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NEWS | March 12, 2010

World War II Fly Girls soar to highest honor

By Airman 1st Class Kat Lynn Justen 316th Wing Public Affairs

Hundreds of people packed the visitor center of the nation's Capitol Wednesday, and hundreds more eager to enter were turned away with a firm, "We are filled to capacity." It was said to have been the greatest number of patrons to fill the center for a single event in the Capitol's history. Inside, the throng encircled a special group of ladies seated before the 19-foot Statue of Freedom in Emancipation Hall. An Air Force vocalist began to sing the "National Anthem" and the sound of the joining mass in chorus rung high through the hall. Many of the ladies reached a hand to another as family members and strangers alike dabbed tears in their eyes.

Women Airforce Service Pilots were recognized for their World War II service and presented the Congressional Gold Medal - the highest honor a civilian can attain in the United States - at the Capitol building Wednesday.

A number of Joint Base Andrews Airmen volunteered to be escorts for the WASP at the ceremony. Representing the Air Force in full service dress, they ensured that the WASP and their family arrived safely, had adequate transportation during their stay, all of their needs were met and ceremoniously presented them with the Congressional Gold Medal in a private ceremony.

"Our Andrews Airmen now have first-hand experience with the earliest female military aviators," said Col. Jacqueline Van Ovost, 89th Airlift Wing commander who presides over the Presidential Airlift Group and Air Force One. "If you run into our escorts, they will likely tell you a story or two about the WASP's wit, graciousness, tenacity ... and, possibly, that these girls can party!"

Nancy Dunnham, WASP and member of the Caterpillar Club parachute team, couldn't deny it. When her friend asked her if she had fun, she shot him an all-knowing look and with a sly smile said, "You know we had fun ..."

Senior Airman Katie Spencer, 316th Wing public affairs specialist, presented Ms. Dunnham with a bronze replica of her medal on the second floor of the visitor center. "This is very exciting and a great honor," Ms. Dunnham said proudly as she took the award from the case and posed for photos with family and friends. More than 1000 bronze replicas of the Congressional Gold Medal were produced and presented to the WASP and their family members.

Despite their service as transporters, test pilots and even target practice, WASP were paid a mere $250 a month and had to cover their own expenses for travel and uniforms. Since they did not have military status, the 38 who died on duty and due to accidents were not allowed to have American flags draped over their caskets.

The Congressional Medal came more than 60 years after their service ...

"I think we should all savor this moment for what these women represent to us now. Think about the lives they have led; the history they have seen; the difficulties that they have helped this nation overcome," said Tom Brokaw, NBC Nightly News anchor and guest speaker at the event. "Together, individually and collectively they remind us today of all that is great within us, and the ability to move forward as one nation."

Colonel Van Ovost received a special invitation to the event. "The WASP flew every type of aircraft and all missions except combat, but they never complained and never took 'no' for an answer," she said. "After the war, they were told to leave and had to find their own way home. Just like the Tuskegee Airmen, these ladies provided hope and inspiration to all."

Deanie Parish, WASP engineering test pilot and associate director of Wings Across America, accepted the Congressional Medal on behalf of her fellow Fly Girls. "I believe I speak for every WASP when I say that it was both a privilege and an honor to serve our country during some of the darkest days of World War II."

"I never thought we would be recognized like this," said Dorothea Schultz, a WASP who served at Camp Davis, N.C. "During the war I was towing targets on a cable for anti-aircraft guys to practice shooting at. When we'd go out at night they'd say, 'Target? What target? We're shooting at the airplane.' I never got shot down, but my operations officer did ..."

In the 1940s, the supply of qualified male aviators available to fly combat missions abroad and necessary supply and training missions stateside was wearing critically thin. At a time when American forces were under their greatest challenge to defend the Allied Forces from impending domination - manning was becoming increasingly tapped. General of the Air Force Henry Harley "Hap" Arnold recognized this shortage and sought to re-supply it with the most unlikely war machines of the time - female pilots.

General Arnold worked to establish the first female flight training program in U.S. history. More than 25,000 women aviators applied to the program, but only 1,074 completed the necessary training, took the oath and received orders to their first Army Air Base as WASP.

"They were asked to go off and defeat the two mightiest military machines in the history of mankind ... and save the world," said Mr. Brokaw.

In her closing remarks, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said to the WASP, "On behalf of the entire Congress of the United States ... all of us send you our gratitude for you service, your patriotism. We thank for what you did to make us the home of the brave and the land of the free."