47) publish - in vol. 43 of the Federal Register 

    dated Sept. 13, 1978, it stated, "This act directs the Secretary

    of Defense to determine if civilian employment or contractual

    service rendered by groups to the Armed Forces of the United 

    States shall be considered active duty ... ". So, in effect, what

    Congress did in P.L. 95-202, was give the Secretary of Defense

     permission to ignore any laws to the contrary, and to determine

    that the WASP (and perhaps other WW 2 groups) had perform-

    ed active military service if he chose to do so. Then, in effect,

    what the Secretary of Defense did in Proposed Rule 3810-70,

    was to explain the preliminary ground rules under which the

    Department of Defense would operate in reaching such a

    determination. (All emphasis mine.)

    Thus, our real position was far different from what most of us

    had believed it to be since Congress acted in 1977. We had not

     been made veterans at any time. Regardless of what the mem-

     bership was told at Colorado Springs, the WASP were not

    veterans preceding, during, or subsequent to that reunion.

    While familiarizing myself with the above during th~ closing

    months of 1978, I was receiving much correspondence from

    the WASP in which a few identical questions and opinions re-

    curred. Most wanted to know why there had been such a long

    delay in receiving discharges and benefits after our being de-

    clared veterans in 1977. Many wanted to know precisely what

    was holding things up, what was being done to get things un-

    stuck, and how much longer it was going to take. And a con-siderable number expressed varying degrees of disgust, be-

    wilderment and anger. Obviously, my new knowledge of the

    facts plus this correspondence created a troubling question.

    How to answer? I could not deliberately misrepresent the

    facts, nor could I present the truth without doing a terrible

    disservice to the individual correspondents and to the organ-

    ization as a whole. It would have been quite inexcusable on

    such a piecemeal basis and at such a late date to unleash the

    factual statement, "We were not made veterans in 1977, we

    are not veterans now, we may someday be veterans or we may

    never be veterans, and no one knows how much longer we'll

    have to wait for a decision to be made." So I replied by

     pledging to discover all of the facts and to report them by per-

    sonalletter directly to the full membership within a period of six months. That six months carried through to the last

    day of March.

    By the middle of January, 1979, I learned from Lee

    Wheelwright (Chairman Veteran   & Congressional Liaison

    Committee) that the Washington, D. C. picture remained as

     bleak as ever, including the fact that not even the final ver-

    sion of the ground rules had yet been published. As it was

    only after publication of the final rules that the actual busi-

    ness of "determining" could begin, our day of tru th appear-

    ed to be receding farther and farther into the future. So I

    made plans to spend a month in Washington from Feb. 7,

    to March 9, and then made the following notes of what

    needed to be stated, asked and answered. I report my notes

    verbatim.

    After all the hoopla, what? I continue to receive re-quests from WASP, press persons and others, allwanting to know what has happened. It simply willnot suffice to keep repeating, "don't call us, we'llcall you." It just won't do. It is not only unfair butquite impermissible to leave the WASP any longer inthis seemingly unending state of limboo Because we

    have been misled, since 1977, by just about every-one into believing that the whole thing is a fait ac-compli with our discharges and benefits always a-

    round the corner. In a few weeks I must begin writ-

    ing my report to WASP relating the facts of our situa-

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    t i o n. Wh at e Ye r t h e f a c t s . I f t h e f a c t sa r e g r e at , g r e at . Bu t i f t h e f a c t s r e ve alt ha t no one has any i n t ent i on o f i mp l emen~i n g P . L . 9 5- 2 02 u nt i l we ' r e a l l d ea d, s o b ei t . One t hi ng I c an s a y f o r s ur e . F r o mt h i s mo me n t e v er y o ne ' s q ue s t i o ns g e t a ns -we r e d wi t h h ar d f a c t s . No f i c t i o n , n o t i p -t oe i ng t h r ough t he t u l i ps , no back- pat t i ng ,n o wi s h f u l t h i n k i n g, n o d i s c r e e t s i l e n c e.F r o m h er e o n i t ' s f a c t s o nl y , e ve n i f t h at

    i n c l u de s t h e p os s i b i l i t y t h a t we ' v e b e en h a d.No w i s t h er e a ny o ne i n a p o s i t i o n o f a u t h -o r i t y - o n t h e R ev i e w B oa r d , i n t h e DOD, i nt h e Ai r F o r c e - t o wh om 1 c o ul d s p e ak a ndmake our case f o r p r ompt and a f f i r mat i ve de-t er mi ~t i on? As onl y t l l e Women Ai r f or ce Ser v-i c e P i l o t s a r e me n t i o ne d b y n a me i n P . L . 9 5-2 02 , i s n ' t i t b ot h p os s i b l e a nd r e as o na bl ef o r t h e Re v i e w Bo ar d t o c o ns i d er u s f i r s t b e-f o r e we i gh i ng t he mer i t s o f a l l t he o t her um-t e e n g r o u ps t h at ma y h a ve a p pl i e d? An d wh a ti s t h i s n o ns e n s e a b ou t n ot c o n t a c t i n g t h e DODb ec a us e t h e DOD wi l l c o nt a c t u s ? T he DOD d i d n' te xi s t i n W\ ~ 2 , a nd e v en a t t h at t i me o ur r e c -o r ds f r equent l y van i shed down a c r ack somewher eb e t we e n t h e A r my a n d c i v i l s e r v i c e . T o da y ,wi t h a l l o f t h e WA SP n a me a n d r e s i d en c e c h a ng es ,we h av e e no ug h t r o ub l e f i n di n g e ac h o t h er - s oh ow o n e a r t h i s t h e DOD s u p po s e d t o f i n d u s ?S o i s n ' t t h e r e s o me e x i s t i n g p r o c e s s b y wh i c hwe o o ul d ma k e o ur s e l v e s k n own , i n di v i d ua l l y , t ot h e DOD? L e t ' s s a y t h a t t h e d et e r mi n a t i o n h a sb ee n ma de a nd t h e a ns we r i s y e s . Wh o, p r e c i s e -l y , wi l l b e e l i g i b l e t o a pp l y f o r d i s c h a r g e?What p r ocedur e may 1 out l i ne f o r t he e l i g i b l eso f a c t u al s t e ps t o t a k e i n g et t i n g d i s c h ar g es ?A nd c a n a n yo ne g i v e me a n e s t i ma t e , e v en a wi l dg ue s s , o f wh en , mo n t h a n d y e a r , t h e WA SP mi g htr e a l l y b e d ec l a r e d t o b e v e t e r a n s ?

    I n b r i e f , 1 r e c ei v e d t h e f o l l o wi n g a ns we r s . T heq ue s t i o n a s t o wh en we wo ul d b e v e t e r a n s wa s a n" ass umi ng" quest i on as t he det e r mi nat i on o f ours t a t u s s t i l l l a y i n t h e f u t u r e . P r e v ai l i n g " 0 p-i n i on" was t ha t t he det e r mi nat i on wou l d be i n our .f avor . I f an a f f i r mat i ve det e r mi nat i on shou l d bema d e f o r o u r g r o up , t h e n e a c h WA SP wo u l d b e e v al -u a t e d o n h er i n di v i d ua l a pp l i c a t i o n a n d t h e C omp -t ; r o l l e r Gener a l wou l d make t he f i na l j udgement onbenef i t s . Best est i mat e on dat e o f det e r mi nat i onwa s , a t t he e ar l i e s t , J u ne o r J u l y o f 1 97 9. Nor e a s o n o r o pi n i o n c o u l d b e a d va nc e d t o e x pl a i nwi despr ead mi si nf or mat i on t hat WASP had been madev et e r a ns i n 1 97 7 b y c o ng r e s s i o na l a c t i o n. Ne i t h ert h e A i r F o r c e n or t h e De p ar t me n t o f De f e ns e e v e ri s s u e d a s t a t e me nt c o nv e yi n g, i n e s s e nc e , Do n' t

    c a l l u s , we ' l l c a l l y o u " , b e c a u s e t h e a pp r o v edr u l es mandat ed t he exact l y opposi t e p r ocedur e ;t per e f o r e , each WASP shou l d p r ompt l y send t he r e -q ui r e d a pp l i c a t i o n s o t h at p r o c e s s i n g c o u l d b e gi nwi t hout de l ay when and i f a f avor ab l e det e r mi na -t i o n wa s ma de . T he f i n al r u l e s o f p r o c ed ur e h adb ee n p ub l i s h e d o n J a n. 2 4, 1 97 9, a nd t h e Ci v i l i a n/Mi l i t a r y Ser v i ce Rev i ew Boar d had f i na l l y beena u t h o r i z e d t o me e t a n d b eg i n i t s r e v i e w p r o c e s so n J a n. 2 5. T ha t pr o c es s wa s n ot l i k el y t o r e ac ha d et e r mi n a t i o n o n a n y g r o u p p r i o r t o J u ne o r J u l y

    -2-

    a s a l l q ue s t i o ns wo ul d h a ve t o b e h i s t o r i c a l l yr esear ched and l ega l l y ver i f i ed by t he appr opr i a t eb od i e s s u c h a s t h e Hi s t o r i c a l Ad vi s o r y P an el , t h el e g al a d vi s o r s t o e a c h me mb e r o f t h e R ev i e w B oa r d ,a n d t h e v a r i o us s e r v i c e r e pr e s e n t a t i v e s ma k i n g u pt h e Re v i e w Bo ar d i t s e l f . T he n a l l r e as o ns f o r ay e a o r n ay d ec i s i o n o n e ac h q ue s t i o n wo ul d h av et o b e p ut i n wr i t i n g a n d s i g ne d b y e a c h b oa r d me m-~e r b e f o r e s u b mi s s i o n t o t h e S ec r e t a r y . A s t h e r e~s no way t o est i mat e how many subst ant i ve quest i onswi l l a r i s e , t h e r e i s n o wa y t o e s t i ma t e h ow mu c h

    t i me wi l l b e r e qu i r e d. ) On e c a n o n l y a s s u me t h a ti t wi l l b e c o ns i d er a b~e . Ho we ve r , a l l Ai r F o r c ep r o c e du r e s f o r i s s u i n g d i s c h a r g e s t o WAS P h av ea l r e a dy b e en e s t a b l i s h e d s o t h a t n o t i me wi l l b el ost when and i f an a f f i r mat i ve det e r mi nat i on i sma d e. ( 1 wa s a l s o t o l d wh o wo u l d b e e l i g i b l e f o rd i s c h a r g e a n d h o w a p p l i c a t i o n s h o ul d b e ma de a n dt o wh om i t s h o ul d b e ma i l e d, b ut 1 wi l l n ot r e p ea ts u c h i n f o r ma t i o n h e r e a s I ' v e a l r e a dy s e n t i t t oy o u b y p er s o n al l e t t e r , h ad i t p r i n t e d i n t h eSt ar s   &St r i pes and am r epr i n t i ng i t . once mor e i nt hi s News l et t er . )

