|
|
| September 28 |
 | Brig. Gen Hap Arnold called to White House |
The General and President Roosevelt discuss danger of war with Nazi
Germany. Asked about US air power vs German war power .Germany has 8,000 combat aircraft,
US has less than 1,000 (most obsolete). President Roosevelt orders adequate air defense.
|
| September 29 |
|
| Gen. Arnold named Chief of Staff of the Air Corps |
(l,650 officers, 16,000 enlisted men.). Arnold decides civilian
flying schools should train Air Corps pilots.
In 1938 they trained 300 pilots.
|
|
|
| September 28 |
|
| Jacqueline Cochran writes to Mrs. Roosevelt
|
America’s most famous woman pilot, writes Eleanor
Roosevelt, wife of President that it’s not too soon to begin contemplating the idea
that women could fly in non-combat roles and release men pilots for combat duty, should
the need ever arise. (Concept and need do not yet merge.)
|
|
|
| May |
|
| Nancy Love writes to Col. Olds |
Nancy Harkness Love, prominent woman pilot, writes Col Olds
(Ferrying Command) she knows of 49 women pilots, perhaps 16 more, who have over 1,000 hrs.
--could ferry aircraft and might take place of commercial pilots who could do military
duties. . Col Olds passes info on to Gen Arnold
|
| June |
|
| Gen Arnold rejects Love’s plan, says Air Corps has no need
for women pilots. |
|
| Sept 15 |
|
| Congress votes for compulsory military services—first
peacetime draft in history. |
|
| Cochran speaks to a meeting of the 99’s, and suggests
there should be a professional Woman’s Air Corps. |
|
| September 27 |
|
| U.S. evaluates its air strength.
Few air squadrons in Hawaii and the Philippines, with additional
49 bombers elsewhere fit for combat.
Of the 800 planes in the US arsenal, 700 are obsolete.
|
|
| October 30 |
|
| Gen Arnold named Deputy Chief of Staff for Air.
|
|
| Nov 7 |
|
|
|
| March 11 |
|
| President Roosevelt signs the Lend-Lease Act. |
|
| April 16 |
|
| Britain receives its first American "Lend-Lease" aid shipments of food.
By December, millions of tons of food will have arrived from the U.S. |
|
| May |
|
| Army Air Corps Ferrying Command established.
|
|
| May 29 |
|
| Col. Olds, old time pilot from the first World War, ordered to
organize Ferry Command to pilot Lend-lease planes bound for Britain.
|
|
| June |
|
| Lovett's reorganization plan reaches Gen. Arnold
Arnold concurs. Plan must be implemented
|
|
| June 7 |
|
| Canada had been placed off-limits by Congress
first Ferry Command Lend-Lease planes land in Maine and the crews
shove them across the border to waiting British and Canadian pilots.
|
|
| Early June |
|
| Chief/British Air Mission arrives in Washington to confer w/Gen
Arnold. Discuss staggering British losses and a shortage of pilots, asks for help.
|
|
| Arnold has lunch with Jacqueline Cochran and the Chief.
She offers to pilot a Lend-Lease Lockheed "Hudson"
bomber to Britain and study the use of British women pilots (suggested by Gen. Arnold) .
Lord Beaverbrook authorizes her flight—must first pass
Canadian flight test . Male ego check pilot, finally she demands to be passed.
|
|
| June 17 |
|
| Cochran becomes first woman to fly a military aircraft
across the Atlantic.
Goes to London/looks at 50 women ferrying pilots
Begins formulating plans for Am. women pilots to join the war
effort. |
|
| June 20 |
|
| U.S. Army Air Forces established.
Reorganization of Air Corps goes into effect. Air arm of the Army
becomes the Army Air Forces. For first time, air branch has its own Air Staff .
Gen Arnold now Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and
Chief of the AAF. |
|
| July 1 |
|
| Cochran comes home from England
Cochran hitched ride on B-17 home from England—passes
first B-24 flying to England (armed with a single machine gun).
Has a press conference when she arrives in US. She expresses
ideas about using American women pilots.
Pres and Mrs. Roosevelt immediately issue her an invitation to
come to lunch to discuss it. |
|
| July 2 |
|
| Cochran has lunch with Pres & Mrs. Roosevelt.
Discusses women in aviation in England and possibility in
America. Pres. concludes Cochran must confer with Robt. Lovett, Assistant Sec for Air.
Gives her a note of introduction and says for Lovett to research plans for an organization
of women pilots to serve with the US Army Air Corps.
|
|
| July 3 |
|
| Cochran meets with Lovett. Explained her concept.
Lovett offers her office space as a "tactical
consultant" in Ferry Command Headquarters. |
|
| July 4 |
|
| Cochran receives telegram from Col Olds, Ferrying Command
Olds is interested in discussing her investigation of using
women pilots in national defense. Requests her to come to his office to discuss it.
|
|
| Early July |
|
| Cochran reports to Gen Arnold, who introduces her to Col
Olds,
Olds is Ferry Command CO, with whom she would work for 3 weeks.
Cochran checks out CAA files and locates names of every woman
pilot in America. Sends questionnaires to 150 commercially rated women pilots.
|
|
| July 30 |
|
| Cochran submits proposal for a women’s pilot division
of the Air Corps Ferrying Command to Arnold.
