Cornelia Fort (with a PT-19A) was a civilian instructor pilot at an airfield near Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, when the Japanese attacked on Dec. 7, 1941. (U.S. Air Force photo)
WAFS mdoel various uniforms. From left are Delphine Bohn in two piece winter flying suit; Evelyn Sharp wearing flying and traveling outfit of tan working shirt, gray jacket and trousers; Bernice Batton in same outfit but with dress skirt; and Barbara Erickson in white shirt with gray jacket and gray skirt worn for more formal occasions. (U.S. Air Force photo)
DAYTON, Ohio -- This skirt, blouse, service overcoat and handbag in the World War II Gallery at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force were worn by the donor while serving as a WAFS pilot. The items were donated by Delphine Bohn of Amarillo, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo)
The Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS), never numbering more than 28, was created in September 1942 within the Air Transport Command, under Nancy Harkness Love's leadership. WAFS were recruited from among commercially licensed women pilots with at least 500 hours flying time and a 200-hp rating. (Women who joined the WAFS actually averaged about 1,100 hours of flying experience.) Their original mission was to ferry USAAF trainers and light aircraft from the factories, but later they were delivering fighters, bombers and transports as well.