    S o t h a t i s h ow t h i n gs s t o o d o n t h e mo r n i n g o f Ma r c h8 , t h e l a s t d a y o f my s t a y i n Wa s h i n gt o n, D. C • • •I t wa s n ot a h ap py mo r n i n g b ec a us e I wa s a c ut e l y

    a wa r e o f t h e mi s e r a b l e n e ws t h at 1 wo u l d s o o n h av et o i n f l i c t o n t h e me mb er s h i p . 1 h a d a l r e a dy i n -c o r p o r a t e d mo s t o f t h e u nh a pp y f a c t s i n a d r a f tv e r s i o n o f my p r o mi s e d l e t t e r , a n d h a d a l s o p utt o ge t h er a l e t t e r o f a p pl i c a t i o n f o r d i s c h a r g e a ndsuppor t i ng document at i on acc or d i ng t o i nst r uct i onsa nd h ad h ad i t a l l c he c ke d f o r a c cur a c y. T he r e wa so nl y o n e o f f i c i a l d ut y r e ma i n i n g. A t 1 : 3 0 t h ata f t e r n oo n 1 wa s t o me e t C ap t . Ma r y P r u i t t a t t h eP e nt a g on wh e n we wo u l d g o t o ge t h er t o t h e o f f i c eo f As s i s t a nt S ec r e t a r y o f t h e Ai r F o r c e An t o ni aChayes wher e 1 wou l d p r esent t he WASP S t a t ue t ha th ad b ee n a wa r d ed t o h er t h e p r e vi o us y e ar . I k n ewt h at i t wa s n o t t o b e a f o r ma l p i c t u r e - t a k i n g p r e -s e n t a t i o n a s t h er e wa s n o t s u f f i c i e nt t i me a v ai l -

    a bl e i n h e r t i g ht a n d a l t o ge t h e r f o r mi d a bl e s c h e d-u l e , s o a s Ca pt . P r u i t t a nd I wa i t e d i n a n a nt e -r o om f o r Ms . Ch ay es t o r e t u r n t o h er o f f i c e I h adt aken t he WASP S t a t ue f r om i t s wr app i ngs i n o r dert o b e r e ad y f o r i n s t a nt a c t i o n. P r e c i s e l y a t 2 : 0 0o ' c l o c k s h e s wi r l e d i n l i k e Ha l e y ' s c o me t , t r a i l -i n g h er e nt o ur a ge b eh i n d h er . S he i s s ma l l , l o ve l yt o l o ok a t , g r a c i o us , a nd e xu de s e f f i c i e nc y . l i ee x c h an ge d h o w- d o - y o u- d o' s i n t h e a nt e r o o m a n d Ia s k e d i f s h e wo ul d l i k e t o a c c e pt t h e a wa r d wi t h o utmo r e a d o r i g ht wh e r e we s t o o d. S he s mi l e d a nd s a i dt h a t t i me wa s n ' t a l l t h at s h o r t a n d i n v i t e d C ap t .Pr u i t t and me i n t o her o f f i ce .

    I t ' s a c h a r mi n g r o o m a n d mi r r o r s i t s o c c u pa n t e x -c e pt t h at i t ' s l a r g e i n s t e ad o f s ma l l . Af t e r a £ ew

    wo r d s o f p r e s e n t a t i o n s h e a c c e pt e d t h e s t a t u e a ndspent some t i me admi r i ng i t and comment i ng on i t sb ea ut y a nd h er a pp r e c i a t i o n, t h en a f t e r a b r i e f s u r -v e y o f t h e r o om s h e d ec i d ed t h at t h e s t a t u e s h ou l db e p l a c e d o n a t a b l e t h a t wa s mi d wa y b e t we e n h e rd es k a nd t h e d oo r t o t h e r e c ep t i o n r o om. As s h ea r r a n ge d i t s p o s i t i o n o n t h e t a b l e I t o o k t h i s t ob e my c u e t h at o ur t i me wa s u p s o I h el d o ut myh an d a nd s t a r t e d s a y i n g g oo db ye . T o my s u r p r i s e s h ea s k e d me . t o s t a y a n d g e s t u r e d t o a ma n s t a nd i n g j u s t

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    out s i de t he door , mot i on i ng h i m t o come   in.   He en-t e r e d a n d h a nd e d h e r s o me p a pe r s wh i c h s h e q ui c k l yf l i p p ed t h r o u gh d o wn t o a b ou t t h e f o u r t h o n e   in   t hes t a c k , t h e n s h e i n v i t e d me t o r e a d   it,   s a y i n g s h et h ou gh t I wo ul d b e i n t e r e s t e d. As s h e p r e s s e d t h ep ap er s f l a t o n h e r d es k I s t o od b es i d e h er r e ad i n g

    J

    " Upon t he r econmendat i on •••• Revi ew Boar d,   it i s t h edet er mi nat i on •••• Secr et ar y of Def ense ••••Women Ai r -f o r c e S e r v i c e P i l ot s • • • • s h a l l b e • • • • mi l i t a r y s e r -v i de ••••Ar med For ces •••• " . I ! : l eganget t i ng a s i g-

    n a l t h a t s o me t t i n g a b s o l u t e l y s p l e n di d wa s h a pp e n-ing   bu t   itwa s g e t t i n g t h r o u gh o n l y d i ml y a s I wa s -n   t t f u nc t i o ni n g v e r y we l l . Ac t u al l y , I wa s b y wa yo f b e i n g r o o t e d t o t h e s p o t , wi t h a l l n o r ma l t h o u-g ht p r o c e s s e s   in   f ul l s us pe ns i o n. I l o ok ed a tS e c r e t a r y Ch a y es a n d a s k e d , " Do e s t h i s me a n wh a ti t s e e ms t o me a n? " , a n d s h e s mi l e d a n d r e p l i e d ," Y e s , Mr s . Ro b er t s , i t me a ns e x a c t l y wh a t   it s ee mst o me a n" . Bu t wh at e v er wa s s u pp os e d t o b e s h i f t -ing    my g e ar s f r o m b ad n e ws t o g o od n e ws wa s a s -l e ep a t t h e s wi t c h , s o I s t a r t e d r e r e a di n g t h epaper , mor e s l owl y t h i s t i me and g i v i ng   it ever y-t h i n g I h a d a v a i l a b l e a t t h e mo me n t   in   t he depar t -me nt o f e ar n es t a nd i n t e ns e c o nc e nt r a t i o n. He ad -ing    t h e p ag e wa s t h e s e a l o f t h e De pa r t me nt o f  Def ense f o l l owed by:

    Upon t he r ecommendat i on~of t he Depar t ment of Def ens e   Civilian/Military     Ser v i ce Revi 4wBo a r d , i t i s t h e d e t e r mi n a t i o n o f t h e S e c -r e t a r y o f De f e ns e t h at t h e s e r v i c e o f t h eWomen Ai r f or ce Ser vi ce Pi l ot s ( WASP, ) andt h e p r e d ec e s s o r o r g a ni z a t i o n s o f t h a t g r o u p,wh o s e s e r v i c e e n c o mp a s s e d t h e p e r i o d S e pt -e mb e r 1 0 , 1 9 42 , t h r o u gh De c e mb e r 2 0 , 1 94 4 ,s h a l l b e c o n s i d e r e d a c t i v e mi l i t a r y s e r v i c ei n t h e Ar me d F o r c e s o f t h e Un i t e e S t a t e sf o r p ur p o s e s o f a l l l a ws a d mi n i s t e r e d b y t h eVet er ans ' Admi ni st r at i on.

    Ant oni a Handl er ChayesAs s i s t a nt S ec r e t a r y o f t h e Ai r F o r c e( Manpower , Reser ve Af f ai r s

    and I nst al l at i ons)

    ( Dat e )

    I l o ok ed u p a t h er o nc e mo r e a nd a s ke d " Do es t h i sr e a l l y me a n wh a t i t s e e ms t o me a n? " , ~d s h e l a u gh -e d a nd s a i d , " Y o u ma y t a k e my wo r d f o r i t i t d oe si n de e d me a n wh a t i t s e e ms t o me a n a n d I t h o ug hty o u mi ? h t l i k e t o b e h er e wh en I s i g ne d   it i l . S het h e n p ~c k e d u p a p e n, wr o t e h e r n a me a n d t h e d a t ea nd h ande d me t he pe n. As I l o ok ed do wn a t t he 'b l ~c ~ a n d g r e y p e n t h a t I wa s h o l d i n g, t h e wh o l e

    sh~mng t r ut h began bl oss omi ng i n my mi nd l i ke t hef l o we r o f a c e n t u r y p l a n t v i s i b l y o p en i n g b e f o r eo ne . 's e y es . I n t h at s a me i n s t a nt I b ec a me a wa r eo f l t ~e ~a r m p r e s e n c e o f f r i e n ds , a n d I g l a n c e d u p~o f ~d t he empt y of f i ce f i l l ed wi t h WASPs cr owd-~ng t he r oom f r om wal l t o wal l , t hei r f i gur esgar bed i n t he whol e mot l ey r ange of ge. : . rt hat wel dwo r n , a l l s t a n di n g wi t h s h o u l d e r s t o u c hi n g f a c i n gu s a t t h e d es k . T he y t h ey we r e g on e b ut i n t h ei rp l a c e r e ma i n e d a s i n gi n g s e n s e o f c o ~p l e t i o n a n d

    -3-

    v i c t o r y . T h er e b e ga n we l l i n g u p wi t h i n me s u c h a na bu nd an c e o f j o y a nd l a ug ht e r a s t o b e a l mo s t i n -s t a nt l y a t t h e p oi n t o f b ur s t i n g o ut o f c o nt r o l .Ne v er b ef o r e h as a n As s i s t a nt S ec r e t a r y o f t h e Ai rF o r c e c o me s o c l o s e t o b ei n g k i s s e d b y a s t r a ng er .I ' m a b i t h az y a s t o wh at I d i d a s a s u bs t i t u t e ,b u t I h a v e a l o v e l y c o mp o s i t e me mo r y o f t h e l a u gh -i n g f a c e o f    Antonia   Ch a y es a n d mu c h c l a p pi n g a n dl a u gh t e r c o mi n g f r o m o u t s i d e a s we l l a s i n s i d et he of f i ce.