Suggests using women to ferry aircraft and submits it to Col.
Olds, Ferrying Command.
Olds requests she put together a plan for implementing such a
plan. |
|
| Aug 1 |
|
| Cochran submits plan,
Her plan includes tabulations on the CAA card files -- names of
women pilots—total of about 2100, but few have more than 200 hours, which is what
Olds wants for ferrying pilots.
Cochran wants separate unit for women, to be headed by a woman,
and would take directions directly from Gen. Arnold, same as Col Olds.
Olds feels she far oversteps her authority, with specifics of
how she feels women should be organized and who would be in charge.
Olds disagrees, sends secret report to Arnold.
|
|
| Late August |
|
| Arnold declines Cochran's proposal
Arnold says too few women available and capable of flying
trainer aircraft to justify assuming the problems of housing and training them—need
to train fighter pilots, not ferry pilots. Also, "use of women pilots serves no
military purpose in a country which has adequate manpower at this time".
Arnold suggests Cochran accept the British request for American
women pilots. Cochran packs up her office and leaves. |
|
| October 4 |
|
| Cochran goes straight to the top
Cochran goes over Col. Olds and writes Gen Arnold re her
meeting with Pres and Mrs. Roosevelt, and requests meeting with him.
|
|
| Oct 28 |
|
| Meeting between Cochran and Arnold.
Cochran resubmits proposal .
Arnold agrees that Cochran should develop a plan for training
women to fly military aircraft. |
|
| a few days later |
|
| Gen. Arnold confers with Air Marshall Harris (in Washington
to seek American help.
Some American civilian men being used to ferry British planes
in England. Need more help--perhaps some women.
Arnold telephones Cochran and tells her that this is a chance
to show what American women pilots can do. Requests she direct a group of women to England
to fly with the British Air Transport Command.
She will take the job only if it is clearly understood that
when the time comes she will be called on and be free to return from England to direct the
work of women pilots at home. |
|
| Dec. 1 |
|
| Civil Air Patrol established. |
|
| Dec 7 |
|
| Pearl Harbor attacked by Japanese
Just before 8 a.m., Honolulu time, 360 Japanese planes attack Pearl Harbor, the U.S.
military base on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.
The attack cripples the U.S. Pacific fleet, and kills more than 2,300 American soldiers,
sailors, and civilians.
The attack precedes Japan's formal declaration of war, which is delivered by the
Japanese foreign minister to the U.S. embassy in Tokyo more than seven hours later.
Roosevelt's fireside chat with the nation following the bombing |
|
| Dec 8 |
|
| US Declares WAR on Japan
President Roosevelt addresses the U.S. Congress, saying that December 7 is "a date that will live in infamy."
After a vote of 82-0 in the U.S. Senate, and 388-1 in the House, in favor of declaring
war on Japan
Roosevelt signs the declaration of war. |
|
| December 11 |
|
| Germany and Italy declare war on the U.S. |
|
| President Roosevelt calls an end to official U.S. neutrality in the war in Europe,
declaring war on Germany and Italy. |
|
| December 12 |
|
| Cochran alters draft contract with British Overseas Airways
ATA .
Sends telegrams to 76 names of experienced women fliers.
–must have 300 hours, travel at own expense to NY for interview, and on to Montreal
for a physical and flight check ride.
If accepted, groups of 5 travel to England for specialized
training and serve as civilian auxiliary to the Royal Air Force.
Jackie’s list of would-be ATA pilots rises toward the
desired number of twenty-five. |
|
| December |
|
| Ferry Command reorganizes
3 divisions include: Headquarters, Domestic and Foreign.
Col. Tunner given command of Domestic Wing of Ferrying
Division. |
|
| Dec. 20 |
|
| The American Volunteer Group (Claire Chennault's Flying Tigers), enters
combat for the first time over Kunming, China, |
|
|
|
Worst year of the war for the United States |
| January |
|
| Gen. Olds getting desperate for pilots.
Resuscitates proposal by Cochran for using women for ferrying
duties and advised Cochran he planned to hire women immediately on the same basis as male
civilian pilots.
Cochran was involved in recruiting American women pilots (at
Gen Arnolds’ suggestion) with sufficient hours for service with the British.
Cochran contacts Arnold about the problem.
|
|
| January 18 |
|
| Cochran gets a phone call
Woman pilot accepted to fly to England calls Jackie in
Washington and says she has heard that women pilots are to be hired here in the US ,
beginning almost immediately. Source: wife of high official in the Ferry Command.
Jackie calls Gen. Olds—he confirms.
Jackie writes a note to Gen. Arnold and delivers it to his
residence. (Gen. Olds plan is in direct conflict with the plan for the woman’s unit
in England and would wash out Cochran as supervisor of women flyers for the US.)
|
|
| January 19 |
|
| Gen Arnold sends Cochran’s note to Gen Olds, together with
his note: "You will make no plans for hiring women pilots until Cochran has completed
her agreement with the British authorities and has returned to the US." Ferry Command
threat banished and revised ATA contract arrives. |
|
| January 24 |
|
| Girls going to England sign 18- month contract.
|
|
| Cochran signs contract that would dissolve if/when the AAF
called upon her services. She would return to the US within 6 months.. She must be in
England when first girls arrive |
|
| March |
|
| Col. Olds health forces him to retire.
|
|
| Jackie cleared to go to England.
