Emily Harner, The WASPs

The WASPs stepped up during WWII to be pilots, a role previously only held by men. This also allowed women to help contribute to their country in a way never seen before. Members of this organization were trained as pilots and their jobs included test flying planes, ferrying aircraft, and training other pilots. With women taking over male jobs, such as training new pilots it freed many men for combat during the war. These brave women proved they could fly a plane just as good as a man. Women took on a major role in the Air Force during WWII that allowed all the male pilots to engage in war. These jobs included training pilots, ferrying planes, as well as test flying planes. They would ferry planes from factories to bases to be ready for war. The candidates must be between 21 and 35 years old and must also pass a physical fitness test. These women pulled targets for aerial and groundto-air gunnery practice for the men to prepare for war. In doing these dangerous jobs about 38 of these brave women died serving their country but did not get the funeral expenses or military burial, many of the men soldiers received. Previously, women were expected to simply run the household, now they would have a large impact on the war. Originally, women simply ran the household: cooking, cleaning, and raising the children. Before the war, in the 1930’s, women often took on jobs such as secretary, teacher, or maids. The push for women to work increased by 20% at this time because it was following the great depression (Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) of WWII). Then World War Two began in 1939, and women took on so many jobs when men were off fighting. These women were now working in factories making everything from ammunition to fighter planes which was all previously done by men. They were doing it all- taking care of the house as well as being involved in the wartime economy (Gender on the Home Front: The National WWII Museum: New Orleans”). Throughout the war they accomplished many things such as breaking gender stereotypes. A big icon of women’s ability to do anything men was Rosie the Riveter. She represented capable and brave women that could do anything. She was used as a recruiting tool to push women to enlist during WWII. During this time women in the workforce increased 10% from 27% to 37%. She was

loosely based on a woman working in an ammunition factory(Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) of WWII). A famous women pilot, Nancy Love, was the first to fly for the United States Air Force. She fell in love with flying and got her pilot’s license at the age of 16. Bravely she led the first group of women pilots to fly in WWII. Fighting for women’s rights in the military was a main focus and fight for Nancy. She desperately wanted for men and women to be paid equally and to receive burial rights in the military just as men had. The WASPs were disbanded in 1944 which devastated Nancy. Although she kept flying she went back to the normal women role, being a mother. She broke so many barriers for many women to come (Nancy Harkness Love: Female Pilot and First to Fly for the U.S. Military).

The Women’s Air Force Pilots otherwise known as “WASPs” were very brave women who stepped up to fight for their country and proved they could do much more than keep up with the household. They paved the way for women in all branches of the military as well as many other jobs previously only held by men. Making up over half of the Air Force during WWII they definitely had an impact on the war. These brave women stepped up to plate during this time and proved they can do so much more than people thought.

Work Cited

Douglas, Deborah G G. “Nancy Harkness Love: Female Pilot and First to Fly for the U.S. Military.” HistoryNet, HistoryNet, 9 Aug. 2016, www.historynet.com/nancy-harkness-love-female-pilot-and-first-to-fly-forthe-us-military.htm. “Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) of WWII.” National Women’s History

Museum, 23 Apr. 2019, www.womenshistory.org/exhibits/women-airforce-service-pilots-wasps-wwii. MarshallV. “Gender on the Home Front: The National WWII Museum: New

Orleans.” The National WWII Museum | New Orleans, The National World

War II Museum, 11 July 2018, www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/gender-home-front. WASP FACTS, www.wingsacrossamerica.us/wasp/facts.htm. “Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) of WWII.” National Women’s History

Museum, 23 Apr. 2019, www.womenshistory.org/exhibits/women-airforce-service-pilots-wasps-wwii. Douglas, Deborah G G. “Nancy Harkness Love: Female Pilot and First to Fly for the U.S. Military.” HistoryNet, HistoryNet, 9 Aug. 2016, www.historynet.com/nancy-harkness-love-female-pilot-and-first-to-fly-forthe-us-military.htm.