    Ag ai n , I h av e n' t a c l e a r me mo r y o f j u s t h ow wel e f t b ut I c a me b ac k   into   f ocus wal k i ng r api d l yd o wn a P e nt a g on c o r r i d o r b e s i d e Ma r y P r u i t t . Wewe r e b o t h s t i l l l a u gh i n g , I wa s c l u t c h i n g t h e p e nand hol d i ng   i t   out i n f r ont of me somewhat   i n   t hema nn er o f a t o r c h l i g ht i n g t h e wa y , a nd o ur d es -t i n a t i o n wa s t h e o f f i c e o f t h e S e c r e t a r y o f De f e n s e .S e c r e t a r y Br o wn wa s o u t o f t o wn , a n d Ca p t . P r u i t ta n d o t h e r s i n t h e A i r F o r c e h a d a r r a n ge d f o r me t ob e g i v en a t o ur o f h i s q ua r t e r s . T hi s s p ec i a lk i n d ne s s wa s a n ot h e r d e mo n s t r a t i o n o f t h e i n v ar -i abl e suppor t and t hought f u l ness shown t he WASPb y t h e Ai r F o r c e . I t wa s a ma r v e l o us e x pe r i e nc es e e i n g t h e b e au t i f u l r o o ms t h a t ma k e u p t h e o f f i c eo f t h e h i g he s t r a nk i n g p er s o n   in   t h e P e nt a g on , b ut

    I wi l l d es c r i b e o nl y o ne t h i n g. T he f i r s t r o omo f f t h e ma r b l e c o r r i d o r i s a r e c e p t i o n r o o m i nwh i c h t h e r e i s a l a r g e   oil   p a i n t i n g. T ha t p ai n t -i n g i s o f t he WASP . I t i s a n   oi l   r e n de r i n g o f t h ewel l known phot ogr aph of t he f our WASP wal k i ngaway f r om t hei r B - 1? af t er compl et i ng a mi ss i on,a n d a c r o s s t h e t o p o f t h e p a i n t i n g i n l a r g e b r i g h tbl ue l et t er s i s t he l egend WCl - 1ENAI RFORCE SERVI CEP I L OT S, WW 2 . As t h i s i s t h e p ai n t i n g h an gi n g o nt h e wa l l o f t h e S ec r e t a r y o f a l l o f t h e s e r v i c e s ,

    I t h i n k t h at ' s s p ec t a c ul a r . I h op e y ou d o t o o.

    Af t e r s a y i n g a n e x u be r a n t g o od by e t o Ma r y P r u i t ta t t h e P en t a go n, I f o un d my s el f a l o ne i n a t a xi o nt h e wa y b a c k t o Ma r g a r e t Bo y l a n ' s h o me . I t wa s

    t e r r i b l y f r u s t r a t i n g b e i n g a l o n e a n d a l s o b e i n g o nmy wa y t o a h o us e t h a t wo u l d b e e mp t y o f p e r s o n sf o r a no t h er t wo o r t h r e e h ou r s b ec a us e I wa s s t i l lb u r s t i n g t o g o a l l o u t i n s o me k i n d o f u n r e s t r a i n e dc e ~b r a t i o n . Bu t wh e r e t h e r e ' s a wi l l , s o me t h i n gu s ua l l y g i v e s wa y , t h us I f o un d my s e l f s i n gi n g a tt he t op of my l ungs THE BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUB-L I C. I I Oh , mi n e e y es h av e s e e n t h e g l o r y o f t h ecomi ng of t he Lor d •••• J   1 1   Not i c i ng t hat t he t ax id r i v e r wa s l o o k i n g a t me i n t h e mi r r o r wi t h a d e g-r e e o f n er v o us n e s s , I p au s e d t o e x pl a i n t h at s o me -t h i n g s o j o y o us a n d wo n de r f u l , h a d j u s t h a pp e ne d t ome t h a t I s i mp l y h a d t o l e t   i t   ou t a nd h o pe d h ewoul d bear wi t h me no mat t er how awf u l t he r acket .He c h ee r f u l l y a gr e ed s o I s t a r t e d u p a ga i n . " 0 h,mi n e e y es h av e s e e n t h e g l o r y o f t h e c o mi n g o f t h eLor d, He i s t r ampl i ng hum- de- dum- de- dum t he gr apesof wr at h ar e s t or ed •••  J   1 1   An d a s I r e ac h ed t h e cc h o r u s h e j o i n e d i n a n d t o g et h e r we b e l l o we d o u t ,1 1Gl or y , g l or y hal l el u l j a, g l or y g l or y hal l e l u l j a ,Hi s t r ut h i s mar chi ng onl " F r om t hat moment wewer e a t eam and we hum- de- dum   Id and hal l e l u l j a ' dt o g et h e r , a t p e ak v o l u me , e v e r y i n c h o f t h e wa yback t o Mar gar et ' s house.   W e   had a wonder f ul t i me.

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    Major TomArbaughAFMilitary Personnel Center OMPCAKE)RandolphAFB,Texas78148

    The responsibility for taking the next step isours. Each of us must nowmakeapplication for discharge. This consists of a brief letter sta-ting the nature and duration of service plus FormDD2168 plus copies of supporting documentation.(It is important that you retain the original doc-uments, mailing only copies.) If little or nodocumentationis available, FormDD2168has beenspecifically designed to serve as a substitute.So that I could use themhere as a sampleof whatis required, I have had myletter of application,

    mydocumentationandmyfilled out FormDD216Bcheckedand OK'dby Capt. MaryPruitt, USAFRe-corder for the Civilian/Military Service ReviewBoardin Washington, D.C., and byMajor TomAr- baugh at the address below.

    I write to request consideration for honorabledischarge as a WASP(WomenAirforce ServicePilots, WW2). Myinitial cadet flight train-ing took place in 1943, at Ellington Field,Houston, Texas, as a memberof the third class

    of womencadets, and was completed at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas, whereI graduated.I was then assigned to the WASPFerrying Squa-dron at RomulusArmyAir Base, Romulus,Mich-igan. I remained there until the day of WASPdeactivation, attaining the military pilotclassification of 4P (Liaison-training, lightcargo, heavy cargo, heavy cargo, mediumbomb-ers and pursuit). I acquired myinstrumentrating at the AAFinstallation in St. Joseph,Missouri, and mypursuit training at the AAFinstallation in Brownsvill, Texas. Enclosed are true copies of all of the supporting doc-umentation that is still available to me.

    Andthat, GoodFriends, ends mystory of howwe be-cameveterans onMarch8,   1979.   The story belongsto all of us. I hope you've nowlived it just asI did, so that it will be for you as it is for mean ever glowing part of memory.

    Sampleof Press CoverageThroughoutU.S.San Franc~sco Chronicle, Maren18,   1979-

    ASalute

    To the WASPS

    THE WOMEN PILOTS who flewmilitary planes during World War II -often under hazardous conditions -have at last received the long-merited recognition that they are, Indeed, ser-vice veterans. Air Force Secretary JohnC. Stetson announced recently that the1097 Women's Air Force Service Pilots(WASPS) who flew for the Army Air Corps during 194244 will be considered to have seen active military duty. Assuch, they are entitled to veterans

     benefits.

    That term "active" is, In truth,something of an understatement. Thesewomen flew mi).itary planes from B-29s

    to Piper Cubs In the U.S. They ferried these craft some 70 million miles, towed targets for live-fire training and It was aWASP test pilot who tlew the first jet.Thirty-elght of them were kllied.

    It, is only fair and proper that they be welcomed Into the ranks of veteransof a war they did so much to help win.

    TOALLWASP.TRAINEES.WASP-AI.MINISTRA.TIVEand 

    SURVIVORSOFWASP

    OnMarch8,   1979,   in the Pentagonoffice of Assis-tant Secretary of the Air Force Antonia Chayes, Istood by her side as she placed a documenton her desk and invited meto read it. It conveyedthe

    following information.

      Thankyou for your attention.

    Sincerely,

    TheSecretary of the Air Force, under authoritydelegated by the Secretary of Defense, deter-mined onMarchB,   1979,   that the service of the WomenAirforce Service Pilots (WASP)and the predecessor organizations of that group,whose service encompassedthe period September 10,   1942,   through December20,   1944,   shall beconsidered active military service in the Armed Forces of the United States for purposes of all laws administered by the Veterans Admin-

    istration.

    Ms. Chayesthen placed her signature on the doc-ument and handedmethe pen with which she had 

    signed it.

    Until that moment,and contrary to what most of us have believed since Novemberof   1 9 7 7 ,   the dec-ision could have gone either way, for us or againstus, and could have continued to remain undecided for an indefinite period into the future. Butthis wasvictory, complete and final. Thirty-five years of waiting were over.

    Lillian ConnerRoberts

    Mydocumentationconsisted of copies of someten photographs and copies of two USAAF pilot grad-uation certificates. In all of the photographsI was ih uniform in an operational activity suchas: in the cockpit of a  Pr - 26 ,   at a public cere-monyprior to takeoff of a WASPflight delivering

    to Canada, in the pilot's seat of a B-25, finalday RomulusWASPSquadronphot~ after deacti va-tion, etc. The abovewas found to be adequate .,....u.~

    supporting documentation, but for those of youwhoare lucky enoughto have more and better doc-

    umentation, by all meansinclude it. Fom DD2168should present little difficulty. There areseventeen numberedboxes to be filled out. Fll-owingare myanswers, preceded by the appropr~ate

     box number, for those questions that might pose a

     problem. Youwill, of c~se, change.t~ose ~whichyour rating or spec~alty or tra:uung diff-ered frommine. Whenin doubt of the day and month

    of a required date, use a guess, a question mark 

    and the year.

    -4-

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    5. WASP , WW 2. 7. P i l o t 4P . 8. $250. pe r mo .9 . Febr uar y   7,   1 94 3, E l l i n gt o n F i e l d , Ho u s t o n ,

     TX . 12 . Av i at i on c ad et . 14 . F er r y P i l ot .1 7. ( 1 s t b ox ) De ac t i v a t i o n, ( 2 nd b ox ) De ac t i v a -t i o n . ( 5 t h b o x) De c e mb e r 2 0, 1 94 4.

    R eq ue s t F o r m DD 2 16 8 b y wr i t i n g t o Ma j o r T o m Ar -b au gh a t t h e a dd r e s s p r e v i o us l y l i s t e d, o r b y

    t e l ephon i ng h i m a t 512- 652- 2 l 48 .

    Wh e n y o ur a p pl i c a t i o n ( c o n s i s t ~1 g o f l e t t e r p l u sc o p i e s o f s u p po r t i n g d o c ume n t a t i o n p l u s DD F o r m2 16 8) h a s b e en p r o c e s s e d a n d a n a f f i r ma t i v e f i n d-i n g ma d e, a Di s c h a r g e C er t i f i c a t e a n d DD F o r m 2 14( a c e r t i f i c a t e o f s e r v i c e i n c l u di n g t i me s e r v e d )wi l l b e ma i l e d t o y o u. Y ou ma y t h en a pp l y t o t h eV et e r a n s A dmi n i s t r a t i o n f o r b e ne f i t s . I t i s i mp -o r t a n t t o r e me mb e r t h a t e a c h s t a t e h a s a p r o g r a mo f v e t e r a n s b e ne f i t s t h a t i s e n t i r e l y s e p a r a t ef r o m t h e f e d er a l p r o g r a m, s o b o t h s h o u l d b e i n -v e s t i g at e d a nd p ur s u e d. T he a bo v e a pp l i c a t i o ns h o u l d b e ma d e b y a l l WA SP i n c l u di n g t h o s e wh o s es e r v i c e t e r mi n a t e d p r i o r t o g r a d ua t i o n , a n d b ya l l s u r v i v o r s o f WA SP a n d t r a i n e es . A pp l i c a t i o n s

    o n b e ha l f o f i n di v i d ua l s wh o a r e d ec e as e d o r i n -c o mp e t e n t mu s t b e a c c o mp a ni e d b y l e g al p r o o f o f  d ea t h o r i n c omp et e nc y . F o r t h os e s e r v i n g l e s st h a n s i x mo n t h s n o b e ne f i t s wi l l b e a v a i l a b l e a swe n o w r a l l u nd e r t h e s a me r e g ul a t i o n t h a t h a sa l ways l i mi t ed e l i g i b i l i t y f o r vet e r ans benef i t st o t h os e wo me n a nd me n p os s e s s e d o f a t l e as t s i xmo n t h s o f mi l i t a r y s e r v i c e . Ho we v e r , a n h o no r a b l ed i s c h a r g e a n d p e r h a ps , u po n a f a mi l y ' s r e q u~s t ,a f l ag , cou l d be f o r t hcomi ng .