The 25 American women pilots follow. Some go via air, some via
ship. They train and start flying for Britain. |
|
| March 9 |
|
| Ferrying Command expanded into Air Transport Command, which
included the Ferrying Division. (Expanded to transport Lend-Lease aircraft.)
Gen. George in charge of ATC, Col Tunner responsible for
Ferrying Division.
Major Love and wife, Nancy Harkness Love both work for ATC.
|
|
| April 1 |
|
| General Arnold appoints Col. George as Olds' successor
|
|
| April 9 |
|
| American forces surrender on Bataan |
|
| April 18 |
|
| Sixteen North American B-25s commanded by Lt. Col. James
H. Doolittle, take off from USS Hornet (CV-8) and bomb Tokyo.
|
|
| April 28 |
|
| Coastal "dimouts" go into effect along a fifteen-mile strip on the Eastern
Seaboard, in response to German U-boat activity of the U.S. Atlantic coast. |
|
| May 14 |
|
| The U.S. Congress establishes The Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC),
under the direction of Oveta Culp Hobby, editor of the Houston Post. |
|
| May18 |
|
| Tunner takes initial step to hire women pilots. He says to
employ 25 women in the ferrying unit. Wants them to be stationed at New Castle and wants
them to be 2nd Lt.s under the (still civilian) Women’s Auxiliary Corps.
|
|
| Arnold in Walter Reed Hospital May 12-22
|
|
| May 23 |
|
| Arnold-- one day out of hospital, leaves for England.
|
|
| B-17s of 8th AF to arrive June 7
|
|
| May 25 |
|
| Gen. Arnold lands in England, preceding the 8th AF.
They want Jackie Cochran to devise a ferrying plan for them.
|
|
| Arnold confers with Cochran about creating an organization
of women pilots.
Wants her to return to US to organize. Cochran obligated to
finish ferrying plans in England for 8th AF. Will leave for US as soon as
possible. She will be delayed getting back. |
|
| June 2 |
|
| General Arnold
leaves for US, fully expecting Jackie
Cochran to return to US to supervise a women pilots' program as soon as possible. |
|
| June |
|
| Arnold is ill. Cochran out of country. Gen. George does not
know about Arnold dismissing concept of using women and barring it from consideration
until Cochran returns. Major Love, while standing at a water cooler, mentions his pilot
wife, Nancy, to Col. Tunner. Later Tunner meets with Nancy .
|
|
| Love proposes the development of a small squad of women pilots
specifically to ferry aircraft from factories to AAF bases, both in US and overseas. Women
must have a minimum of 500 hours and be used by Ferrying Division exclusively. Tunner
writes memo to George. |
|
| George likes idea of adding women ferry pilots to Tunner’s
ferry pilot pool. ATC staff approves of Love to be in charge of women pilots when/if
employed. |
|
| Gen. George and Tunner confer about plans for women fliers.
Tunner (at New Castle) details how to utilize women pilots. |
|
| June 11 |
|
| Gen. George tells AAF Chief of Air Staff he wanted to hire
women and transfer Nancy Love to Washington to help Tunner with a complete proposal.
|
|
| Love drafts a proposal to hire women.
|
|
| June 12 |
|
| Nancy Love tells Gen Tunner she can readily enroll 25 women on
short notice. |
|
| Tunner dictates report to Col. Becker at New Castle Air Base
that 25 women pilots will be there Aug. l. Sends copy to Hobby at WAAC. Hobby sees no way
to incorporate them into WAAC. |
|
| June 18 |
|
| Tunner sends Love’s plan to Gen George to hire women,
the same as men as civilian ferry pilots, with compromises by Love.
Lower pay.
Women must have 500 hrs compared to 200 for men.
Women would be restricted to flying AAF smallest trainers and
liaison planes, etc.. |
|
| End of June |
|
| George mentions Love’s plan to Arnold. Arnold
mused—thought might talk to the President—he might want to make any announcement
himself because there was so much national interest in using women.
|
|
| July |
|
| AAF Ferrying Command changed its name to Air Transport Command
(ATC). Ferrying Division is one component. |
|
| ATC began program of hiring civilian pilots to ferry planes.
|
|
| Consent from Arnold unnecessary. Ferrying Division had
permission to hire civilians, including women. |
|
| July 2 |
|
| Cochran ceases work with the Am. Wing of the Air Transport
Auxiliary, and works as commissioned officer with 8th AF. Studies ferrying
service. |
|
| Gen. Arnold requests she come home. Starts the paper-work.
|
|
| July 4 |
|
| The first Army Air Force bomber mission over western Europe in World War II is flown by
B 17s of the 97th Bombardment Group against the Rouen-Sotteville Railyards in France. |
|
| July 13 |
|
| Col. Baker and Nancy Love submit detailed plan to hire women
pilots as civilians, with the compromises, to George. |
|
| July 18 |
|
| Gen. George sends memo to Arnold suggesting women be employed
as ferry pilots experimentally. |
|
| July 20 |
|
| Arnold sent proposal back and directed George to confer with
CAA and CAP and provide statistics on the availability of women pilots.
|
|
| Few days later |
|
| Arnold leaves for England |
|
| July 30 |
|
| The Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Services (WAVES) is
authorized by the U.S. Congress. |
|
| August |
|
| Nancy Love gathers statistics on women pilots
|
|
| September 3 |
|
| George gives Love’s proposal back to Arnold. Says he could
implement it within 24 hours. |
|
| September 5 |
|
| General George jumps the gun
George mistakenly thought he got a nod from Arnold. ATC names
Love as Director.
