Annotated Bibliography 

For downloadable/printable PDF scroll to the bottom of the page.

Primary Sources

"American Women Pilots Helped Deliver Planes Which Enabled Red Armies to Launch Offensive That May Have Been Turning Point of the War."  The Midland Journal.  Rising Sun, MD. January 5, 1945.  Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn89060136/1945-01-05/ed-1/seq-7/ . Retrieved May 12, 2020.

This article was a long feature story that described how what the WASPs were doing in the United States made a significant impact in the war effort as a whole.  It was useful because it was written after the WASP program was disbanded but didn’t have the anti-WASP bias that was common in the press at the time.  It was also useful because it considered the impact from an international standpoint and not just how it affected American forces.

Air Force News Service.  “WASP Awarded Congressional Gold Medal for Service.” U.S. Air Force. July 2, 2009. https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/119851/wasp-awarded-congressional-gold-medal-for-service/ . Retrieved January 20, 2020.

This article has good coverage from the awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal to the WASPs.  In addition to describing the prestige of the award, it also explores how long it took to receive it, as well as the contribution the WASPs made to women in aviation.

"Army's Women Flyers Set New Safety Mark." Evening Star. Washington, D.C.  January 5, 1944.  Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1944-01-05/ed-1/seq-21/ . Retrieved May 12, 2020.

This article was a short piece that remarked on the fact that the WASPs safety record was in some ways better than that of men pilots.  I included it because that was one of the things the WASPs felt they had to prove.  It was good evidence that it wasn’t the WASPs performance that caused them to face such opposition.

Arnold, William Bruce. "WASPs Win 33 Year Battle For Vet Status." The Stars and Stripes. Washington DC. November 10, 1977. http://wingsacrossamerica.us/records_all/press_archive/stars77.pdf . Retrieved May 20, 2020.

This article was written by one of the WASPs most vocal supporters during the 1976-1977 campaign for recognition:  Bruce Arnold, the son of Gen. "Hap" Arnold.  It includes an overview of the WASP program, but also details why he supports the WASP. One interesting point was that he did not know the WASPs were not considered veterans and was surprised by the fact.

Arnold, Henry Harley. “Acceptance Telegram to Elizabeth Chambers.” 1943. https://military.wikia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Chambers_(pilot)?file=WASP_Elizabeth_Maxine_Chambers_WesternUnion.jpg . Retrieved December 19, 2019.

This is an example of the telegram received by WASP applicants when they were accepted into the program. It is noteworthy because accepted recruits had to pay their own expenses to get to the base in Sweetwater TX.

Arnold, Henry Harley. "Address by Gen. Henry H. Arnold, Commanding General to WASP Graduate Class, December 7, 1944." Item. December 7, 1944.  The Portal to Texas History. https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth894262/m1/6/ . Retrieved December 10, 2019.

This is the text to Gen. Arnold’s speech to the final WASP graduating class. It includes praise for the group, as well as the official explanation for their disbandment. He also reiterates the purposes he formed the WASPs and how they’ve fulfilled his expectations. It's useful to see how supportive he was of the program, even though it was being shut down before the end of WWII.

Associated Press.  "WASPS Fly Marauder; Army's 'Difficult Plane.'"  Evening Star. Washington, D.C. January 21, 1944.  Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1944-01-21/ed-1/seq-14/ . Retrieved May 12, 2020.

This article provided a good example of the tasks that WASPs were expected to face.  Even though this plane was called “the widowmaker,” WASPs were expected to fly it without complaint.  Within what they were allowed to do, this showed that WASPs duties were not softened because of their sex.

Avenger Field. Avenger Field Yearbook, Class 44-W-9.  Avenger Field Publisher.  Sweetwater, Texas. 1944.  Portal to Texas History.  https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1010173/m1/1/  Retrieved May 19, 2020.

To find a picture of Maggie Gee, one of two Asian American WASPs, I was able to find her WASP Class Yearbook in the Portal to Texas History Archives.  In addition to the pictures, the book had a lot of stories about how the women spent their time, both when they were learning, and when they were not.

Avenger Field. Avenger Field Yearbook, Class 44-W-10.  Avenger Field Publisher.  Sweetwater, Texas. 1944.  Portal to Texas History.  https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth894239/ .  Retrieved May 19, 2020. 

This is the yearbook that included a picture of Marty Wyall.  Since I quoted her early on, I wanted to include her picture too.  As with all the Avenger Field yearbooks, this one also contained numerous stories and details about the WASPs personal lives during their time in the program and was useful for seeing the human side of the program.

Bowles, Mary Amanda, Editor.  Avenger Field Yearbook 43-W-4.  Avenger Field Publisher. Sweetwater, TX. 1943.  Portal to Texas History.  https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth894115/?q=avenger%20yearbook%2043-w-4 . Retrieved May 12, 2020.

This yearbook provided excellent photos of this WASP graduating class. It also included many memories and anecdotes about their time at Avenger Field.  The stories shed light on some of the fun they had serving, in addition to the difficulties they faced.

Cochran, Jacqueline.  “Acceptance Telegram to Elizabeth Ying Lee.” 1943.  US National Archives.  https://www.facebook.com/usnationalarchives/photos/pcb.10157687431682994/10157687430227994/?type=3&theater . Retrieved December 19, 2019.

This is an example of an acceptance telegram requiring the accepted pilots to come to Sweetwater at their own expense.  This highlights one more difference between the WASPs and the men who performed similar work for the USAAF.

Cochran, Jacqueline.  “Letter and Survey to all women holders of licenses, July 29, 1941.”  Eisenhower Presidential Archives.  https://eisenhowerlibrary.gov/sites/default/files/file/cochran_BinderA.pdf . [Jacqueline Cochran Papers, WASP Series, Box 2, Survey of Women Pilots July 1941; NAID #120044061] Retrieved March 11, 2020.

This is a survey sent out to all women in the US who held pilots licenses to gather availability and interest in serving the USAAF and was used to help recruit and form the WAFS and eventually, WASP programs.

Cochran, Jacqueline.  “American Women Pilots, September 3, 1943.”  Eisenhower Presidential Archives.  https://www.eisenhower.archives.gov/research/online_documents/jacqueline_cochran/BinderJJ.pdf . [Jacqueline Cochran Papers, WASP Series, Box 14, Publicity (3); NAID #12000291] Retrieved December 19, 2019.