    I n t h e h ea di n g o f t h e a bo v e n ot i c e o f i n s t r u c t i o nt h e r e i s i n c l u de d f o r t h e f i r s t t i me a n a d di t i o n -a l c a t e g or y o f WA SP t h a t wi l l b e a c c o r d e d v e t e r -a n s t a t u s a nd b en ef i t s . F or t h e p r e s en t t h i sgr oup i s desi gnat ed as WASP- Admi n i st r a t i ve , wh i ch

    ma y or ma y n ot b e t h e p er ma ne nt t i t l e . ~v e n t h eo f f i c i a l de f i n i t i on o f WASP- Admi n i st r a t i ve i ss t i l l i n t h e p r o c e s s o f b ei n g f o r mu l a t e d, b utf o l l o wi n g i s t h e b e s t p r e s e n t d e s c r i p t i o n a v a i l -a bl e . T he s e we r e f u l l t i me c i v i l i a n s e r v i c e p er -sonne l who wer e compar a t i ve l y f ew i n number andwho wer e cat egor i zed as admi n i st r at i ve member so f t h e WA SP o r g a ni z a t i o n . E x amp l e s o f s u c h WA SP -Admi n i st r a t i ve posi t i ons wer e E xecut i ve , S t a f f  Di r e c t o r a nd S t a f f Ad vi s o r . Ma ny o f t h es e p os -i t i o n s we r e f i l l e d b y WA SP f l y i n g p e r s o n n el o rb y WA SP wh o a t s o me p r e v i o u s t i me h a d b e en o nf l y i n g s t a t u s , b ut s o me o f t h e p o s i t i o n s we r ef i l l e d b y n o n- f l y i n g p e r s o n n el wh o a t n o t i mewe r e c a t e g or i z e d a s WA SP p i l o t s o r T r a i n e es .

    P e r s o n s r e c og ni z e d a s o f f i c i a l l y o c c up yi n g t h es eWASP- Admi n i st r a t i ve pOsi t i ons had t o have beena p po i n t e d b y t h e Di r e c t o r o f Wo me n P i l o t s , J a c -quel i ne Cochr an.

    PRESI DENT' S REPORT

    F i r st S i x Mont hs

    P r i n c i p a l i t e ms : T r a n s i t i o n , c o r p o r a t e s i t u a t i o n ,vet e r an st a t us, co r r espondence .

    ( 1 ) T r a ns i t i o n. Ha s b ee n s l o w bu t i s n ea r • ••i ng compl et i on.

    -5-

    ( 2 ) Co r p or a t e s i t u at i o n. S t i l l i n p r o c es so f be i ng r ev i ewed by t he S t udy Commi t t ee , I n -cor por at i on   &Name Change, Dor a St r ot herc h ai r m~ a nd b y o ur l e ga l a dv i s o r , J a me sHut t e r , Gi bson , Dunn   &Cr ut cher .( 3 ) Ve t e r a n s t a t u s . Co nc l u de d. Of f i c i a ld et e ~a t i o n b y S ec r e t a r y o f De f e ns e , Ma r c h8 , 1 97 9.

    ( 4 ) Co r r e s po nd en ce . A l o s i n g b at t l e . ~o omany mat t e r s o f v i t a l concer n t o t he e~t 1r emember sh i p have i n t e r vened. My apo l og1es.

    P r i n c i p al a c t i v i t i e s e nv i s i o ne d f o r t h e n ex t s i xmont h per i od.A l l r e s i d ua l ma t t e r s o f t r a n s i t i o n wi l l b ec o nc l u de d a t t h e b oa r d me et i n g o f Ma y 1 0, a ndt h e a g en da o f t h a t me e t i n g p l u s ~y a ~p r o p -r i a t e i n f o r mat i on r esu l t i ng f r om 1t W11 l bet r ansmi t t ed t o t he member sh i p . The conc l us-i ons and r ecommendat i ons f r om a l l sour ces r eo u r c o r p o r a t e s i t u a t i o n wi l l b e p r ~s e n t e d t ot h e me mb er s h i p f o r s t u dy a nd d ec 1 s 10 n. T he e f -f o r t t o f i n d a l l WA SP a n d o t h e r s c o n s i d e r e d t ob e e l i g i b l e t o a pp l y f o r d i s c h a r g e wi l l c o n-t i n ue a n d a p r o g r a m o f e x pl o r a t i o n wi l l b e u n-d er t a k en t o a s c e r t a i n t h e f u l l s c o p e o f b en e-f i t s ava i l ab l e f r om t he Vet e r ans' Admi ni st r a -t i o n a nd f r o m t h e s t a t e p r o gr a ms . I f o f s u f -f i c i en t i mpor t ance and i mmedi acy , dec i s i ons onbenef i t s wi l l be communi ca t ed d i r ec t l y t o t hef ul l member s hi p.

    NOTI CES

    THOSE WONDERFUL WOMEN IN THEIR FLYING MACHINES

     by Sally Van Wagenen KeiI, may be purchased by writing to

    Elizabeth Gardner, 280 Riverside Drive, New York, N. Y. 10025.

    By buying through our organization you save $1.00 on the book store price of $10.95, you get your book autographed by Sally.

    Keil, you have the convenience of direct purchase, an~ the profit

    on each sale goes into our WASP treasury rather than mto the

     pocket of some unknown book seller. The book received a fine

    review in the Book Section of the New York Times and else-

    where. It is a joy to read and an invaluable reference work to

    own. Make check payable to WASP or Order of Fifinella.

     Th e f o l l owi ng t h r ee un us ua l i t e ms ar e av ai l ~bl e f o rp ur c h as e . E ac h i n i t s o wn . wa y wo ~d p r o v e 1 nv a l -u a bl e t o t h o s e i n t e r e s t e d 1 n t h e h i s t o r y o f t h eWASP.

    HOUSE REPORT OF WASP HEARI NGSENATE REPORT OF WASP HEARI NGHI STOR! OF WASP by Byr d Gr anger

    A s we h a ve o n l y a l i mi t e d n umb e r o f t h e He a r i n gsr e po r t s t h ei r s a l e i s r e s t r i c t e d t o o ne p er p er -s o n o n ~ f i r s t c o me f i r s t s e r v e d b as i s .   Pleasei n s i c a t e p r e f e r e nc e . I t i s u nd er s t o od t h at i f t h er e q ue s t e d r e p or t i s n o l o n ge r i n s u p pl y , ~h e o t h e rh e ar i n g r e p or t wi l l b e s u b s t i t u t e d . He a r 1 ng r e -p or t s a r e $ 2. 5 0 e ac h . Hi s t o r y o f Wa s p i s $ 10 . 0 0.Ma i l r e q ue s t t o L u c i , l e Wi s e , 2 31 4 No r t h T r a c y S t . ,A l e x a nd r i a , V a. 2 2, 3 11 . Ma k e c h e c k p a ya b l e t o WA SPo f Or d e r o f F i f i n e l l a .

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    For those of you who are WASPgraduates of the

    class of 44-9 and whose supporting documentation

    for discharge'may be either skimpy or non-existent,

    you will be pleased to knowthat Gayle Snell has

    forwarded to Major Arbaugh at Randolph a copy of a

    document that serves to authenticate the status of 

    ail of you. This is Special Order   #99,   dated Nov.6 1944 listing the names and individulol service

    n~bers'of fifty-five WASPas having graduated,

    thereby becoming authorized to fly military air-

    craft.

    Edna Davis our Secretary-Treasurer, has been int-erested fo~ some years in the possibility of crea-

    ting worldwide travel for the handicapped. Her 

    efforts and those of others culminated November,

    1978, in Yugoslavia, where the first internation-

    al meeting of such interested persons was held.

    Further information may be obtained by contactingEdna.

    It is hoped that in future a choice of possib17reunion sites can be presented to the mem?ership

    for its consideration well ahead of the bJ.&nnual

    meeting. This is to solicit pres~ntation~ fran

    all interested parties. The reqUJ.rement J.S for a

    formal,. detailed presentation. These will be car-

    ried in all issues of the Newsletter. For further 

    information contact Edna Davis.

    ANNOUNCEMENTS

    First meeting of the new board will take place May

    10. 1979,   9:00   AMto   5:00   I'M ,   at the Los Angeleshome of Edna Davis.

    APPOIN'IMENTS

    Sales   &Merchandise Chairman - Lola Ricci

    Parliamentarian - Gayle Snell

    Lawyer - James Hutter, Gibson, Dunn&   Crutcher 

    Accountant - Mr. Southgate, Wendes &   McLaughry

    Members, Study Committee, Incorporation   &   Name

    Change: Deane Ferguson   44-9,   Iris CUIIlIIlingsCritchell43-2, AnnAtkeison 44-10, Esther Noffke 44-2, Isa-

     bell Fenton Stinson 43-3, June Wolfe Lectie 44-10,

    Fai th Buchner Richards 43-4.

    REPORTOFVICE-PRESIDENT

    MINUTESOFTRANSITIONMEETING

    OFBOARDS

    OFORDEROFFIFINELLA

    Colorado Springs, Colo. Oct. 1, 1978 11 a.m.

    Bee Haydu, Past President, opened the meeting with

    a discussion of unfinished business with referenceto a Study Committee to be appointed by the new

    President, Lillian Roberts, as Bee had made a com-

    mittment to the members that the Study COlIlIllittee be composed of members from all parts of the coun-

    try. The committee was recommended after rejec-

    tion by the membership of incorporation as pre-

    sented. It was r-greed by all present that Sara

    Hayden, who had done so much research on the cor-

     poration, become a member of that committee. Byrd Granger agreed to discuss the Study Committee and 

    the recrommendation that Sara be on it with our new

    President.

    Bee Haydu indicated she would mail Lillian a list

    of cOllllllittees for her use in calling the next board 

    meeting. It was indicated that Betty Cross would 

    continue as Newsletter Editor and she agreed a

    newsletter could probably be out by February.