Directive from Arnolds’ office (he never saw)
"recruit women pilots within 24 hours."
Nancy Love sends out first telegrams recruiting women pilots as
civilian ferry pilots.. (Must have Commercial pilots license, 200hp rating, 500 hours, age
21-35) |
|
| Cochran about to board airplane in England to come home.
She is stopped. Asked to delay. (Later Cochran thinks purposefully delayed.)
|
|
| September 8 |
|
| Jackie leaves England for home.
|
|
| September 10 |
|
| September 12 |
|
| 3 WAFS recruits report. |
|
| Cochran meets with Arnold. Arnold is shocked and furious about
announcement. |
|
| Cochran does not press for abandonment of Love’s project.
Does not want media publicity which would create a campaign against her. Gives her plans
to Arnold. Asks that her program begin immediately. |
|
| Cochran wants a much broader plan. Her pilots will be
militarily trained and will do more jobs than ferrying. |
|
| Arnold calls in George and his Deputy CO, Smith.
|
|
| September 14 |
|
| WFTD (Women’s Flying Training Detachment) created when AAF
CG/Arnold approved memo from M/Gen George of Air Transport Command requesting a training
program for women pilots. |
|
| Smith submits memo to Arnold outlining Cochran plans to train
women and qualifications for entrance. |
|
| September 15 |
|
| WFTD receives official approval. Initial goal of WFTD: to
supply trained pilots exclusively for service in WAFS. |
|
| September 16 |
|
| Cochran appointed Director, Women’s Ferrying Training: to
supervise the activities of all American women pilots connected to the Army Air Force.
Salary: $1 per year. |
|
| September 21 |
|
| First WAFS gather as a squadron at New Castle AFB near
Wilmington, Del. They report to Nancy Love, Commander of Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying
Squadron, and sign contract. |
|
| They will get 4 weeks of transition training at New Castle (not
pilot training.) |
|
| September 22 |
|
| Cochran goes to Houston to check out facilities for training
women pilots. (No housing, mess hall, etc.) |
|
| September 26 |
|
| Cochran flies between NY and Wash. personally interviewing and
selecting young women to report for training. |
|
| October 7 |
|
| Plan developed proposing first WFTD class begin on Nov
15 at Houston Municipal Airport near Houston, Tx.
School to be run by civilian contractor, Aviation Enterprises.
|
|
| October 21 |
|
| 7 WAFS (of original volunteers) complete flight transition on
trainers—wait for orders |
|
| October 22 |
|
| 6 WAFS get orders to report to ferry Piper Cubs.
|
|
| October 31 |
|
| 10 WAFS (Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Service) now enrolled.
|
|
| November 6 |
|
| Memo from Gen Arnold CG/AAF to Gen. Stratemeyer, Chief of
Staff, AAF, "not military planes but civilian aircraft must be used at outset of
women’s pilot training program". |
|
| November 9 |
|
| First class of WFTD to graduate in Feb and be absorbed into the
Ferrying Command with the WAFS. |
|
| Nancy Love goes to investigate bases where first class will
go—see what needs are, housing, what planes will ferry. New Castle can’t handle
all the projected graduates. |
|
| November 11 |
|
| Male pilot shortage so intense that not only women but
physically unfit and overage men will be pressured into service as pilots.
|
|
| Arnold insists that planes must be found for training. Civilian
junk airplanes arrive in Houston for trainees to fly. (Only 13 training planes available.)
|
|
| Cochran writes to FTC about future flying assignments for women
flight graduates. |
|
| November 14 |
|
| Aviation Enterprises will be in charge of training women
pilots. |
|
| November 15 |
|
| First women ever to be flight trained by AAF report for flying
training and take Oath. |
|
| Housing found at tourist courts. |
|
| November 16 |
|
| 28 women pilots report for training at Houston Municipal
Airport.
Designated: 319th Army Air Forces Flying Training
Detachment. (Called WFTD, Women’s Flying Training
Detachment)
Flying gear: size 44 men’s flying suits, called ‘zoot
suits" |
|
| At New Castle, WAFS deliver first airplanes.
|
|
| Dec. 9 |
|
| The U.S. Army is reorganized into three autonomous forces: Army Air Forces, Ground
Forces and Services of Supply. |
|
| December 19 |
|
| 2nd class (60 women pilots) arrives at Houston
|
|
| Trainees in Houston now flying 22 different kind of aircraft.
One by one old crates being grounded.