This is a press release written by Jacqueline Cochran, founder of the WASP program, to an Australian publication, telling the history and origins of the WASP program to that point.  It was important to hear about the start of the program in Jacqueline’s own words.

Cochran, Jacqueline.  “Director Of Women Pilots Asks Military Status For WASPS.”  1944.  Press Release. War Department. Bureau of Public Relations Press Branch. http://www.megavision.net/wasp/Linkstwu/wardocreport.pdf .  Retrieved December 15, 2019.

This is a report from Jacqueline Cochran, a founder of the WASP program, requesting full military status for WASPs as the program was being ended.  It includes, in her own words, the reasons supporting granting military status to the WASPs as well as the significance of doing so.

Cochran, Jacqueline.  “WASP Final Report, June 1, 1945.”  Eisenhower Presidential Archives.  https://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/sites/default/files/file/cochran_BinderN.pdf . [Jacqueline Cochran Papers, WASP Series, Box 12, WASP Final Report; NAID #12004155]  Retrieved March 11, 2020.

This is the final report on the WASP Program.  In addition to detailing the total data gathered from the WASP program, and comparing WASP performance to male pilot performance, it also includes a plea from the WASP Director to have the material declassified, and also includes the stamp with the actual declassification date in 1982.

Coffin, George & Brumidi, Constantino.  “The Apotheosis of Suffrage.” 1896.  Library of Congress Archive.  https://www.loc.gov/item/2016679928/ . Retrieved February 3, 2020.

Coffin and Brumidi’s political cartoon showing Elizabeth Stanton and Susan Anthony sitting at the level of George Washington was a good example of the kind of opposition faced by women when they campaigned to get the right to vote.

Congressional Committee on Civil Service.  “Suggested report to be released in response to unfavorable reports to proposed militarization of the WASPs, 1943.” Eisenhower Presidential Archives.  https://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/sites/default/files/file/cochran_BinderI.pdf .  [Jacqueline Cochran Papers, WASP Series, Box 5, Militarization (2); NAID #12004190]  Retrieved March 11, 2020.

This is a report from the members of the Congressional Committee on Civil Service that was prepared in case other members of the committee who disagreed with the decision to form the WASP program went public with their disagreements.  It highlights and addresses many of the arguments at the time against women serving in the armed forces, even in non-combat roles.

Congress of the Confederation.  "Miscellaneous Papers of the Continental Congress.  Journal of the Continental Congress, 1775. July 27, 1775." US National Archives and Records Administration.  Catalog ID 301686. https://www.fold3.com/image/246/5287506 . Retrieved May 12, 2020.  

Because women had been serving as nurses alongside men in the military since before the United States even existed, it was important to document that in the context.  Fortunately I was able to find this record in the online National Archives where the first nurses were hired by congress as part of the hospital unit for the Continental Army.  They were the least paid of all hospital staff, paid half as much as the shopkeepers, the next least paid.

Cornell, Douglas B.  “Peace!  It’s Over.” The Charlotte Observer.  Charlotte, NC.  August 15, 1945.

This newspaper article reports on the end of WWII, what exactly the end entailed, and what the end meant to people at the time.

Cowden, Violet with Owen Chappel, Interviewer. "Interview with Violet Cowden 08/15/2003."  The Library of Congress, American Folklife Center, Veterans History Project. August 15, 2003.  http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/story/loc.natlib.afc2001001.18240/transcript?ID=sr0001 . Retrieved December 8, 2019.

This was a transcript of an interview with WASP Violet Cowden.  This interview was more useful than most articles about the WASPs because it was unedited, and the interviewer focused on Violet’s feelings about her service:  why she joined the WASPs, what she liked to fly and why.  Her stories were very emotional and detailed, so they were very useful to understand the WASPs and their feelings and motivations.  It also included questions about the effort to get veteran recognition and the sexism the WASPs encountered.

Currier and Ives.  “The Age of Iron.”  1869.  Library of Congress Archive.  https://www.loc.gov/item/90708467/ .  Retrieved February 3, 2020.

This cartoon, showing a wife and mother leaving her husband at home with the children played to people’s fears about women’s increasing role in American life.  The cartoon was another good example of the opposition the movement for women’s rights faced.

Darr, Ann.  "The Long Flight Home."  U.S. News & World Report. November 17, 1997 . http://www.wingsacrossamerica.us/records_all/wasp_articles/darr.pdf . Retrieved May 10, 2020.

This article was a reminiscence by WASP Ann Darr, and in this one she mentions how the WASPs were advised to stay silent and not get involved in the fight to be recognized as part of the military. This was important because it significantly hamstrung their support, since opposition to WASP militarization was under no such advice. She also mentions how the advice seemed like an order, even though it may not have officially been one.

Darr, Ann.  "The Women Who Flew - but Kept Silent."  The New York Times Magazine.  New York, New York.  May 7, 1995.  https://www.nytimes.com/1995/05/07/magazine/the-women-who-flew-but-kept-silent.html . Retrieved February 3, 2020.

This article was written by a WASP and dealt primarily with the directive to WASPs to not get involved in the politics surrounding their disbanding.  It was useful to get the perspectives of a WASP who was not allowed to defend herself at the time, but was now willing to share what she felt she should have said.

Department of Defense, Department of the Army, & Office of the Chief Signal Officer. “Army Navy Screen Magazine No. 16.”  US National Archives.  https://catalog.archives.gov/id/36182 .  https://youtu.be/PwIT7T9T1iQ .  Retrieved December 17, 2019.

This was a film distributed by the US Army in WWII to all servicemen.  This issue focused on the WASP program and detailed their training and organization.  It is interesting because it spends a lot of time talking about how attractive the WASPs are, and often shows them being helped by men.  It shows the feeling that the WASPs were not “real” and were like a toy for the Army.

Department of Defense, Department of the Air Force. “Harlingen Army Air Field, Texas--Elizabeth L. Gardner of Rockford, Illinois, WASP (Women's Airforce Service Pilot) pilot, takes a look around before sending her plane streaking down the runway at the air base.”  U.S. National Archives Catalog. 1943.  https://catalog.archives.gov/id/542191 .  Retrieved December 19, 2019.