    It was agreed that Betty Nicholas, former Secre-

    tary-Treasurer, would continue signing checks tem-

     porarily until   a.rJ¥   bills previously committed had  been paid. .

    Sara Hayden pointed out that she had temporarilyaccepted the sales duties and re~eved the secre-

    tary-treasurer of those duties during the militar-

    ization struggle and would therefore send all sales

    slips handled at Colorado Springs, along with   a.rJ¥

    remaining sales itema, to the new secretary-treas-

    urer who resumes responsibility for them.

    It was decided that a list of duties of each office be sent to the new President. Also,   a.rJ¥   records

    to be turned over to the new officers be mailed to

    them as soon as possible or held until an early

     board meeting.

    It was highly recommended that a Budget Canmittee

     be appointed and a new budget set up for use of the

    funds.

    It was recommended the Vice President has ready for 

    the next board meeting the cost of rosters and  printing.

    Meeting was adjourned at 11:45 a.m.

    Respectfully submitted,

    Betty Nicholas, Secretary

    Pro fem

    "ooPSI A GOOF"

    Present:   Bernice Haydu

    Sara Hayden

    Dedie Deaton

    Marty Wyall

    Betty Cross

    Byrd Granger 

    Betty Nicholas' (acting as Secretary

     pro tem)

    -6-

    JANEDUNBAR TEDESCHIwas inadvertantly anitted fran the list of those who received Certificates

    of Appreciation priated in the last Newsletter."Her efforts on our behalf in obtaining outside

    support and publicity were outstanding ••

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    WASPNEWSLETTER 

    Lillian Roberts - President

    Betty'Nicholas - Vice-President

    Edna Davis - Secretary/Treasurer 

    Marty Wyall - Historian/Board Member Leoti Deaton - Board Member 

    Byrd Granger - Board Member 

    Bernice Haydu - Board Member 

    Lee Wheelwright - Chairman Veteran   &CongressionalLiaison Committee. ,

    Dora Dougherty Strother - Chairman Study Committ~e

    Incorporation   & Name, .. Change.

    Patricia Hughes'- Special Advisor 'to the Board Betty, Cross.- Editor, Newsletter .

    ~.J.; ,Williams - Director Publicity/Public ,Relations

    REPORTOF SECRETARY-TREASURER 

    Edna Modisette Davis

    Treasurer Report: Weare sol ventl

    Balance to 'date : ,1Aprll 79

    Order of.Fifinella

    First of Ft. Worth $13,609.18WASP~WomenAirforce 'Service

    ~ilots,WWII or ./Order of Fifinella ,

    SeCUrity Pacific Natti~nal 'Los Angeles

    692.74 '

    . ' Total $14301.92Additional money from the Colorado Convention   is

     brling, sent   in•.. Our Accounting firm is: 'Wendes  &

    McClaughry '- Long Beach, CA. .Imperative: All checks, paid, in ~ be made, out to

    WASP~WomenAirforae Service Pilots,

    WWIIor Order of Fifinella. Please,do not make them out to me.

    Keep your dues checks coming   in.   In the past, ,

     Newsletters and information have been mailes to

    n?n dues paying members .~ut, unless hardship, this'~ll, of neces~ity, change.

    If you have not received membership cards will you please so no~ify.

    SearetOiI'Y Report: NewStati~narylW.A.S.P.

    WomenAirforc~' 'Servic~ Pilots, WWII

    The letter head and envelope is the same, 'in aWASPblue   ink    on cream texture stationary. It is

    available for purchase. Price is listed elsewherein this Newsletter.

    Smitty has sent out a marvelous letter hoping to

    find and interest Instructors of the WASP'sin

    Sweetwater or Houston. So far, 11 have responded 

     paying $10.00. Rosters, Newsletters and member-

    ship Cards have been sent to them.

    Authentic WASPwings are available ONLYto veri-

    fied WASP's and approved museums, by request inwriting.

    -7-

    If you have questions or need anything please ~op

    me a line and I will either handle it or pass 1ton to the proper source. I like being your secre-

    tary and making so many new friendsl

    **COLORADOSPRINGS**

    FINANCIALREPORT

    B Y

    BETrY JO REED

    FINALREPORTONTHEWASPCONFERENCEHELDIN COLO-

    RADOSPRINGS,COLO. Sept. 27 - Oct. 1, 1978

    Gettirlg the final report, Out for the ~978 WASP

    Conference has been far more difficult than organ~

    izing the conference. So many things have trans-

     pired since the conference that have necessitated 

    my being away from the office a great deal of time.

    First, I want to thank all the Committee Chairman

    (Mary Helen Chappell, Marlyn and Bill Peyton, PennyGarrett, Millie Young, and Earl Medlicott). and theother Colorado people (Mary McCabe, Rosina Todd,

    Ann Frink, Don Kupfer, D~ane Drury, Jim Patterson,

    Rick Broome, Sally Jennings, and Elizabeth Quinnand Dottie Hendricks of the Antlers Plaza Hotel) ..

    who help'ed out to make this conference so succes':;':'

    ful. Of course, many th~s to the Air Force Acad-einy'and their wonderful personnel (General K.L~'

    Tallman, Colonel Howard' Ri.ce~ Colonel MalhainWakin,

    Major John McCord; William Madsen and Janet :'Shea. '

    Bill attended most of our ~ommittee'meetings and:

    submitted information pertaining to our conference

    in 30 various publications. . He did 'so many other'

    things, for us which are too numerous to mention. .;

    A big thanks to General, James Hill'of NORADand his

    'staff for all the tours of the NORAD'facUities."

    Deane Drury of Centennial Cont:erences did  ' an   'out":'.standing job of helping us organize 'our conference.

    Deane had such wonderful ideas and suggestions to :

    offer regarding the conference.

    I also want to thank my husband, Carl Reed; who

    allowed me unlimited reign,~~th our purse strings'

    to ,help make this the biggest and best WASP'Confer-

    ence ever held. "

    I want to thank the previous Board of Directors' for their excellent cooperation, encouragement and sup-

     port in making the 1978 WASPConference such a hugesuccess.

    And las~, but not least, I want to mention that

    without Sally Jennings, I'm sure we would never i:ave pulled everything off as successfully.

    (I might mention th~t all the help provided for theconference was strictly: voluntary, with the excep-

    tion of Deane Drury and Sally Jennings.

    MaIlJ~miles were driven by the various Committee mem-

     bers to attend the committee meetings, and each mem- ber paid his/her own expense. None of this was .

    charged t'o' the conference." Also, the salary of'

    Sally Jennings to do the work in connection with

    the bonference was my own personal expense, and'

    again this was not charged to the conference. A

    total of 2,173 copies of various conference mater-

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    MaryHelen Chappell's mother has been bed ridden

    for a long time, and she passed away on Oatober 

    25. In addition to this, ~ Jenning's mother 

    fell and broke her hip the sameweek, and Sally

    has been pretty muchconfined at the hospital.

     paintings, and we are sure that over a period of a

    few years all 200 prints can be sold. Webought

    these prints for $30.00 per print, and our organiza-

    tion will make$10 on each print sold. 1500 copiesof the fine-art print were printed, and we bought

    200 prints. The remaining 1300 prints will be sell-

    ing for $60 each nationally. The WASPorganization

    will receive a small commission on the sale of the

    1300 prints. The black-lite prints will be sell-

    ing for $200 per print nationally as of June 1, 179.

    To date 35 prints of the fine-art print have been

    sold, thus produciJlg $350.00 for our organization.

    W. will continue to sell these prints for $40. ea.

    until the next reunion in 1980. After that time,

    our suggestion is to raise the price to $50 per 

     print. If all 200 copies of the fine-art printare sold for $40 ea. , the WASPorganization will

    make$2,000.00.

    Weare. sending various items used' at the 1978 Con-ference to the next reunion chairman. These items

    include: the 21 x 24' nylon WASPbanner purchased 

    for $135.00, several signs can be used again, app-

    rcoci.mate1y250 plastic naID8tag holders were turned 

    in at the conference Ithese were purchased for $.25each - a savings of $62.50 for the next conference)

    and the ribbons worn hi   the Committee membersand 

    Officers.Sally Jennings and I took the week off following

    the conference to get our ownhouses in order.

    I would1ik8 to tell you nowthat   DJ3'   father was

    in his last days with cancer when the conference

    was held. He kept telling me to tuli'ill   DJ3'   o~

    ligations on th8 conf8rence and continue on as I

    had. He passed away the 23rd of October. My

    father always took me to the air shows when I was

    a little girl, and I feel this is what started 

    DJ3'   interest and desire to be a pilot.

    It is very interesting to note that the advertis-

    ing in the Conference Booklet camevery close to

    defraying the cost of the booklet. Penny Garrett

    worked very hard obtaining all the advertising and articles for the booklet. The cost of publishing

    the booklet was $2,780000 and the amount obtained 

    from advertising was $2,160.00. Thus, the Confer-

    ence Booklet cost only $620.00. There are approx-

    imately 50 booklets left which could be sold for 

    $1.00 each These will be turned over to the Vice-

    President for Sales.

    Marlyn and Bill Peyton did a fantastic job on re-

    gistration. They not only kept a record of regis-

    trations numerically in the order in which they

    were received, but also alphabetically and by class. Wereturned to the office the following week and 

    Somevery. valuable information was received, and all wrote all the nec8ssary thank-you letters.

    this will be forwarded to the WASPorganization for 

    future use. 1,000 bumper stickers were purchased 

    at $0.18 ea. The bumper stickers sold at the con-

    ferenc8 for $1.00 ea. and could continue at this price until the stock is depleted. The bumper 

    stickers will produce $820.00 for the treasury.

    The Vice President has the stock of bumper stick-

    ers for sale. 2,000 decals were purchased at $.20 Hi.Gals:

    ea. The decals sold at the c~nference for $1.50 ea. Lots of water _ ice and snowhas passed under the

    However, we f::el that we obtuned them at such a bridge since you gals checked out of Colorado

    reasonable ~r~ce that they could be sold for $1.00 Springs on Oct. 1st. Our worst winter ever.

    8a. ApprOXJJIl&tely7OC:~8CalSwere ,:,-sedfor th8 I want to thank all of you for your cooperation,

    conference. ~e rem~ decals will be turned your consideration in keeping the problems to a

    ov~r. to the V~ce Pres~dent for sale. If the r8- bare minimumand making the whole affair a most

    m~~ decals are sold for $1.00 ea., $1,040.00 happy experience. Also, your manyletters of app-

    will be produced for our gr?Up. If they are sold reciation were greatly lWweciated.for $1.50, then $1,690.00 will be produced.

    B810wis the financial report of the conference.

    ial were mad8in my office at a cost of $0.02 per 

    sheet. Most places charge at least $0.10 a sheet.

    As you can see this   in   itself was a tremendous sav-

    ings to the conference. Apprcoci.mat8ly270 letters

    were written for the WASPConference. Of this tot-

    al, 50 letters were written transmitting duplicate

     packets of conference material to those whohad 

    either lost or mislaid the material originally sent

    them. You can see what an added expense for post-

    age alone that this was. If there are any of you

    whomight have been miffed by someinconvenience

    during the conference, we are certainly.: very sorry.

