Veterans History Project Collecting WASPs’ Heroic Stories

The Veterans History Project is reaching out to the remaining WASPs and their families and friends, asking that they share their experiences.

Meg Godlewski

Monday, October 23, 2023 at 03:34 PM ET

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Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) Frances Green, Margaret (Peg) Kirchner, Ann Waldner and Blanche Osborn (left to right) leaving their B-17 Flying Fortresses, Pistol Packin' Mama, at the four engine school at Lockbourne AAF, Ohio. [Photo: U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

The article highlights the dwindling number of Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) and the urgency to capture their previously unrecognized stories of service during World War II.
The Veterans History Project (VHP), established by Congress, collects and archives oral histories, documents, and artifacts from U.S. veterans from all conflicts at the Library of Congress.
VHP is actively seeking contributions from WASPs and "Code Girls" (WWII cryptographers) to ensure their experiences are preserved, as many served in secrecy and were not recognized for decades.

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This year I celebrated my 20th trip to EAA AirVenture. The annual event is marked by a group photo shoot by Women in Aviation. For many years, the members of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs), wearing their distinctive blue pants and white blouses, were always in the front row in a place of honor.

This year, there were none. This was not a surprise, as many of these women, part of what Tom Brokaw dubbed “The Greatest Generation,” are too frail to travel. Before they head West, the Veterans History Project wants to capture their stories.