This is a picture of Elizabeth Gardner, WASP class of 1943, preparing to takeoff in one of the many planes she flew with the WASP program.

Department of Defense, Department of the Air Force.  “Military Demographics Jan 2020.”  Air Force Personnel Center.  https://www.afpc.af.mil/Portals/70/documents/03_ABOUT/Military%20Demographics%20Jan%202020.pdf . Retrieved January 30, 2020.

This document was prepared by the USAF and gives breakdowns of current USAF personnel by race, gender, rank, occupation, and several other criteria.  I wanted to see how many women pilots were in the USAF today, and this document shows the number is still very low.

Fagan, O. Vivian. Zoot Suits and Parachutes.  Turner Publishing.  Paducah, KY.  1996.

This book was a memoir by WASP Vivian Fagan.  She spent time at Camp David, experienced harassment, and was witness to several incidents of sabotage.  She also shared the story of the hardship she faced trying to work as a pilot after WWII.

Featherhoff, G. W.  "Explaining the WASPs:  Letter to the Editor." St. Louis Globe Democrat.  St. Louis, MO.  May 10th, 1944.

This letter to the editor was written by the parent of a WASP in order to refute the allegations that the WASPs were “glamour girls” and not actually doing a grueling job ferrying planes and working for the USAAF.  It was useful because it showed exactly what stereotypes the WASPs were being branded with.

“Female trainees at the Harrisburg Shops, Middletown, PA, circa 1944.”  Pennsylvania State Archives.  http://cache.matrix.msu.edu/expa/large/1-2-1061-25-ExplorePAHistory-a0k5g9-a_349.jpg .  Retrieved December 19, 2019.

The Pennsylvania Archives included many images of women doing industrial work during WWII.  One picture of women working on a military airplane was used in this website to illustrate women doing jobs that would normally be done by the men who were overseas fighting WWII.

"Ferry Pilots." Roanoke Rapids herald. Roanoke Rapids, N.C. May 11, 1944. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/2017236974/1944-05-11/ed-1/seq-6/ . Retrieved May 12, 2020.

This collage showed WASPs doing their jobs, and praised their work and patriotism.  It was published in several newspapers in early 1944, and showed that at this point, public opinion in the press was still often supportive of the WASPs.

Frank, W.H. "Requirements for Ferry Pilots, September 11, 1942."  Memorandum.  Headquarters Air Force Command.  Eisenhower Presidential Archives.  https://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/sites/default/files/file/cochran_BinderC.pdf . [Jacqueline Cochran Papers, WASP Series, Box 2, Studies & Plan for Establishing Air Transport & Ferrying Service; NAID #12004407]  Retrieved January 19, 2020.  

This is a memo from General Frank, at the beginning of the WAFS program, a precursor to the WASP program, showing the requirements for a woman to be considered for the program.

"First Lady's Hand is Seen."  Worcester Gazette. Worcester, MA.  June 7, 1944.

This newspaper article was a good example of the media’s opposition to the WASP program near the end of WWII.  It included some of the main points writers were publicizing, especially the point that the WASPs were being treated preferentially to male pilots.

“For Your Country's Sake Today--For Your Own Sake Tomorrow.” National Museum of American History.  Washington, DC.  https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_443958 .  Retrieved December 10, 2019.

This is a recruitment poster for women to join the armed forces auxiliaries in WWII.  It includes women in the Navy, Coast Guard, Marine, and Nursing Auxiliaries, but notably does not show USAAF Auxiliary.

Gee, Maggie with Leah McGarrigle, Robin Li, and Kathryn Stine Interviewers. "Maggie Gee: Rosie the Riveter World War II American Homefront Oral History Project." Regional Oral History Office, Bancroft Library.  UC Berkeley.  Berkeley, CA.  2003. https://ohc-search.lib.berkeley.edu/catalog/OHMS_1280_1 .  Retrieved May 10, 2020.​​​​​​​

This interview was the source of most information about Maggie Gee that I used.  It also included her mentioning that Jacqueline Cochran wasn't willing to accept African American recruits, which was surprising to me since the WASPs were breaking gender barriers but wouldn’t break that color barrier.  It was also surprising because Maggie wasn’t white, so some other races were accepted.  It really showed how difficult it was to be an African American woman pilot.

"The Girls Deliver the Goods." Evening Star.  Washington, D.C. February 28, 1943. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1943-02-28/ed-1/seq-79/ . Retrieved May 12, 2020.

This article was written before the WAFS and WASP merged, and described the various duties of the WAFS.  While it was written to support the WAFS and emphasized their impact, it also had good factual descriptions of their duties.

"Gen. Arnold Defends WASP Program as Freeing Combat Flyers." Evening Star. Washington, D.C. May 18, 1944. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1944-05-18/ed-1/seq-6/ . Retrieved May 12, 2020.

When the bill to militarize the WASPs was coming before Congress, it was hard to find press materials supportive of the WASPs.  While this article wasn’t fully supportive of the WASPs, it did describe the efforts Gen. Arnold was making to help defend the program, and showed that they did have some supporters.

Grant, Vernon.  "Women: There's Work to Be Done!"  Poster.  US Government Printing Office.  1944.  Library of Congress Digital Collections.  http://loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph.3g05604/ . Retrieved May 10, 2020.

This poster was useful because it showed the efforts to recruit women into many different nontraditional roles.  It showed mechanics, welders, and metalworkers, as well as servers and clerical workers.  It showed the barriers that women were already breaking by the start of the WASP program.

Granger, Byrd Howell.  On Final Approach: The Women Airforce Service Pilots of WWII.  Falconer Publishing Company.  Scottsdale, AZ.  1991.

This book was written by WASP Byrd Granger, and contained numerous examples of her experiences in the WASPs.  She also had access to many other WASPs for her writing, so she had collected stories and perspectives from many of the women involved in the program.  Because it was written in 1991, it also had given her the opportunity to reflect on the effects she saw the WASPs had on aviation and women’s roles in aviation.

Gustin, E.W.  “Election Day!”  1909.  Library of Congress Archive.  https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/97500226/ .  Retrieved February 3, 2020.

The fears many Americans had about how granting women the right to vote would affect American men are summed up in this cartoon showing the husband left to care for children while his wife goes to vote.

Harvey, Fred.  “Uniform Identification Postcard.”  Menu illustration.  Fred Harvey Restaurant.  Union Station.  St. Louis MO.  1943.

