WAI's Close Relationship with the WASP: A 21 Year Journey

There were few people cheering louder at the WASP Congressional Medal ceremony this past March 10, 2010, than the members of Women in Aviation, International. "We have long known what many citizens are just now learning for the first time - that this intrepid group of women pilots made an invaluable contribution to the war effort," said Women in Aviation, International President Dr. Peggy Chabrian that day. "We are delighted that their hard work and many sacrifices have now been officially honored."

Keeping the history and accomplishments of the WASP alive has been an integral part of every WAI Annual Conference, going back to the very first Conference in 1990. At that first Conference, held in Prescott, Arizona, Dr. Byrd Howell Granger (herself a WASP) spoke about her book "On Final Approach: The Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II" which was about to be published.

The following year, in St. Louis, a special reception was held for the WASP (along with Voyager pilot Jeanna Yeager) at the St. Louis Public Library. It is a thrill for WAI members to be able to meet and interact with the WASP and this reception gave them the opportunity to do that. In addition, WASP Adella Riek Scharr, a St. Louis native, was featured as author of "Sisters of the Sky," a two-volume set about the WASP.

General Chuck Yeager paid tribute to the WASP when he spoke at the 1992 Conference, held in Las Vegas. Two concurrent sessions also featured the WASP. Dr. Walin McCardell from the University of Texas-Tyler led a session called "Women Aviators in World War II" while Marjorie Osborn Nicol, another WASP, led a session on the WASP and Night Witches Reunion held in Moscow in 1990.

During General Yeager's comments, WAI President Dr. Peggy Chabrian remembers what could have been a tense moment. She says, "During his talk General Yeager referenced the WASP who were in the audience that day and affectionately referred to them as 'a bunch of old bitties,' which is a derogatory slang term, but also can be used to describe older women in general. I held my breath when he first said it. The WASP actually laughed. He was probably the only person who could have gotten away with calling them that!"

The WASP as a group were inducted into WAI's Pioneer Hall of Fame in 1993. This was the fourth Conference and just the second year of the Hall of Fame. And at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh that year, special attention was given all week long to the WASP.

At every Conference, the presence of the WASP always served as an inspiration for the membership. Just to be in the presence of the WASP, to have your photo taken with them and shake their hands proved to be a highlight of the Conference for many.

At WAI's 10th Anniversary Conference in 1999, held in Orlando, a panel of WASP made up a fascinating educational session. The WASP who took part included Caro Bosca, Teresa James and Helen Snapp. The following year, in Memphis, another WASP panel was convened. This one was headed by Lucile Wise (then WASP president) and included Caro Bosca, Vi Cowden, Edna Davis, and Dorothy Swain Lewis.

At 2001's Conference in Reno, Nevada, another WASP panel served as an educational session. This panel was led by Maxine Flourney (then WASP president) and included Ann Baumgartner Carl, Betty Pfister and Betty Jane Williams. At this Conference, Pfister and Carl were individually inducted into the WAI Pioneer Hall of Fame.

Dr. James Roche, Secretary of the Air Force, was a keynote speaker at the 2004 Conference in Reno, and included recognition for the WASP in his remarks. Another WASP panel was presented as an educational session.

The 2005 Conference brought another WASP panel and also saw the induction of Florene Miller Watson into WAI's Pioneer Hall of Fame. In 2006, in Nashville, Tennessee, the WASP panel was made into a double session due to its popularity, and Betty Jane Williams was inducted into the Hall of Fame. This 2006 Conference also hosted a historic meeting between the Soviet World War II female pilots and the WASP.

In addition to the now-traditional WASP panel, one of the highlights of the 2007 Conference in Orlando was Captain Nicole Malachowski's keynote address in which she praised the WASP for their pioneering efforts for women military pilots. Iris Critchell was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

General Yeager was back in 2008 in San Diego where he was the luncheon speaker which was attended by 2,000, a new Conference record, and he again paid tribute to the WASP. Betty Jane Williams moderated the WASP panel that year and Margaret Ringberger and Nancy Love were inducted into the Pioneer Hall of Fame.

One of the amusing stories General Yeager recounted was an incident where a WASP flying at altitude for several hours needed to relieve herself. In desperation, she sat on a bucket in the back but when she went to stand up the bucket stuck to her rear. After several attempts, she was able to remove the bucket but it left a ring on her rear. According to General Yeager, this particular WASP never lived down the tale.

In addition to the WASP panel, Jacqueline Cochran, the WASP founder, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia.

At WAI's recently concluded annual Conference in Orlando, WASP Bernice ("Bee") Haydu spoke at the closing banquet and said, "Women in Aviation is carrying on our name, and they have done so much for us." It was at this banquet that Loral Blinde, Senior Vice President at AirTran Airways pledged to give any WASP who wanted to come to Washington, DC for the ceremony two airplane tickets, one for the WASP and one for a companion.

Dr. Chabrian attended the ceremony on March 10, 2010, and a video of the entire event was posted on WAI's blog. Women in Aviation, International had previously been officially designated by the WASP as the outlet for their commercial products including books, DVDs and videotapes. (These products are on sale at WAI's on-site store.)

To the many accomplishments credited to the WASP, Women in Aviation, International would add another: The WASP have served as an inspiration to our members who see in these amazing women the unlimited possibilities of their own lives.