PT-19s and BT-13s begin to arrive.
|
|
| December 23 |
|
| Nancy Love reports on fields: Love, Romulus & Long Beach
|
|
| Flying Training Command receives notice lst class Houston will
graduate in Feb.(New Castle can’t take all of them.) |
|
| December 25 |
|
| WAFS now total 27. Orders from Col Tunner (Ferrying Division
Hq.) to Col Baker "Enroll no more WAFS" |
|
| December 28 |
|
| Nancy Love and 4 WAFS serve as cadre for developing WAFS
squadrons |
|
| At the end of 1942, there are 24 WAFS ferrying Cub stuff and a
few ferrying PT-19 trainers. |
|
|
|
| Jan 2-5 |
|
| Nancy Love and 4 others in Love Field cadre arrive at
Love Field, Dallas, Texas for developing WAFS Squadron.
The group transitions on BTs & ferry ½ dozen.
|
|
| January 15 |
|
| 3rd class arrives. Houston |
|
| At-6s and BT-13s arrive each day. |
|
| One by one 6 pilots in Romulus cadre report to 3rd
Ferrying Group |
|
| January 23 |
|
| Cochran announces to lst class:" Flight training being
extended and divided into 3 phases:--to include basic and advanced."
|
|
| Orders from AAF Hq: "All new members of WAFS will have to
be processed thru the WFTD". |
|
| Jan 30 |
|
| Report filed with AAF Central Flying Training Command: no dorms
or housing facilities available at Houston. |
|
| February 6 |
|
| AAF Central Flying Training Command begins search for other
training sites for women pilots. |
|
| Previously established goal of graduating 396 women pilots that
year doubled to a goal of 750 graduates. |
|
| February 7 |
|
| Second Women Flying Training Detachment/Sweetwater approved.
|
|
| February 14 |
|
| Class 43-4 reports (151) One half will report to Houston, one
half to Sweetwater. |
|
| Mid February |
|
| Nancy Love, after having transitioned on all available aircraft
types at Love Field, transfers herself to Long Beach, with cadre of 5. She starts checking
out on planes other than trainers, and so do the other WAFS with her.
|
|
| February 21 |
|
| Second WFTD school began.—318th AAFTD Avenger
Field, Sweetwater, Tx. 95 airplanes. |
|
| First class (One half of Class 43-4) enters Avenger Field,
Sweetwater, Tx. Barracks not finished. Classes directed by Plosses-Prince Air Academy.
(Presently training Canadian male cadets). |
|
| First week girls are at the base, there are over 100
‘emergency’ landings. Cochran closes base except to real emergencies. Forever
more called, "Cochran’s Convent". |
|
| February 22 |
|
| Some of 43-4 move immediately into barracks. Others stay in
hotel. Within 2 weeks all trainees are at Avenger. |
|
| February 23 |
|
| Houston will close—Training will switch to Sweetwater.
Male Canadian pilots at Avenger will soon leave. |
|
| Gen. Stratemeyer to Gen George: "Women pilot graduates of
flying training schools will be accepted by AIR TRANSPORT COMMAND."
|
|
| February 27 |
|
| Nancy Love solos in P-51 |
|
| February 28 |
|
| One WAFS checks out in P-47 |
|
| March 7 |
|
| First WFTD trainee & instructor killed, flying PT (Margaret
Oldenburg, 43-4, wife of Navy Ensign. (plane out of rig, Form 1-A showed restricted to
non-aerobatic maneuvers. They were doing spins. |
|
| March 10 |
|
| Central Flying Training Command does not renew
Plosser-Prince’s (civilian contractor at Avenger) contract.
|
|
| Aviation Enterprises and all WFTD training will go to Avenger.
(Program to last 22 ½ weeks; 170 flight hours). |
|
| March 19 |
|
| Lt. Gen. H.H. Arnold is promoted to four-star rank, a first
for the Army Air Forces. |
|
|
March 21 |
|
|
WAFS Cornelia Fort, first American woman military pilot to be
killed on active duty (in BT-13 near Laredo) |
|
|
March 26 |
| WASP Class 43-5 reports to
Avenger Field for training |
|
| March 27 |
|
| Aviation Enterprises buys out Plosser-Prince contractors at
Sweetwater.
½ of 43-4 flying at Avenger. |
|
| April 5 |
|
| Last PT’s leave Houston for Avenger
|
|
| April 17 |
|
| Orders issued, "All pilots, regardless of sex can advance
to the extent of their ability…policy applies to ferrying of planes."
|
|
| April 24 |
|
| lst class (23) graduate at Ellington Field. Classes 43-2 and
43-3 in attendance. |
|
| April 25 |
|
| Easter Sunday—Class 43-6 reports for training.
|
|
| April |
|
| Nancy Love checked out in 17 planes—fighters & bombers
|
|
| May 3 |
|
| Arnold authorizes Cochran to see to developing a suitable
uniform. He wants it to be 'blue'. |
|
| First week of May |
|
| First WFTD graduates report to assigned bases, to be absorbed
into the WAFS squadrons. |
|
| May 14 |
|
| Class 43-3 ordered to Sweetwater to finish training. 19 go by
car, others flying BT-13. |
|
| May 16 |
|
| Last of BT-13 leave Houston for Sweetwater, piloted by 43-3
class. |
|
| May 22 |
|
| Class 43-2 Gets base assignments. Last class to be able to
choose. |
|
| May 23-27 |
|
| Class 43-2 (43) of them who will graduate fly AT-6 and UC-78 to
Avenger. Rest go by cars |
|
| 319th now history |
|
| May 28 |
|
| First graduation at Avenger, Class 43-2 (60 entered, 43
graduated)
Gen. Arnold and Marshall not able to attend
Graduates wear white shirts and khaki pants—forever known
as ‘general’s pants’. |
|
| May 29 |
|
| The Saturday Evening Post is published with a cover illustration
by Norman Rockwell that introduces an American icon known as "Rosie the Riveter."
|
|
|
Class 43-7 enters training |
|
| Cochran plans for Vesper Services at Avenger, with different
local pastors each Sunday |
|
| May |
|
Class 43-7 enters training |
| |
|
| June 1 |
|
| Negative gossip in Sweetwater about girl pilots rampant.
|
|
| Cochran arranges meeting and social time with townspeople.