This was a postcard included on Fred Harvey Restaurant menus at the start of WWII.  It included illustrations of women’s uniforms at the time.  I used it to show that the military had women’s auxiliaries for many services, but not for the USAAF. 

"Henry Lewis Stimson, 1867-1950, bust portrait, facing right."  Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.  US Library of Congress.  http://loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph.3b01973/ . Retrieved May 10, 2020.

This is a picture of Henry Stimson, US Secretary of War during WWII.  As one of the outspoken supporters of militarizing the WASPs it was important to include him in their story.

"Interview With Bernice 'Bee' Haydu."  Digital Collections.  The National WWII Museum.  New Orleans, LA.  2015.  https://www.ww2online.org/view/bernice-haydu . Retrieved May 10, 2020.

The National WWII Museum had video interviews recorded of several WASPS.  This was after they had received military recognition and the Congressional Gold Medal.  Bee Haydu had led the push for recognition and had put a lot of work into keeping the WASPs organized.  She also had excellent recall of her time before, during and after the WASP program, so this interview was very useful.

"Interview With Geraldine Nyman."  Digital Collections.  The National WWII Museum.  New Orleans, LA. 2015.  https://www.ww2online.org/view/geraldine-geri-nyman . Retrieved May 10, 2020.

Geraldine Nyman was also interviewed by the National WWII Museum and recorded.  Geraldine was in the first graduating WASP class, so she had more time with the WASPs than anyone except the WAFS pilots.  Her stories included a crash she was in which was interesting to hear about firsthand.  She also had vivid memories of not being considered part of the military and the feelings when they finally were recognized in 1977.

"Interview With Helen Snapp."  Digital Collections.  The National WWII Museum.  New Orleans, LA.  2015.  https://www.ww2online.org/view/helen-snapp . Retrieved May 10, 2020.

Helen Snapp was another WASP interviewed by the National WWII Museum.  When Snapp joined the WASPs she had never been away from home before, so hearing about the courage it took to leave her home and family and then go to learn to fly fighter planes was inspirational.

"Interview With Maxine Flournoy."  Digital Collections.  The National WWII Museum.  New Orleans, LA. 2015.  https://www.ww2online.org/view/maxine-flournoy . Retrieved May 10, 2020.

Maxine Flournoy was another WASP interviewed by the National WWII Museum.  Her recollections of rationing during the war and how everyone was willing to sacrifice for the country seemed like it would be important to hear today.  She also recalled how it was civilian male pilots who lobbied against the WASPs and that the pilots already in the military supported the WASPs.

"It Needs Looking Into." Evening Star.  Washington, D.C. April 14, 1944. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1944-04-14/ed-1/seq-6/ . Retrieved May 12, 2020.

This article was one example of the articles typically seen when the bill to militarize the WASPs (HR 4219) was being debated.  It focused on the cost of the WASP program, ignored its benefits, and highlighted the possibility that male pilots would be unable to find jobs because of the WASPs.

"Letters and Articles Written by WASPS and WAFS." American Experience.  Fly Girls, Primary Source.  Website. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/flygirls-letters-and-articles-written-wasps-and-wafs/ .  Retrieved December 8, 2019.​​​​​​​

This was a great source of primary material from the WASPs in the form of letters they wrote home sharing their experiences in their own words.  If I had the space for more words in this website, I would use these letters to showcase how the WASPs shared their experiences at the time they were having them.

"Marina Raskova." Online Collections.  The Ninety-Nines, Museum of Women Pilots.  https://www.museumofwomenpilots.org/women-pilots-marina-raskova-54.htm . Retrieved May 12, 2020.  

This is a picture of women in the "Night Witches" a group of Soviet women pilots who actually served combat roles before the WASP program even existed in the United States.  Because Gen. Arnold was aware of their existence when he started the WASP, it was important to include them in the context of the program.  

Marine, John L.  "The Air Force Academy Class of 1980 marches in formation." National Archives and Records Administration. January 6, 1980. https://nara.getarchive.net/media/the-air-force-academy-class-of-1980-marches-in-formation-the-class-of-1980-911234 . Retrieved May 13, 2020.

This picture shows the USAF Academy class of 1980 marching in formation.  This is the first class that included women (enrolled in 1976) which is a major milestone, and something the WASPs mentioned was important to see.  Because 150 women enrolled in 1976, it wouldn’t be possible to include all individual pictures, so I used this to show how they were mixed in with the men.

"Meet the WASP:  They Aid Army." The Wilmington Morning Star.  Wilmington, N.C. Oct.  25, 1943. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn78002169/1943-10-25/ed-1/seq-1/ . Retrieved May 12, 2020.

This article included descriptions of some of the other jobs the WASPs did.  There is a lot of material on the WASPs towing targets and ferrying plans in other sources, but this article talks about them working signal detection, and instrument training.

"Men Pilots Jobless, House Unit Considers Investigating WASP." Evening Star. Washington, D.C. March 14, 1944. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1944-03-14/ed-1/seq-4/ . Retrieved May 12, 2020.

This is an early article from the debate over militarizing the WASPs.  It delved into the number of male pilots who had been released from training programs and who were concerned about not being able to get a new job because of the WASPs.  This would be a justification the US House Civil Service Committee would use when they began their inquiry into the usefulness of the WASP program.

Miller, Bryan.  "Woman Flier Leads New Battle." The New York Times. New York, NY. October 30, 1977.  https://www.nytimes.com/1977/10/30/archives/new-jersey-weekly-woman-flier-leads-new-battle-a-woman-flier-leads.html . Retrieved May 20, 2020.

This article was written when the WASPs were beginning to campaign for a new militarization bill in 1977.  It covers Bee Haydu, one of the leaders of the new push, provided a summary of the WASP program for readers who had never heard of it, and summarized the WASPs positions regarding militarization at the time.

Milwaukee Composite Squadron 5, US CAP. Facebook Post, December 21,  2019. https://facebook.com/MCS5CAP/posts/2558905614204985 .  Retrieved December 21, 2019.

This is the post from my Civil Air Patrol Unit announcing C/Capt. Budzisz’s acceptance to the USAF Academy’s class of 2024.  She dreams of being a combat pilot with the USAF, and this dream can be realized now because of the WASPs.

