WASP to Commemorate 80th Anniversary

Meg Godlewski

Friday, August 04, 2023 at 12:35 PM ET

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Three WASP at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas. [Courtesy: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum]

Key Takeaways:

The Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) were established on August 5, 1943, during World War II, merging initiatives by Jacqueline Cochran and Nancy Harkness Love to address a military pilot shortage by having women perform non-combat flying duties.
Over 1,000 WASP pilots graduated, flying various military aircraft for over 300,000 hours, but were initially considered civilians and denied military benefits, including for the 38 who died in service.
After being disbanded in 1944, WASP members were finally granted veteran status in 1977 and later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2009, recognizing their critical contributions and enduring legacy in aviation.

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August 5 represents an important milestone for women pilots, as it was on this day in 1943 that the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) were created, marking its 80th anniversary.

On Saturday, the Lone Star Flight Museum in Houston will be commemorating the event with a hangar talk on the history of the WASP at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. CDT and display of WASP artifacts and uniforms from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.