The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is showcasing a refreshed and expanded exhibit that explores the history of the Women Airforce Service Pilots or WASP.
The “Breaking Ground: Women Airforce Service Pilots” Exhibit, located in the World War II Gallery, is the museum’s newest permanent exhibit.
The WASP were the first female pilots in the U.S. military. Members of WASP became trained pilots who tested aircraft, ferried aircraft and trained other pilots. The purpose of the WASP program was to free up male pilots for combat and other roles during WWII.
This exhibit features a variety of artifacts and displays that reflect the history of the WASP program and connect you to the women through images and artifacts that include original WASP uniforms, photographs of WASP pilots in flight, in physical training, studying the principles of flight and teaching others to fly, as well as a video with historical footage and narrative storytelling. Using the QR Code on the map of WASP duty stations, you can access information about the women who first served there, the aircraft they flew, and the duties they performed at more than 100 bases across the US.
“I think the title of the exhibit says it all. Their hard work, determination, success, and sacrifice allowed women after them to continue pushing boundaries and pursuing careers in flight. Their service should not be just a footnote in USAF history, it deserves to be highlighted.” Says museum Research Curator Meghan Anderson.
For more than two years, in more than 75 different aircraft, over 60 million miles, the WASP flew a variety of missions, proving their skill and dedication equaled any pilot of the time.
The WASP began by ferrying aircraft across the country and then became engineering test pilots and utility pilots. They towed targets for live ammunition training and were flight instructors for new male cadets, says Anderson.
Despite their dedicated service, it would be more than three decades until the United States recognized the WASP as members of the military and honor them as Veterans.
The WASP encountered many biases as they set forth to fill in for the shortage of male pilots on the Homefront during World War II. Many members of the military and even their families questioned whether women should participate and, ultimately, if they could succeed in the non-traditional role.
"As the Research Curator for the WASP exhibit, it is my job to dig into the history,” After I collect all my research, I write the content for the panels and provide supporting images to our design team, who help it come to life on exhibit. To develop this exhibit, I utilized not only the collections in the National Museum of the USAF research division, but also outside sources like Air Force Historical Research Agency, The National WASP Museum, and the Official WASP Archives at Texas Woman’s University. I had the pleasure of connecting with several WASP families, who generously contributed photos, artifacts, and information to help shape the narrative.” Anderson added.
Elements of the exhibit include:
- Women in the Pilot’s Seat
During World War II, Nancy Harkness Love and Jacqueline Cochran independently proposed using female pilots in the US Army Air Forces (USAAF). Love sought out established female fliers, while Cochran looked to train emerging aviators. At the height of the war, female pilots across the United States answered the call to help their country.
- Flying the Army Way
The women now had to learn to fly the “Army” way. Their training emphasized cross-country flying and intentionally deemphasized aerobatics. No gunnery or close-formation flight training would exist because combat roles were forbidden.
- War Effort
Initially, the WASP were only permitted to ferry light aircraft. To better support the war effort, Jackie Cochran advocated expanding the WASP mission to do any job necessary so men could be relieved for combat duty.
- Disbandment & Overdue Recognition
On July 1, 2009, President Obama authorized Public Law 111-40, awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots “In recognition of their pioneering military service and exemplary record, which forged revolutionary reform in the Armed Forces of the United States of America.”
The “Breaking Ground: Women Airforce Service Pilots” exhibit is open to visitors daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Link to the fact sheets here: BREAKING GROUND: WOMEN AIR FORCE SERVICE PILOTS
The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, is the world’s largest military aviation museum. With free admission and parking, the museum features more than 350 aerospace vehicles and missiles and thousands of artifacts amid more than 19 acres of indoor exhibit space. Each year thousands of visitors from around the world come to the museum. For more information on the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force visit www.nationalmuseum.af.mil.
NOTE TO PUBLIC: For more information, contact the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at nationalmuseum.mup@us.af.mil