Moriarty, William John.  “Nurses Promoted at 118th Station Hospital.”  Indiana State Library Photo Collection.  http://cdm16066.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p16066coll13/id/591/rec/140 .  Retrieved January 19, 2020.

This photograph was a good example of women serving as nurses in WWII.  Women were allowed to serve as nurses and non-flight roles with the USAAF both before and after WWII.

"Mrs. Norbeck is Killed in Plane Crash" Columbus Herald. Columbus, IN. October 18, 1944.

This newspaper article shows the risks of being a WASP, including the risk of death.

"Official WASP Correspondence." American Experience.  Fly Girls, Primary Source.   Website. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/flygirls-wasp-official-correspondence/ . Retrieved December 8, 2019.​​​​​​​

This was a great source of primary material from the WASP program.  It included several memos forming the WASP, but also included the text of the letter Gen. Arnold wrote to all the WASPs when the program was disbanded.  I used this information to show that he was proud of the WASPs and what they accomplished.

Paris, Milton.  "The Navy Needs You - Join the WAVES Now." Poster.  US Government Printing Office. 1940's.  Hennepin County Library Digital Collection.  https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/p17208coll3/id/1557/rec/7 . Retrieved May 10, 2020.

This is one of many WAVES recruitment posters used in WWII.  I chose it because its style was different from other posters.  It shows how women were actively being recruited to help the WWII effort.

Pearson, Drew. "Washington Merry-Go-Round:  Arnold Faces Congress Uproar Over Use of WASPs.”  Leader-Telegram. Eau Claire, WI.  August 5, 1944.

Drew Pearson was one of the primary opponents of the WASP program, and this article highlighted most of his common arguments—that women were taking jobs from men, that Jacqueline Cochran had seduced General Arnold, and that unqualified women were being given flight jobs.

Pendygraft, John. “WASP Training Program to End.” Times. St. Petersburg, FL. June 27, 1944.

This newspaper article explores how suddenly the WASP program ended, and explains some of the reasons.

Pierotti, John.  "How to get in the AAF." Contact Magazine.  April, 1944.

This editorial cartoon of a man coming out of a thrift shop after trading his flight uniform for a dress showed the public opinion that WASPs were being treated preferentially to men, and also that they were taking jobs away from men.  I think it shows the feelings against the WASPs in a way better than just words do.

Reno, Janet. "U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno's Keynote Speech, the 50th Anniversary of the Women Airforce Service Pilots." Sweetwater, TX. May 23, 1993.  http://www.wingsacrossamerica.us/wasp/reno.htm .   Retrieved December 3, 2019.​​​​​​​

As the niece of a WASP, Janet Reno shared how the WASPs inspired her personal journey during her keynote speech to the WASP 50th anniversary celebration.  Since Janet Reno also broke barriers, as the first woman Attorney General, her story is definitely a part of the WASPs long-term impact.

Roosevelt, Eleanor. “My Day.” September 1, 1942.  United Syndicate, Inc.  

This is Eleanor Roosevelt's syndicated daily article where she calls for women pilots to demand the opportunity to help the Air Force transport and fly its planes.  It shows that the call to let women fly military aircraft was not isolated.

Self, A.H.  “Air Transport Auxiliary Agreement, January 24, 1942.”  Eisenhower Presidential Archives.  https://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/sites/default/files/file/cochran_BinderB.pdf . [Jacqueline Cochran Papers, Air Transport Auxiliary Series, Box 5, ATA Agreement; NAID #12004375]  Retrieved January 19, 2020.

This is the memo from the British Air Transport Command authorizing Jacqueline Cochran to bring women from the US to Britain to help ferry planes, before the US allowed women to fly military aircraft.

Smith, Dan V.  "WAAC - This is My War Too."  Poster. US Government Printing Office. 1943. Hennepin County Library Digital Collection.  https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/p17208coll3/id/1412/ . Retrieved May 10, 2020.

This poster was just one of many WAAC and WAC recruitment posters in WWII.  I chose it because it was an early poster and still had the WAAC acronym instead of WAC, which was adopted later.

Souza, Pete.  “President Obama Signs Bill Awarding Congressional Gold Medal to Women Airforce Service Pilots.”  Obama White House Photo Archives, US National Archives.  https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2009/07/09/one-could-not-help-be-touched .  Retrieved January 20, 2020.

The Obama White House extensively documented the ceremony awarding the Congressional Medal of Honor to the remaining WASPs.  A picture from when the Congressional Gold Medal was awarded to the WASPs from their collection in the National Archives was used here.

Stackpole, Peter.  “Air Force Pilot.”  Life Magazine.  NY Times Inc. July 19, 1943.

This is the issue of Life Magazine that focused on the WASPs.  I used the cover photo of WASP Shirley Slade in the website because the image said a lot about how the WASPs were viewed—often as much for their looks as their abilities.

Taylor, Hazel.  “Letter to Ralph Cohen, National Aeronautics, on WASP program, January 21, 1944.”  Eisenhower Presidential Archives.  https://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/sites/default/files/research/online-documents/jacqueline-cochran/binderjjjj.pdf . [Jacqueline Cochran Papers, WASP Series, Box 14, Publicity (2); NAID #12004183] Retrieved January 10, 2020.

This letter is a response from the WASP public relations manager to the associate editor of National Aeronautics after the magazine publicly questioned why women were being trained to fly military aircraft.  It recognizes the arguments against the program, and addresses them.  It is interesting to see how even in its defense, the WASP program’s own director had to be condescending to her pilots, referring to the program as “aerial dishwashing.”

Teerling, Wilhelmina.  “WASP Graduating Class of 1943.” International Women's Air and Space Museum.  Cleveland, OH.  https://iwasm.omeka.net/items/show/1496 .  Retrieved January 19, 2020.

The IWASM website has many other photographs from the WASP program digitally archived.  This is a photograph of the 7-W-43 graduating class.  This shows the small size of the initial classes.  But several classes passed through Sweetwater during the WASP tenure.

Triedler, Adolph.  “For Every Fighter, a Woman Worker.” Poster.  Pritzker Military Museum and Library Digital Collection.  https://www.pritzkermilitary.org/explore/museum/digital-collection/view/oclc/10624804 .  Retrieved December 29, 2019.