    Everything just grew by leaps and bounds, and weall did the very best we could. Wehad been told 

    that 350 is the most whohave ever attended a re-

    union and almost 600 attended the 1978 Conferenc8.

    I amsure that if prices continue to increase thenext two years as they have in the past, the cost

    for the next r8union will be considerably higher 

    than the 1978 Conference. I would like to elabor-

    ate on someof the costs to showhowmuchmoneytheWASPorganization will be deriving as a result of 

    this Conference.

    W8will continue to accept orders in D8nverfor 

     both the black-lite prints and the fine-art

     prints of the WASPAT-6over Avenger Field until

    the 50 black-lite prints ar8 sold since these re-

    quir8 Rick Broome's personally finishing th~m.Wh8nthe 50 lack-lite prints are sold, we will then

    ship all remaining fine-are prints to the Vice-

    President for sale. This was such.a fine painting

     by one of the most outstanding artists of aircraft

    IncomeLoan fran Fifinella

    Registrations (609)

    AdvertisingPicture Rafne

    sales of Avenger Field Pictures

    Donations

    Total

    500.00

    35,940.00

    2,160.00

    465.001,226.00

    100.00

    40,391.00

    -8-

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    The following WASPshave accepted a request tohelp Dora on the committee:

    STUDYCOMMIT'l'EE,INCORPORATION&   NAMECHANGE

    Chai.nu.n: DORADOUGHERTYSTROTHER 

    3 6 1 6   Landy LaneFort Worth, TX7 6 1 1 8

    All Conference material will be forwarded to Edna

    Davis, Treasurer, for Audit.

    Mary Helen Chappell, Co-Char.General Delivery

    Divide, Colorado   8 0 8 1 4

    uniform (skirt, 2 ties, belt, jacket, and hat),

    two winter Eisenhower jackets, 1 pair winter 

    slacks, 1 summer blue dress, hat and belt, and 

     jewelry   ( 4WASP,4 props, 1 hat eagle and 2shoulder pins).

    Uniforms - Nina K. Morrison (donor), winter Eisen-

    hower jacket and slacks.

    Magazines and Articles - Jean Moreo (donor), Vogue

    Magazine, August   1 5 , 1 9 52 ;   an article by J",cque-line Cochran about WASP. Lola P. Ricci (donor )

    FAAWorld, June, 1978, an article about the FAAand WASP. Barry Smith (donor), Vogue Magazine,

    February,   1 9 7 9   p.   2 9 7 ,   "Jacqueline Cochran" anexcerpt from book THOSEWONDERFULWOMENIN THEIR FLUNGMACHINESby Sally van Wagenen Keil.

    Clippings are too numerous to list but are apprecia-

    ted by the Historian. Thank youlMadgeLMinton donated a beauti.!'ul paper doll book-

    let in excellent condition about the WAFSlabeled "Girl Pilots of the Ferry COIIllWUld".It was pur-

    chased in   1 9 4 4 .

    FROM:Sara Hayden

    I have not previously reported on the above pro-

     jedt, as it was started several years ago, got to be quite lengthly, and was not finished.

    I am pleased to report now that:

    REPORTONCOPYIUGHTS,WASPWINGS

    and

    FIFINELLA

    Total

    4, 813. 311 , 340 . 00

    346 . 64

    225 . 52500 . 003 , 926 . 32

    June Wolfe Leckie

    44- W- I OFlorida

    172 . 42 -18 , 302 . 11

    6 , 450 . 004 , 314 . 68

    Iris Cummings Critchesa

    43 - W- 2California

    ExpensesCoumittee Expenses

    Lunches   &   Banquet

    Ra1'tle   &   Pictures

    Advertising   &Printing

    Registrations - Cases

    emblems - signsRe.tunds (24)

    Gifts

    PostageLoan pdd to FifinellaBalance to Fi!inella

    All of these WASPswill welcome comments from thememberShip.

    HISTOIUAN'SREPORl'- April,   1 9 7 9Marty Wyall

    In recent correspondence with the San Diego

    WASPs, they are working full tilt to get the ex-

    hibit on the WASPsunderway at the new Aero Space

    Museum. These gals are requesting pictures of all

    kinds: planes you !'lew in -the WASP,training

     pictures from Sweetwater or Houston, Photos of 

    your active duty, WASPin uniform, etc. They

    would appreciate other historical data to be dis-

     played. The committee is very anxious to make

    the WASPof WWIIexhibit better than it was be-

    fore, Write to : MEREDI'?fCAMPBEIJ.,(Mrs. Curti.},

    5540   Grape Street, San Diego, CA.   9 2 1 0 5The traveling WASPdisplay case is temporarily

    with Betty J. Williams. She is adding articles

    which will be of historical interest.

    Since the Conference at Colorado Springs in

    October,   1 9 7 8 ,   the following articles have beendonated to the Historian:

    Uniforms - Alberta P. Kinney (donor), winter dress

    Isabel Fenton Stinson

    43 - W- 3Massachusetts

    Faith Richards

    43 - W- 4

     NewMexico

    Dorothy Dean Ferguson

    4J¥ .1 i I -9

    District of Columbia

    Ann Atkeison

    44- W- I OTexas

    1. WEHAVERECErVEDTHECOPYIUGHTONOURWASPWINGS.

    2. WEHAVERECErVEDTHECOPYlUGHTONFIFINELLA.,on a photograph.

    In looking into the original copyright of the

    Fifi pin by Walt Disney, it was clear that 28years had gone by and thus the work had gone-into

     public domain. All of th~ regulations I have _ 

    read state specifically that there is no way to

    restore copyright protection when this has happ-

    ened. In order to give our Fili some protection

    and with the concurrence of the "old ll   board, I '

    applied for copyright of a Filinella photograph.

    We now have this, in full original color.

    As long as we control the purchase and sale of 

    the Fifi pins, and the WASPwings, reproduction

    of both must have the approval of the board and h

    . ,ave a copyr~ght, I hope this will give us some

     protection.

    M»!BERSHIPCOMMITTEE

    Chairman: ZIGGYHUNTER 

    8)8   Havenwood 

    Dallas,   TX : 752 ) 2214 - 224 - 2905

    Old Man River has nothing on our peripatetic

    WASP. They, too, just keep rolling along fran

    ODeaddress to another, through   lWll8   changes, job

    -9-

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    changss and on••• and••• nearly 400 changes since

    our latest update to the 1977 roster.

    But that's good! As long as you keep moving,

    keep those changes coming. They mean the differ-

    ence between current mailing labels and 400 lostWASP. Your membership chairman especially app-

    reciates your duplicate notifications to her asyou make your moves (or the postal department

    changes your address without your moving an inch).

    It does help to spesd up communication and we knowcurrent mailing lists are most important at this

    critical time of keeping you informed of VAdevel-opments.

    PLEASE,please include telephone numbers and 

    husband's initials with addresses. It takes lit-

    erally hours of contacting LDoperators to get your 

    number and it's impossible when it's unpublished 

    or in someone else's name. If we have your phone

    listing, we frequently can check out an addresswhen mail is returned.

    'Twas beautiful the way you came through with

     phone numbers after last summe~'s Newsletter.

    Let's try it again for the following listed by

    states. Get other needed info from your roster's

    alphabetical list and check your local phone dir-ectory TODAY.

    ARIZONA:43-6 Evelyn (Stewart) Jackson, Mesa.CALIFORNIA:WAFSDelphine Bohn, San Francisco;

    43-1 Elizabeth A. McKinley (formerly Matry), Bev-

    erly Hills; 43-3 Virginia (Crinklaw) Pierce,

    Alturas; 43-4 Nancy E. (Nesbit) Staples, Riverside;

    43-5 Jeanne D'Ambly, Los Angeles, and Irma (Cleve-

    land) Weigel, Adelanto; 43-5 (t) Mary Ann Wether-

     by, Weed; 43-8 Elizabeth (Keatts) Munoz, San Fran-

    cisco; 44-2 Dorothy (Hawkins) Goot, Fair Oaks;

    44-5 Margaret (Phelan) Taylor, Palo Alto; 44-6

    Geraldine (Miller) Asimalds (formerly Barry),

    Ventura; 44-6 (t) Sue E. (Snedaker) Durran, Suruiy-

    vale; 44-6 Nanette (Hazeltine) Fuller; Oakland;

    44-7 Ann 'Mimi' (Caffrey) Sheean, Los Angeles;

    44-9 Margaret J. Phillips, Tracy; 44-10 PamCarr,

    Los Angeles, and Janis (Gregg) vlheatl~l, Fremont.

    COLORADO:43-7 Betty J. Clark, Rifle •  .!h9..:44-6 France s E. Coughlin. FLORIDA:WAFSDorothy

    (Fulton) Slinn, N. Miami; 43-7 (t) Barbara (Fowler)

     Norton, Okeechobee; 44-2 Margaret (Needham) Walker,

    Port Orange; 44-3 Mary Louise Prine, Marianna;

    44-6 Lesley J. Williams, Melbourne; 44-10 Martha

    (Blair) Gaunce, Fort Lauderdale. MAINE:43-4

    Martha J. (Potter) Phillips, Bar Harbor. MASSACHU-

    SErfS: 44-8 Doris J. Daniel, Falmouth. MARYLAND:

    44-7 Scotty (Bradley) Gough, Gaithersburg.

    MICHIGAN:43-4 ROlialie L. Grohman, Harbor Springs.

     NEWJERSEY:WAFSHelen Mary Clark, Tenefly. NEW

    MEXICO:44-3 Josephine (Martin) Gale, Pecos.

     NEVADA:WAFSCatherine Slocum, Reno; 44-5 (t) Ger-

    aldine M. Turner and 44-6 Audrey (Maxwell) Ducote,

    Las Vegas. NEWYORK: 44-2 Frances (Luaway) Smith, West-

     bury, Lol.; 44-5 (t). Helen D. Underhill, Brooklyn.

    OHIO: 43-6 Rita (Cason) Stump, Morrow. OREGON:

    44-2 Mary (McCrea) McCallum, Sunriver; 44-3 Pat-

    ricia (NethercuLt) Weaver, Cave Junction; 44-10

    Patricia (Houran) Rideout, Eugene. ,PENNSYLVANIA:

    43-6 (t) Garland Jean Moors, Huntingdon; 43-6

    Elizabeth (McGeorge) Sullivan, Ortanna; 43-8 (t)

    Jerry (Williamson) Horu, Pittsburgh. RHODEISLAND:

    44-8 Beulah (Smith) Thurston~ Barriruct,on. SOUTHEd. nots: Some of the' 'above named WASPhave been

    found and' new name' or address will be listsd 

    in the new Roster update.