Invites locals to next graduation.
This develops into a healthy and tranquil relationship.
|
|
| June 10 |
|
| Second WFTD graduates. (60 entered, 43 graduate)
|
|
| June 12 |
|
| 43-2 reports for duty. Added to WAFS roster.
|
|
| June 16 |
|
| Nancy Love and Gen. Tunner visit Avenger.
Explain, mission, duties, bases, pay, uniforms of WAFS
and what to expect when trainees graduate and are assigned to bases with WAFS.
Love makes big hit with trainees. |
|
| June 22 |
|
| Reg. 20-4: Cochran will no longer be under the Training Wing of
ATC. Appointed as Director of Women Pilots and assigned to the General Air Staff of the
Commanding General with offices in the Pentagon. |
|
| WAFS head, Nancy Love will be the executive and direct the
women of the Air Transport Command. She will move from Long Beach to ATC/FD Hq. in
Cincinnati. |
|
| June 25 |
|
| Cochran meets with Col Oveta Hobby regarding differences in
opinion about WASP military inclusion into WAAC and who would be in charge.
|
|
| June 27 |
|
| Personnel at Avenger now
includes: 40 commissioned officers, 8l
enlisted men, 700 civilians employed by Aviation Enterprises, and 44 civilians (paid by
the Army). |
|
| June 30 |
|
| Col. Tunner promoted to B/Gen |
|
| July 1 |
|
| WAAC become militarized, take on acronym WAC
|
|
| July 3 |
|
| Class 43-3 graduates (65 entered, 38 graduate).
This is the last of trainees who had some training in Houston.
Marching in 43, because she does not need primary instruction,
is Helen Richey (back from England). She had been Amelia Earhart’s co-pilot in same
plane that later disappeared. |
|
| July 5 |
|
| The two branches of AAF women pilots (WFTD and WAFS), those in
training and those flying for ATC Ferrying division consolidated into one branch and under
the jurisdiction of Director of Women Pilots, Jacqueline Cochran.
|
|
| Rattlesnakes really bad at Avenger!
|
|
| 43-6 begins flying BTs |
|
| July 9 |
|
| A WASP assigned to escort to body of another WASP (killed
while delivering a military aircraft) listens to the usual army restrictions, "no
military for WASP, and no funds to defray expenses, either". |
|
| July 10 |
|
| Class 43-8 arrives at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, TX for
training. |
|
| July 14 |
|
| Gen. Giles (new Chief of Air Staff) to Col. McGee, Asst
Ch/Staff for Training O C & R to recommend 25 women pilots train for tow target flying
at Camp Davis. Experiment to begin Aug 1 |
|
| July 17 |
|
| Specific girls named for Camp Davis. All 25 WFTD graduates.
Nancy Love directed to have orders cut on them. |
|
| July 24 |
|
| British bombing raid on Hamburg. |
|
| Women pilots arrive, Camp Davis—first assignment other
than ferrying for women pilots.. |
|
| July 25 |
|
| Since the women AAF pilots have now started flying for commands
other than ferrying (and Cochran plans for them to keep expanding into all the commands)
Cochran and Arnold discuss need to have one name for all of them. Arnold
suggests WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) |
|
| July 26 |
|
| At Camp Davis, North Carolina, WASP are assigned to
administration and tracking lights in tiny C-5 Stinson liaison planes. The women are
furious--they had been flying much larger planes. |
|
| July 27 |
|
| Cochran flies to Camp Davis |
|
| Aug 1 |
|
| Women at Camp Davis start flying larger planes, A-25 and A-24,
towing targets |
|
| August 4 |
|
| AAF Reg 20-8 WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) name
officially designated-- includes administrative personnel, but only pilots may wear wings.
|
|
| First WFTD trainee killed at Avenger (43-8) Flying PT. Bailed
out. Parachute failed to open. (Trainees have donated to a fund—now used to pay for
an escort to accompany the body home.) |
|
| August 6 |
|
| One WASP delivers 4 aircraft over 8,000 miles in 10 days (P-5l,
P-47, C-47,. and another P-47) |
|
| August 7 |
|
| Class 43-4 graduates (151 entered, 112 graduate) This is the
split class from Houston. |
|
| August 9 |
|
| Class 44-1 enters (101) |
|
| August 11 |
|
| Camp Davis WASP checked out in dive bombers--tow targets
|
|
| August 15 |
|
| First women check out in B-17, as first pilots
|
|
| August 19 |
|
| 25 of 43-4 graduates are taken from ATC/FD rosters and assigned
to Troop Carrier Command. They will report to ATC/FD and pick up new orders and go on from
the FG bases to other assignments. |
|
| August 20 |
|
| General Arnold, CG/AAF issues orders: "Acronym for all AAF women pilots will be ‘WASP’, Women Airforce
Service Pilots, period."