The Pritzker Museum has an excellent archives of war posters stored digitally.  I found the WWI poster recruiting women to work while the men fought in their digital collection.  I chose this poster because it emphasized that it was the absence of men that allowed and encouraged women to take new roles in the workplace.

Tunner, William H.  “Memo Regarding Hiring Civilian Women Pilots, September 15, 1942.”  Eisenhower Presidential Archives.  https://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/sites/default/files/file/cochran_BinderD.pdf . [Jacqueline Cochran Papers, WASP Series, Box 12, Establishment of WASP; NAID #12004207]  Retrieved January 19, 2020.

This is the memo that granted authorization to hire women to serve ferrying US military aircraft, and marked specifically the moment when this barrier was broken.  It showed amounts, requirements, and restrictions for women pilots to serve.

Tunner, William H.  Over the Hump.  U.S. Government Printing Office. Air Force History and Museum Programs.  Washington DC.  1998.   https://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/28/2001329799/-1/-1/0/AFD-100928-057.pdf . Retrieved May 8, 2020.

This is Lt. General Tunner's memoirs about the lead up to the historic airlifting of food and supplies to Berlin after World War II. Because he was instrumental in developing the USAAF Ferrying Division, later known as the ATC, the book includes significant coverage of the formation of the of the Ferrying Group.  The WAFS came out of the Ferrying Group, so this provides good context for the need for those additional pilots.

Unidentified Photographer. “Janet Harmon Bragg c. 1930's."  Smithsonian Institution Archives, RU 9545. https://siarchives.si.edu/blog/janet-harmon-bragg-female-aviator . Retrieved May 10, 2020.

This is a picture of Janet Harmon Bragg, an African American woman pilot turned away from the WASPs.  It shows her in flight gear 10 years before she applied for the WASPs.

United States Air Force.  “Jackie Cochran with WASP Trainees at Avenger Field, Texas, United States, 1943-44.”  WWII Database.  https://ww2db.com/image.php?image_id=4336 .  Retrieved December 5, 2019.

This is an image of Jacqueline Cochran singing with WASP trainees.  This image shows the camaraderie the women developed from training, serving, and risking their lives together.  The picture is reminiscent of images from men’s wartime barracks, and serves to emphasize the effect the program had on the women involved.

United States Air Force.  "Lt. Col. Martha McSally stands with her A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft."  US Air Force News.  December 6, 2006.  https://www.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2000530391/ . Retrieved May 8, 2020.

Because Lt. Col. McSally was the first woman to fly combat missions, it was important to include her.  She credits the WASPs with her opportunity to be a combat pilot too, which shows how the barriers they broke did give more women opportunities to fly for their country.

United States Air Force.  “WASPs Leaving Their Pistol Packin’ Mama.” National Air Force Museum Archives.  1944.  https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Upcoming/Photos/igphoto/2000546294/ .  Retrieved December 5, 2019.

This photo of four WASPs walking out of an airplane, showing their confidence as the first women in the air force, became an icon and showed the women in full pilot gear, including parachutes.  It shows the enthusiasm and excitement these women had to fly for their country.

United States Congress.  Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 78th Congress Second Session.  Volume 90, Part 9.  March 24, 1944-June 12, 1944. United States Government Printing Office.  Washington, DC.  1944.

This volume of the Congressional Record I found as a book, which was easier to use than the online version.  This volume included the arguments by Rep. Morrison (D-LA) against militarizing the WASPs and also referenced other magazine articles at the time that opposed WASP militarization.  It was very illuminating to see exactly how public certain officials were with their highly prejudiced viewpoints.

United States. Congress.  Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 111th Congress, First Session.  Volume 155, Part 11. June 8, 2009 - June 17, 2009. U.S. Government Printing Office. Washington D.C.  2009.​​​​​​​

This volume of the Congressional Record includes the discussion on awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the WASPs.  It included many overviews of their work, and also included Rep. Ros-Lehtinen's remarks about how the WASP inspired her daughter to fly for the US Marine Corps.  It was a good contrast to the Congressional Record from 1944, which had very different things to say about the WASPs.

United States Congress.  “Public Law 95-202.”  November 23, 1977.  https://www.congress.gov/bill/95th-congress/house-bill/8701 . Retrieved February 2, 2020.

This was the law that officially recognized the WASPs as veterans for their service.  It was important to include it in the project because the WASPs spent 30 years fighting for this recognition.  It also marked a major milestone in breaking the barrier to allowing women to fly to for the military—it was now official and legal.

United States Government Publishing Office.  Congressional Record. Volume 88, Part 3 (March 26, 1942 to May 21, 1942).  May 14, 1942.  https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1942-pt3/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1942-pt3-32.pdf .  Retrieved January 29, 2020.

This includes the debate in Congress about authorizing a Women’s Auxiliary for the Navy.  It shows the stereotypes leaders had about women serving in the military in roles other than what had been traditional to that point, and the limitations that were imposed on women who wanted to serve.

United States Government Publishing Office.  "Public Law 102-90."  GovInfo.  December 5, 1991.  https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-105/pdf/STATUTE-105-Pg1290.pdf . Retrieved May 13, 2020.

This was the text of the law that included the repeal of the ban on women flying combat missions.  The bill itself is 300 pages long, and the repeal only amounts to a few lines in it, but it still was important enough to include in this project.

United States Senate Historical Office.  “76th Congress, February 21, 1939.” US Senate.  https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/art/special/Desks/imagedetail.cfm?id=images/history/1939_prayer.jpg .  Retrieved January 19, 2020.

This image of the Senate Chambers is from 1939.  I used it to connect to the arguments that were used in the Senate against allowing women larger roles to serve in the military. 

"The WASP: First in Flight Experiencing War:  Stories from the Veterans History Project." Website. Library of Congress.  http://www.loc.gov/vets/stories/ex-war-wasp.html . Retrieved December 8, 2019.

This website was a collection of nine interviews with WASPs, some audio and some video, and all included pictures, that were put together by the Veterans History Project for the Library of Congress.  As the WASPs age, it is essential to have their words recorded and their experiences saved in their own words.  After watching and listening to these videos and recordings I had a lot of ideas of how I wanted to proceed with my website.  The women include information about WWII, about culture of the time, about demographics, discrimination, and so much more.