    - 10-

    CAROLINA:44-2 Mary M. (Saunders) Willison, Grey

    Courts. TENNESSEE:44-2 Marjorie J. Johnson,

     Nashville. TEXAS:44-5 Martha (Harmon) Rountree,Fort Worth. UTAH:44-3 Marjorie (Redding) Chris-

    tiansen, Cedar City; 44-4 Ethelyn M. (S~ards)

    Young, Provo. WASHINGTON:43-5 Elizabeth E. Greene,

    Medina.With your great help we've whittled out "Lost"

    graduate record down to less than 10 per cent-

    last count was 78 graduates still unaccounted for.

    Concentrate on your own class or those on the same base with you and direct your efforts to those.

    Perfect records now go to classes 43-3 and 44-1.

    They all have current addresses at last count.

    And now 43-1 has joined the record-perfect list.

    And 44-5, we hate to single you out but you still

    have the largest number lost--10. Classes.43-6

    and 44-6 are running a close second with 9 un-

    accounted for.

    Please check your class records and let's close

    in on those few lost ones in your own class. WAFS

    are still looking for Betsy Ferguson vloodward,

    Lenore L. McElroy and Esther L. Nelson. Ross Kary

    Anderson is still lost in 43-2. Others include:

    43-4: Dorothy R. Colburn, Doris M. Manuel, Eolyne

    Y. Nichols and Rena B. Wilkes.43-5: Ann A. McClellan, Floella Mcintyre and Wilma

    Morehead Cockburn.43-6: Margaret C. Callahan Grant, Shirl~y J. C~nd-

    it Sergott, Lauretta.A. Darcy, Enid C~ FJ.sh-

    er Evelyn L. Fletcher Stephens, CorrJ.ne W.

     Ni~nstedt, Maxine A. Holt Wright, Ruth Rob-

    erts, Betty Scantland (she may be deceased).

    43-7: Neva L. Calderwood, Mary A. Gresham, Phyl-lis M. Jarman, Mozelle I. Simpson, and Aud-

    rey R. Tardy.43-8: Elvira C. Griggs Cardin, Doris M. Marland 

    Martin, Kathryn Stamps and Betty E. Wright.

    44-2: Kathryn F. Herman, Eleanor J. PattersonBrady, Rose D. Reese and Jane Rutherford 

    ~~~   .   .

    44-3: Elizabeth M. Chambers, Eileen B. Evans WrJ.-ght, Elizabeth Ann Lore, and Mary Abbie

    Quinlan.44-4: DorothT J. Allen, Jo Ann Parry and Susie M.

    Winston.44-5: Elizabeth C. Hubbard, Joan C. Hutton, Ethel

    L. Jones, Jean M. McFarland Koehler,.KarlaD. Mogensen Jordan, Dorothea M. NorrJ.s,

    Beverly J. Olson Southwick, Margaret A. Rob-erts Goldham, Harriet I. Stockwell, Anne

    TePas Wiltsee and Urcela D. Waldo44-6: Dorothea B. Baumeister Hamilton, Juner Bel-

    lew, Beverly B. Cangiamila Peak, Edythe M.

    Carlton Lusk, Margaret M. Godfrey Powell,

    Eleanor R. O'Dell, Elizabeth G. Peters Goe-

    ttel and Ann G. Warren Griffith and Margaret

    E. Hick Thomas.44-7: Virginia B. Krumand Vivian Mae Williams.

    44-8: Margaret M. Moore, Mary Ann Palmer Hays, .

    Jamece Paxson Brewton and Wilda N. Winfield 

    McBride.44-9: Anna C. Baron Belliv~au, B. Jean Reimer,

    Sarah G. Rewey, Frances D. Stroud Ochoa,

    Janet E. Wayneand Mary F. Woodward.

    44-10: Suzanne 'L.' Bane Armstrong, Nancy J. Burnside

    Murra7, Josephine H. Kater Robinson, Jane

    E. Morrison, Barbara C. Searles Squire and 

    Gail G. Sigtor4. .

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    Don't forget to keep your membership current.

    If you haven't sent in your $10 annual dues (per-iod of Oct. to Oct.), please get them in to EdnaModisette Davis, Sect.1Treas., 114 N. Norton Ave.,Los Angeles, CA90004, without delay. Remember,

    this entitles you to the WASPRoster, as well asthe Newsletters •••• ANDthe best'way to keep intouch with your other WASPfriends.

    PUBLICITYREPORT

    Betty Jane Williams

    or    primary in"terest, of course, was the News Re-

    lease issued by the Public Affairs Office Assis-tant Secretary of Defense, dated March 9, with

    the banner line WASPSERVICETOBECONSIDERED

    ACTIVEMILITARYSERVICE.That release served as

    the basis for subsequent articles in newspapers

    across the country,. spot announcements in radio

    and TVand a renewed interest in our military

    service. The concurrent release of Sally Kiel's book, "Those Wonderful Womenin Their Flying

    Machines'" afforded good publicity with her app-

    earance on the March 19th NBCTODAYShowand 

    other tie-ins in newspaper articles.

    Lillian Roberts has been interviewed by Scripps

    HowardNewspapers, Washington, D.C., the San

    Diego Union and was featured in the Pasadena Star 

     News, the local paper in Pasadena, where she is

     presently residing ••• and several others as we goto press.

    Films and TVprograms currently in production _ 

     NBCand Universal are shaping ATVshowwhich has

     been reported in the trades as "Jaclde's Girls" •• but the executive producer indicates that the con-cept of the showhas changed considerably ••• thefirst approach which attempted to be authentic

    storylines about WASPsdid not please the "powers

    that be"•• and so the present approach is completelyfictionalized ••• the producers wanted more excite-

    ment•• so the action will take place in Europe dur-ing WWII••• with wanen pilots getting into all

    sorts of escapades ••• and of cour~the title will be changed. Will be intere sting to see if it ever 

    gets on the air and what action will be portrayed.The executive producer has been worldng on this

    for nearly a year and a half, if not longer.

    Rac1lhamFilm Productions, Ltd., is preparing a

    half hour documentary for TVon the WASPs••• theyhave interviewed about five WASPsincluding Jac-

    queline Cochran and a recent telephone request for 

    help from their film editor in NewYork indicated 

    that they are hoping for an early play date ••••

    though nothing was firm at that time. She said 

    that this Will be the firs episode in a series of 

    films for TVon wanen pilots, not only Americanwanen, but womenthroughout the world.

     Nelson Adamsand Kitty King, young fi.lJmna.kers

    fran NewY~rk, are putting a documentary together 

    with the aid of a grant, worldng through Public

    Broadcasting in Washington. And some of the major studios, here in Hollywood, have various scripts

    under development. Suffice to say that our storyhas genarated considerable interest. In the past

    two years, I have been contacted by at least 30

    or 40 writers, producers, or story developers •••

    have given freely of days and days of meetings,

    giving information and sources for their indivi-

    dual research not only for films, TV, but for col-lege thesises and feature articles. Manyof the

    WASPshave been interviewed and worked closelywith film and TVproducers and writers. Let's

    hope that out of all this effort •• a really good 

    film for TVor theatrical release will emerge.

    Our experiences are unique ••• our story has earned 

    its place with the public. It's been buried in thefootnotes of history too long.

    The small exhibit materials which Marty Wyall,our historian, has put together, were used in aFederal Women's Program in Atlanta the week of 

     November6-9th, last year. They displayed thevarious articles in glass cases and handled the

    log books and personal gear with care ••• took 

     photos •• and reported excellent interest.

    I Id appreciate hearing from any WASPwhois feat-

    ured in news articles or needs assistance with

     background material for personal appearance or speeches.

    Three womenartists, members of the Society of 

    Professional Illustrators, have selected the WASPs

    as themes of their ,annual painting, given to theAir Force Art Collection, a major program under the

    direction of the Air Force Office of Information inthe Pentagon. These paintings will be presented to

    the Air Force along with those created by other ar-

    tists at the formal ceremonies in Washington, April

    9th. One, created by Kathleen Gillette, titled,

    MAGNIFICIENTWASPS,is a composite of three WASPsdone in water color, about 24 x 30 in size. Another,

    created by Mollie Kerr, a montage of photos trans-

    ferred by dyes and stitchery onto white fabric

    (about 16 x 20) is called WASPPRIDE••• and the

    third as of this writing not totally completed,

     promi~es to be a beauty ••• created by Na~al~e Mode••

    an acrylic (24 x 30) will showa WASPfilll.ng out

    forms on the wing of an airplane, contrasted by one

    today1s Air Force womenpilots and a T-3S, aptly

    titled "AIR FORCEWOMENPILOTS- A.Generation

    Gap". 'The se paintings ar~ usually. displayed o~ the

    Pentagon waJ.ls in the var~ous corr~dors when filst

    acquired and then become part of a traveling ex-

    hibit. The Air Force Art Collection is a handsane

    one, worth a trip to the Pentagon.

    Of interest to WASPs(this country'S first Air Force

    WomenPilots) 22 womenofficers in the Air Force

    are presently in the field; 16 are pilots and six

    are navigators. Five more will be selected for 

    undergraduate pilot training in April and two,. for 

    navigator training. Their class entry dates will

     be in September or October. This continues. the

    women's fiying training test program began. ~ July

    1976. Another five will be selected for pilottraining later this year. Five active-duty and 

    -II-

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    12/56

    five AFROTCgraduates have already been selected for pilot training in the calendar year 1979.

    Comment: the Air Force still refers to this as a

    "test" program. NOTE

    The Air Force has augmented women into combat ready

    Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICm) crews •••

    there are 13 officers and eight enlisted women per-

    forming alert duty in the Titan II ICm sYstem.

     NOTEof Interest - If you are planning any WASPget

    togethers in your area you might wish to schedule

    such a gathering in conjunction with scheduled Air 

    Force traveling exhibits ••• theater van, aircraft

    theater/cockpit van, etc. Check with your close~t

    Air Force Base, Information Office or write me••I

    have the schedule. It's too extensive to reprinthere.

    IlAIRPORTSNAMEDFOR WAFSII

    The following information sent by JEWELLESTES,

    44-10, will be of interest to all members of our 

    organization!

    Three airports, to our knowledge, have been named 

    for WAFSwho died in service: WAFCornelia Fort

    Airport, Nashville, Tenn., Evelyn Sharp AirpQrt,

    Ord, Nebr. and Dorothy Scott International Air-

     port, Oroville, Wash.

    CORNELIAFORI' AIRPORI'

    CORNELIAFORT 1919- 1943

     NASHVILLE'SFIRST WCMANFLYINGINSTRUCTOR,

    VOLUNTEER *   ARMY'SWAFS*   WWII, WASTHEFIRSTWOMANPILOT w H o   DIED WHILEONWARDUTYIN

    AMERICANHISTORY.

    III AMGRATEFULTHATMYONETALENT,FLYING,

    WASUSEFULTO MYCOUNTRY,II SHEWROTE

    SHORTLYBEFOREHER DEATH.

    MISS FORTWASLOSTIN A CRASHOVERTEl(ASFLITNG

    A BOMBERACROSSTHE UNITEDSTATES.