(AAF Regulation 20-4) |
|
| August 30 |
|
| All FD WASP ordered to live on base |
|
| All women pilots are to transition on multi-engine and high
power single engine airplanes. |
|
| September |
|
| Class 44-2 enters training |
|
| September 1 |
|
| SEVERE shortage of pilots. WASP doing essential flying for ATC
and Camp Davis towing targets. |
|
| "Time to let them try other flying jobs."
|
|
| Training and missions extended to include target-towing, glider
towing, radar calibration flights, co-piloting bombers and flying bombardier training
missions. |
|
| September 11 |
|
| Class 43-5 graduates. 127 entered, 86 graduated.
|
|
| September 13 |
|
| Losses of planes and men alarming because enemy radar cannot be
avoided. |
|
| Secret project to confuse enemy radar screen detection. Too few
male pilots available to test it. |
|
| Cochran says, let WASP do it. Air Staff agrees. Camp Davis WASP
used successfully. |
|
| September |
|
| 4 people know about new radio controlling of drone planes: 2
men, 2 WASP. All at Muroc Lake, Calif. |
|
| October 1 |
|
| Another FIRST for WASP: 15 from Camp Davis transferred to Camp
Stewart to take special course in radio controlled drone flight. Assignment is
"top secret' and experimental. |
|
| WFTD training increased to 27 weeks in 3 nine week
phases. Flying to 210 hours, 66 in military training, 300 hours academic plus
physical training. |
|
| Oct. 9 |
|
| Class 43-6 graduates. (122 entered, 84 graduate).
Graduates wear officers 'pinks' after being fitted by tailor.
|
|
| October |
|
| Changes in WFTD flight training program. Advanced phase
to concentrate on AT-6. Eliminate twin engine. Intermediate state will be on instruments.
Extensive cross country in PTs and AT-6's of at least 1,000 miles each
|
|
| WASP begin flying B-17's and B-26's |
|
| Class 44-3 enters training |
|
| October 14 |
|
| WASP report to Dodge City, Kansas for B-26 training as
"morale boosting" experiment for male pilots who were hesitant to fly the B-26 |
|
| November 1 |
|
| Class 44-4 reports to Avenger Field to begin training.
|
|
| November |
|
| Training Command lacks pilots. Needs women to replace men
needed for combat or help train men for jobs of aerial warfare.
|
|
| November 11 |
|
| 6 WASP sent to South Plains Base, Lubbock TX for glider towing
training in C-60's |
|
| November 13 |
|
| Class 43-7 graduates (103 entered, 59 graduate)
|
|
| November 18 |
|
| First 20 WASP assigned from 43-7 by Western Flying Training
Command to fly B-25's |
|
| December 7 |
|
| Class 44-5 arrives for training |
|
| December 17 |
|
| Class 43-8 graduates at night (76 entered, 48 graduate)
First class scheduled to be awarded official WASP wings
(wings do not arrive in time--substitutes used). |
|
| December |
|
| First WASP assigned to fly Weather Wing personnel (Weather Wing
is non-military, but have enlisted and commissioned officers in charge)
|
|
| One WASP flies out over Pacific to small islands 80 mi off
shore. She flies by dead reckoning
|
|
| Ferrying Division opens Pursuit School in Palm
Springs. 56 WASP assigned to pursuit transition.
|
|
|
|
| January |
|
| Each section of training increased from 9 weeks to 10 weeks
(now totaling 7 1/2 months) |
|
| Class 44-6 enters training |
|
| February |
|
| First WASP assigned to Dodge for 9 week training in B-26
|
|
| Class 44-7 enters training |
|
| February 11 |
|
| Class 44-1 graduates. (101 entered, 49 graduate). First
class to wear the new Santigo blue uniform |
|
| February 16 |
|
| Sec/War Stimson sends letter supporting WASP militarization
bill HR 3358. Rep.Costillo then submits longer bill, House Resolution 4219.
|
|
| March |
|
| Class 44-8 arrives for training |
|
| March 2 |
|
| Preliminary report to Arnold on number of WASP on active
duty:
ATC: 275
Tow Target: 65
Weather Wing: 25
Pursuit Training: 27 completed course, 1 killed
|
|
| March 13 |
|
| Class 44-2 graduates with General Arnold in attendance
|
|
| In anticipation of militarization in the offing, General
Arnold, in his address to the graduates, said, "I'm looking forward to the day when
Women Airforce Service Pilots take the place of practically all the male pilots of the AAF
in this country for the duration. Indeed, this organization has come serve a variety
of useful purposes in the Army Air Forces organization. We're proud of you and we welcome
you as a part of the Army Air Forces." |
|
| March 22 |
|
| Committee on Military Affairs issues report recommending
passage of HR4219 |
|
| General Arnold appears before House military Affairs Committee
to request commissions for WASP |
|
| March 24 |
|
| Senate bill introduced to militarize women pilots
|
|
| WASP told will soon be commissioned |
|
| WASP must go through Officers' Training School
|
|
| March thru June |
|
| Drew Pearson, noted male columnist, wages war on WASP. Over
several months, devoted several columns to the WASP, demanding their deactivation.