"WASPS' Inclusion in Army Is Proposed by Stimson."  Evening Star. Washington, D.C. May 5, 1944. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1944-05-05/ed-1/seq-15/ . Retrieved May 11, 2020.

This was an article that showed some of the support the WASPs had in their battle to be militarized.  It shows how Stimson’s defense wasn’t actually a defense of the WASPs, but was simply saying that the WASPs weren’t actually stealing jobs from men.

"WASPS To End Long Service On December 20th." The Coolidge examiner.  Coolidge, AZ. December 15. 1944. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.  https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn94050542/1944-12-15/ed-1/seq-4/ . Retrieved May 11, 2020.

This article was written just before the WASP program was disbanded, and shows how quickly media turned around to support the WASPs once the program was ending.  This article is very praiseful and supportive of the WASPs.  It also has a lot of information on what the WASPs did when they were active.

“Woman Dies in P-38 on West Shore.” The Evening News. Harrisburg, PA.  April 3, 1944.

This article shows another story of a woman who was killed in the WASP program, showing the risks the WASPs were taking.

Women Airforce Service Pilots (U.S.). 1972 WASP Reunion Souvenir Album. Fort Worth, TX. 1972.  https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1010002/m1/21/ . Retrieved May 18, 2020.​​​​​​​

The picture of Verneda Rodriguez was the hardest picture to find for this project.  Unfortunately the stories of the two Latina WASPs were virtually untold, so finding information about Verneda Rodriguez was difficult.  Because there is no archive of the 44-W-6 yearbook online, finding her picture was even harder.  Fortunately she was pictured in the 1972 WASP reunion souvenir book from Sweetwater which was stored in the Portal To Texas History Archives, and I used that picture.

“Women Pilots May Become Members of the Army Air Forces.” The Daily Pantagraph.  Bloomington, IL. November 1, 1943.

This short newspaper article describes an early recognition of the WASPs as equal to male service members doing the same duties.   Since the bill described in the article was never ultimately passed, and the women were not considered militarized when the WASP program was disbanded, this article provides a unique perspective.

Wyall, Marty et. al., with Rebecca Wright, Interviewer. "WASP Group Oral History." NASA Headquarters Oral History Project. July 19, 1999. https://historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov/JSCHistoryPortal/history/oral_histories/NASA_HQ/Aviatrix/WASP/WASP_7-18-99.htm . Retrieved May 19, 2020.

This is an interview with six different WASPs in a group. It was different than most other 1-on-1 interviews because the WASPs could interact with each other and help each other remember stories and fill in details that other WASPs missed. This is where I found the story about the WASP whose medical records weren't turned in on time because the doctor didn't believe women should be in the military. It showed the challenges women had to go through even to get in the program, so was useful as part of the main story.

Yount, Barton K. Gen. "Address to the Final WASP Graduating Class, December 7, 1944." Wings Across America.  Final Tribute.  http://www.wingsacrossamerica.org/yount.html . Retrieved May 10, 2020.

This included the text of Gen. Yount's address to the final WASP graduating class.  He commends and memorializes the women who died.  I included the excerpt from his speech to contrast with the fact that the women had to pay for the belongings of dead WASPs to be returned home, and weren't allowed to cove their coffins with American Flags, no matter how kind the General's words were.

Secondary Sources

28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs.  "28th Bomb Wing Dedicates Airfield Operations Building in Honor of Ola 'Millie' Rexroat.” Ellsworth Air Force Base.  September 27, 2017. https://www.ellsworth.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1326517/28th-bomb-wing-dedicates-airfield-operations-building-in-honor-of-ola-millie-re/ . Retrieved May 18, 2020.

This was an article about a building being named for WASP Ola Rexroat, the first Native American woman to fly for the US Military.  In addition to describing her history, it also included her WASP Yearbook picture.

Bates, Matthew, SSgt.  "WASP Served for Love of Flight." Defense Media Activity-San Antonio.  January 16, 2009. https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/121377/wasp-served-for-love-of-flight/ . Retrieved December 20, 2019.

This article included information from an interview with WASP Betty Jo Streff.  I used her information because she clearly recalled how she was made to feel unwelcome at the base she was assigned.  I wanted to show the discrimination that faced WASPs, and this was a good example.

Bergquist, Carl.  "1st Air Force Female Pilot in Combat Reflects on Career."  US Air Force News.  December 6, 2006.  https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/128823/1st-air-force-female-pilot-in-combat-reflects-on-career/ . Retrieved May 13, 2020.

This article was an interview with Lt. Col. McSally, the first woman to fly combat missions for the USAF.  It is especially noteworthy because she references the WASPs in regards to being the first women military fliers, and opening opportunities for McSally.

Bond, Jill, Director/Producer.  We Served Too:  The Story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II. Film.  2013.

This film included many interviews with WASPs and focused on their experiences both during and after their time in the program.  Because it was relatively new, the women got to include their feelings on receiving the Congressional Gold Medal in 2009, and relate what they saw as their impact on women in flight.

Bowers, Carol L. "Women Pilots of World War II Inspired Generations." American Forces Press Service. March 10, 2010. https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/117372/women-pilots-of-world-war-ii-inspired-generations/ . Retrieved May 10, 2020.

This article included the text from Admiral Crea’s speech to the WASPs at a memorial service.  As a barrier-breaker herself, showing how Admiral Crea was inspired by the WASPs was a good way to show the long term impact of the WASP program.

Brown, McLernon, Director. “WWII Veteran Mickey Brown - Woman Airforce Service Pilots (WASP).” YouTube. 2008. https://youtu.be/pgRiOfgcAO0.  Retrieved January 19, 2020.

This video shows the story of one WASP, Mickey Brown in her own words through interviews and images.

Bullock Texas State History Museum. “The WASP Story: Texas State History Museum.” Website.  https://www.thestoryoftexas.com/discover/campfire-stories/wasp .  Retrieved January 20, 2020.

This website has an overview of the difficulties WASP recruits faced, and the rigors of the program.  It especially focuses on the hardships of the program and the challenges members faced. It included a lot of information from members’ letters home, which proved good context.

Buzanowski, J.G. “WASPs Awarded Congressional Gold Medal.” U.S. Air Force, March 11, 2010.  https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/117355/wasps-awarded-congressional-gold-medal/ . Retrieved January 20, 2020.