    Mr. Dudley Fort, A brother of WAFCornelia Fort,

    has written to me (Jewell) that the State or 

    Tennessee has erected an historical marker (above)

    in memory of WAFCornelia Fort. It is located atan Airport which was named for her a number of 

    years ago. A dedication of the memorial, though

    not yet scheduled as to date, will be held within

    the near future. Lest it should occur before the

    next Newsletter could announce' the date, those of you who would like to attend may contact Mr. Ernest

    Colbert, Mgr., Cornelia Fort Airport, Nashville,

    Tenn. It is hoped that a photo of the memorial

    will be available for the Newsletter before the

    next publication.

    - 12-

    **   LASTFUGHT  **

    44-6 Ava M. H;umn(Richardson) - died at heme Septem-

     ber 3, 1978, after a two day illness.

    43-3 Marie Shale of Yuma, AZ - word received she

    died of cancer in the winter of 1978.

     NEEDEDBY AIR FORCEMUSEUM

    The Air Force Museum, Dayton, Ohio would like to

    expand their collection of slides about the WASP.

    They will duplicate scenes that are significant

    and make them into slides. When sending slides or 

     pictures, please identify where the picture was

    taken, when, who is depicted and if an airplane is

     pictured, identify the plane. Give as much detail

    as possible. Also indicate whether you are giving

    or loaning the pictures. They need time to copy.

    Send these to: Ruth Hurt, Curator, Research Div-

    ision, Dept. of the Air Force, Air Force Museum,

    Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433. If you want to borrow this collection for lectures

    or sane such, contact this same department.

    -- COMINGEVENTS --

    EIGHTHANNUALBISHOPWRIGHTAIR INDUSTRYAWARDS

    CEREMONY,Thursday, May 10, 1979, International

    Hotel; JFK International Airport, NewYork City.

    For Information: Rev. Marlin L. Bowman, JFK Pro-

    testant Chapel, Jamaica, N.Y. 11430 - (212) 656-

    5693EIGHTEENTHP-47 THUNDERBOLTPILOTS ASSOCIATION

    REUNION,May 11-12-13, 1979, Sheraton Universal

    Hotel, Hollywood/Los Angeles, CA. (1700 members)

    For Information: Wayne Dodds, General Reunion

    Chairman, P.O. Box 10428, Glendale, CA 91209

    (213) 240-6868

    EIGHTHP-40 WARHAWK PILOTS ASSOCIATIONREUNION,July 20-21-22, 1979~ Imperial House-North, Dayton,Ohio. (1000 members)

    For Information: Lloyd "Scottyll Hathcock, General

    Chairman, J4 College Avenue, Dayton, Ohio 45407

    ( 513) 223-8432

    THIRTY-FOURTHANNUALCHINA-BlJm1A-INDIAHUMPPILOTS

    ASSOCIATIONREUNION,September 12-17, 1979 at the

    Airzona Biltmore, P.O. Box 2290, Phoenix, Arizona

    85002 (JOOOmembers)

    For Information: Mrs. Jan Thies, Executive Secty.,

    808 Lester Street, Poplar Bluff, Missouri 63901

    (14) 785-2420

    LOS ANGELESWASPSHOLDPRE-CHRIS'lMASPARTY

    As a means of exchanging Holiday greetings with

    each other and having the opportunity to meet two

    of our new national officers, the Los Angeles WASPs

    gathered on December lOth at Longfellow's restau-

    rant in Downey. Lila Mann, Chairman of the event,

    arranged a delightful party, complete with decor-

    ations and the help of Vi Cowden and the guest

    speaker, Mr. John Wright, Space Shuttle Project

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    " THANK YOU FOR THE DONATI ON"

    Hank, Dave   &   Br uce Ar nol d

    GOLDWATER DOES I T AGAI N

    Ma n y t h an k s a n d l o v e,

    Per i od i ca l I ndex i n L i br ar i es:WASPWomen i n t he A i r For cesWAFS ( Women' s Auxi l i ar y Fer r yi ng Ser vi ce)Women i n t he Ar med For cesWomen i n Uni f or m

    WASP' s ment i oned i n:

    Ov e r T he Hu mp b y L t . Ge n. Wm. H. T u nn e r , p a ge s3 4- 3 9 ( S ue l l , S l o a n, a nd P e a r c e , N. Y . : 1 96 4)

     Th e Ea gl e i n t he Eg g by Ol i ver L a F or ge ( Ri ver -s i d e P r e s s 1 94 9) Ch ap t e r 1 2.

    Ar t i c l e i n J OURNAL Amer i can Avi at i on Hi st or i calS o c i e t y , Wi n t e r 1 97 4, p a ge 2 98 t o 3 06 o n wh i c hpage Ref er ence i s made t o i n f o r mat i on sour ce .

     Ti t l e of Ar t i c l e: Th e W. A. S. P . Tr ai ni ng Pr o : ' "gr am by Lt . Col . Dor a Dougher t y St r o t her ,USAFR.

    Ar t i c l e i n AEROSPACE HI STORI AN, Vol . 17, Summer -F al l 1970, No s . 2   &   3 , p ag e 7 6 t o 8 2 wi t hp i c t u r e s . T i t l e : T he WAS P o f Wo r l d Wa r I Ib y L t . Co l . An n R. J o hn s on . Ae r o s pa c e' Hi s t -o r i a n, De pt . o f Hi s t o r y , K an sa s S t a t e Un i v -er s i t y , Manhat t an , Kansas 66502.

    Fi nal Repor t on Women Pi l ot Pr ogr am t o Commandi ngCommandi ng Gener al , Ar my Ai r For ces , Head-q ua r t e ~s , ~ Ai r F o r c e s , Wa s hi n gt o n, D. C.#6- 1262, AF by J acquel i ne Cochr an" Di r ect oro f Women Pi l o t s ( 53 pages) .

    Cur r ent Seeki ng f o r Mi l i t a r i zat i on o f t he WASP' s( Women' s Ai r f or ce Ser vi ce Pi l ot s) and, mor e

    i mpor t ant , r ecogni t i on.9 - 1 0- 7 6 Co n gr e ss i o n al Re c o r d - S e na t e

    S15586 t o S155939 - 1 4- 7 6 Co n gr e ss i o n al Re c o r d - Ho u se

    Hl OOO71 0- 1 - 7 6 Co n gr e ss i o n al Re c o r d - S en a t e

    S17693.Ma y " 1 97 7 i ss u e o f V I VA ma ga z i n e F e a t u r e A r t i c l e

    Resear ch mat er i a l A l ber t F . S i mpson Hi st o r i ca lResear ch Cent er , AFSHRC/ HO, Maxwel l AFB"A l a . 3 61 12

    Congr ess i ona l Recor d :Senat e Hear i ngs" Vet er ans Af f a i r s Commi t t eeMa y 2 5, 1 97 7

    House Hear i ngs 1944

    RESEARCH

    House Hear i ngs, Vet er ans Af f a i r s Sub Camn-i t t e e S e pt . 2 0" 1 97 7

    F o l l o wi n g i s a l i s t o f s o ur c e s o f r e s e ar c h • . I f  a n y o f y o u k n o w o f o t h er a p pr o p r i a t e ma t e r i ~~ a ndi t s l o c a t i o n , p l e a se se n d su c h i n f o r ma t i o n t c t h ee di t o r , Be t t y Cr o s s , s o t h at s h e ma y p r i n t i t i nf ut ur e Newsl e t t er s.

     Th os e Won de r f u l Women I n Th ei r F l yi ng Mac hi ne s, by Sa l l y Van Wagenen Ke i l . Pub l i shed Mar ch ,1 97 9. Av ai l a bl e i n b oo k s t o r e s o r t h r o ug h t h eWASP or gani zat i on - by wr i t i ng Mar j or i e Gr ay,1 36 S umme r s S t . , Oy st e r B ay , N. Y . 1 17 71 . P r i c e$ 10 . 9 5. P r e se n t a v a i l a b i l i t y i n l i b r a r i e s n otcur r ent l y I mown.

    Capt. Connic J, Engel

    97 Flying Training Squadron

    Williams AFB, AZ 85224

    1st Lt. Carol A. Scherer 

    54 Weather Recon SquadronAPO San Francisco, CA 96334

    (Anderson AFB, Guam)

    1st Lt. Mary M. Livingston

    37 Flying Training Squadron

    Columbus AFB, Miss 39701

    'Capt. Kathy LaSauce

    14 Military Airlift Squadron

     Norton AFR, CA 92409

    Capl. Mary E. Donahue

    911 Air Refueling Squadron

    Seymore Johnson AFR, N. C.

    27531

    1st Lt. Victoria K. Crawfoid 

    454 Flying Training Squadron

    Mathcr AFB, CA. 95655

    Capt. Susan D. Rogers

    II Aeromedical Airlift SquadronScott AFR, Ill. 62225

    Capt. ChTistine E. Schott

    II Aeromedical Airlift Squadron

    Scott AFR, Ill. 62225

    WOMEN AI RFORCE PI Lo T GRADUATES1978

    2nd Lt. Kathleen R. Cosand 

    335 Military Airlift Squadron

    McGuire AFB, NJ 08641

    We a r e v e r y g r a t e f u l f o r t h i s k i n d a nd t h o ug ht -f u l gest ur e .

    QUOTE:Dear El ai ne:

    Am c a t c h i n g u p o n so me l o n g o v er - d ue c o r r e s -p on de nc e . A r e po r t f r o m t h e Ai r F o r c e Ai d S oc -i e t y sh o w t h at t h e WA SP d o na t e d t o t h e H. H. A r n -

    o l d Educat i ona l f und i n memor y o f our mot her .

    F o l l o wi n g i s t h e T ha nk y o u n ot e s e nt b y Br u c eAr nol d t o El ai ne Har mon f or , t he $100 donat i ont o t h e A i r F o r c e A i d S oc i e t y i n a c c o r d a nc e wi t ht h e f ~l y l s wi sh e s r a t h er t h an f l o we r s u po n t h edeat h o f Br uce ' s mot her l ast summer .

    Wh i l e se a t e d a t t h e b an qu et d i n ne r t a bl e i n Co l o -r a d o S pr i n gs , Co l o r a do , S v pt e mb er 3 0, 1 97 8, S e n-a t o r Ba r r y Go l d wa t e r n o t e d t h a t J o e Ha y du c a l l e dh i s wi f e , Be e, " T he Ol d Cr o w" . J o e h as u s e d t h i sn i c l ma me f o r B ee f o r y e ar s . Up on h i s r e t u r n t oWash i ngt on , D. C . , Senat or Go l dwat er had Bee nameda s a n Ho no r a r y Me mb er o f t h e A sso c i a t i o n o f Ol dCr o ws . S he wa s se n t a Ce r t i f i c a t e o f Ho n or a r yMember sh i p , a co i n wi t h t he i r embl em- a b l ackc


Newsletter 79 VOCAB

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