|
|
| Male civilian pilots form lobby to attack WASP militarization
bill |
|
| |
|
| April 15 |
|
|
Class 44-9 arrives for training
(107 trainees) |
|
| Class 44-3 graduates (100 entered, 57 graduate)
|
|
| April 19 |
|
| First class of 50 WASP report for officers' training
|
|
| 50 WASP, including Nancy Love, enter AAF School of Applied
Tactics in Orlando to prepare to be officers in the Army Air Forces.
|
|
| Many classes co-ed. Others for WASP only
|
|
| April |
|
| Pilot shortage over. |
|
| Anti-WASP campaign by media to aid CAA contract school
instructors to protect them against draft into the walking Army.
|
|
| April 29 |
|
| NY Daily News charges of WASP 'jumping the gun' on Congress
|
|
| May 2 |
|
| Positive public response to vigor of anti-WASP campaign
|
|
| May 4 |
|
| Office of Sec of WAR issues orders that all releases about
women pilots be stopped while militarization legislation is pending.
WASP may not respond to the vicious printed attacks.
|
|
| May |
|
| WASP assigned to be part of experimental program--how high
altitude flying while using oxygen affects women pilots. (Special sealed chambers) WASP
pass. |
|
| 2 WASP check out in B-29, America's largest bomber
|
|
| Class 44-10
arrives for training |
|
| May 5 |
|
| As expected militarization grows closer, to ensure easy
compliance with all matters military, Avenger drops its "318th AAF-FTD"
designation and changes to "2563rd Base Unit". |
|
| May 12 |
|
| First WASP class completes officer's training.
|
|
| 2nd group has already reported |
|
| May 23 |
|
| Class 44-4 graduates. (103 entered, 53 graduated)
|
|
- June 6
|
|
| D-Day": The Allied invasion of Europe commences just after midnight |
|
| 175,000 troops land at Normandy. The largest invasion force in history, it includes
4,000 invasion ships, 600 warships, and 10,000 planes. |
|
| Allied pilots fly approximately 15,000 sorties on D-Day. It is an effort unprecedented
in concentration and size. |
|
| June |
|
| General Arnold in Europe coordinating battle plans with
Gen. Eisenhower |
|
| June 21 |
|
| WASP militarization bill defeated 188 to 169.
|
|
| Bill goes back to committee for studying proposed
amendments |
|
| General Arnold in Europe, directing air operations for
D-Day attack |
|
| Hearing on HR 4219 lasts less than 1 hour and is defeated
|
|
| Future classes in Orlando are canceled
|
|
| June 26 |
|
| House report recommends immediate discontinuance of WASP
training program except for those already in training
|
|
| Arnold orders WASP discontinued in Dec. 1944.
|
|
| Eager members of Class 45-1 start reporting to Avenger
Field. They will have to return home, at their own expense.
|
|
| June 27 |
|
| Class 44-5 graduates (132 entered training, 72 graduate)
|
|
| August 4 |
|
| Class 44-6 graduates (136 entered, 72 graduate)
Orders are to report to 19 duty bases
|
|
| August 6 |
|
| WASP still under orders to keep silent
|
|
| August 10 |
|
| WASP blasted on floor of House
|
|
| September 8 |
|
| 44-7 graduates (103 entered, 59 graduate)
|
|
| October 2 |
|
| Letters sent to WASP announcing Deactivation on Dec. 20
|
|
| As of Nov. 20, WASP may resign in good standing.
|
|
| October 4 |
|
| Graduation days moved up 44-8 from Oct 16 to Oct 9
|
|
| 44-9 from Nov 20 to Nov 6
|
|
| 44-10 from Dec. 27 to Dec. 7
|
|
| October 9 |
|
| WASP Class 44-8 graduates (49 of 108)
|
|
| October 14 |
|
| A WASP is first woman to fly experimental jet aircraft
|
|
| November 6 |
|
| Class 44-9 graduates 55 of 107.
|
|
| November 20 |
|
| Telex sent from the CG/TC to all CO's where WASP are based
inviting all of them, if they can be spared, to come to Avenger for the last graduation.
Use of government aircraft, authorized. |
|
| December 7 |
|
| Last class, 44-10 graduates 58 of 117.
|
|
| General Arnold: keynote speaker.
|
|
| Over 100 WASP attend from bases all over the country.
|
|
| Dec. 20 |
|
| One minute after midnight of preceding day, WASP cease to
exist as a quasi-military unit. |
|
| Dec. 21 |
|
| Gen. Henry "Hap" Arnold becomes General of the Army--the first
airman to hold five-star rank. |
|
| Late Dec |
WASP records marked
'classified', sealed and stored in government archives for over 30 years. Their
contribution to the allied victory in WWII is not recognized or recorded by historians
writing official history textbooks. Consequently, many Americans do not know the
WASP ever existed. |
THIRTY THREE
YEARS LATER--1977
|
| November 3 |
|
| President Jimmy Carter signs into legislation a bill that
provides military status for the Women Airforce Service Pilots
|
|
| This STILL does not ensure the WASP inclusion in the
official history textbooks for future generations of students.
|
|