This article describes the efforts by WASPs to be recognized for their service, and the eventual awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal.

Buckley, Phil. “USAF Flight Gear From 1950s – Part 2.” Heritage Flightgear Displays, Oct. 20, 2011. https://heritageflightgeardisplays.wordpress.com/2010/12/23/usaf-flight-gear-from-1950s-part-2/ .  Retrieved December 15, 2019.

This article included the picture of the 1950’s flight crew fully comprised of men that I used to illustrate the USAF strict males-only policy after the WASP disbandment.

Cahn, Dianna.  "Poll Asks Troops, Veterans Thoughts on Women in Combat, Mixed-Gender Training and More."  Stars and Stripes.  Washington, DC.  January 2, 2019.  https://www.stripes.com/news/poll-asks-troops-veterans-thoughts-on-women-in-combat-mixed-gender-training-and-more-1.562898 . Retrieved May 10, 2020. 

This article shared the results of an anonymous survey distributed by the Smithsonian Institution and Stars and Stripes to current and former military personnel.  It included information on harassment and discrimination and broke results down by sex.  It was important to show that there is still a lot of work left to do to make women fully integrated into the armed forces, and that even though the WASPs broke a barrier, there’s still a long way to go.

Carter, Liam. "WWII WASP Female Pilot Frances J. Dias in her Yearbook." Histolines.  Website. February 10, 2019.  https://histolines.wordpress.com/2019/02/10/wwii-wasp-female-pilot-frances-j-dias-in-her-yearbook-op-original-scan/ . Retrieved May 18, 2020.

This picture was very difficult to find.  After determining that Frances Dias was in fact the second Latina WASP (information only mentioned in specific Mexican American media) it tuned out that her Avenger Field Class Yearbook was also one of the few missing ones from the Portal to Texas History Archives.  I used this picture from Histolines after corroborating it with several other sources because it was the best resolution available.

Clio. “Women's Work.” Website. https://www.cliohistory.org/click/workplace-family/work/ .  Retrieved January 10, 2020.

This website provides context on the expectations for women in daily life in the early 1900's.

Collini, Sara. “Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) of WWII.” National Women's History Museum, April 23, 2019.  https://www.womenshistory.org/exhibits/women-airforce-service-pilots-wasps-wwii .  Retrieved January 10, 2020.

This website includes many images and information from the origins through the deactivation of the WASP program.  It also included a link to the film the army sent to members about the WASP program where they talked as much about how attractive the WASPs were as about how much work they did.

Collins, Elizabeth M. "Remembering the Women's Army Corps." United States Army. March 3, 2009.  https://www.army.mil/article/17673/remembering_the_womens_army_corps . Retrieved May 10, 2020.

This article included information from a woman who had served in the WAAC in WWII.  She points out that the women in the WAC, WAVES, SPARS, and Marine Reserves were breaking barriers too, and I thought it was important to note that other women were braking barriers in the armed forces at the same time as the WASPs.

Collins, Shannon. "Female World War II Pilot Proud to be a WASP." DoD News Features, Defense Media Activity. March 2, 2016. https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/684660/female-world-war-ii-pilot-proud-to-be-a-wasp/ . Retrieved May 10, 2020.

This article focused on WASP Lucile Doll Wise.  it was useful because she remembered a lot of details about the successes of the program, including how many planes the WASPs ferried (12,000) so I could use that for my website in a WASPs own words.  It also included her personal thoughts on wanting to be recognized as a veteran.  I thought it was important to include this to show why veteran status was important.

Collins, Shannon.  "WASP Pursued Love of Flying, Fought for Women Vets’ Recognition." Department of Defense News.  March 9, 2016.  https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/689318/wasp-pursued-love-of-flying-fought-for-women-vets-recognition/ . Retrieved May 10, 2020. 

This story included WASP Bee Haydu's story about the work for militarization.  It also included her personal experience of trying to get a job as a pilot after WWII and how she was repeatedly turned down because she was a woman.  Bee Haydu led the WASPs through the bulk of the fight for militarization in the 1970's so she was very well connected and had a lot of experience with how that fight occurred.

Collins, Shannon.  “WASPs Were Pioneers for Female Pilots of Today, Tomorrow.”  Department of Defense, DoD News Features.  March 2, 2016.  https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/684700/wasps-were-pioneers-for-female-pilots-of-today-tomorrow/ .  Retrieved December 15, 2019.

This was an article for the Department of Defense News Service recapping the story of the WASPs.  It included interviews with several surviving WASPs at the time, and also had very good details of WASP program information including what cadets had to pay for, and the challenges of the program which was good information to show the challenges WASPs had to face just to be in the program.

Connecticut Veterans Legal Center and Yale Law School.  "Gatekeepers to Opportunity:  Gender Disparities in Congressional Nominations to the Military Service Academies." Report.  July 26, 2019.  https://law.yale.edu/sites/default/files/area/clinic/document/gatekeepers_to_opportunity_-_gender_disparities_in_congressional_nominations_to_the_military_service_academies_7.26.19.pdf . Retrieved May 15, 2020.

This report produced by Yale Law School and the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center exhaustively breaks down the service academy nominations of men and women by all current congress people and shows the large disparity in nominations between men and women.  It’s important to illustrate exactly how much work is left to be done to get full representation of women in the armed forces.

Cornelsen, Kathleen. "Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II: Exploring Military Aviation, Encountering Discrimination, and Exchanging Traditional Roles in Service to America." Journal of Women's History. Volume 17, Number 4. Winter 2005.  https://muse.jhu.edu/article/190422 .  Retrieved May 10, 2020.

This journal article specifically focused on the difficulties women faced when taking nontraditional military jobs.  It was also useful because it has a substantial section covering racial discrimination within the WASP program which gave a different perspective from what was generally found elsewhere.  It helped show that while the WASPs fought discrimination against women, at the same time they were perpetuating discrimination against African Americans.

Correll, Diana Stancy.  "Lawmakers Nominate Far More Men Than Women for Military Service Academies Each Year: Report."  Military Times.  Vienna, VA. July 23, 2019. https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2019/07/23/lawmakers-nominate-far-more-men-than-women-for-military-service-academies-each-year-report/ . Retrieved May 15, 2020.​​​​​​​

This was a report on a study commissioned by Connecticut Veterans Legal Center studying how many women were nominated to the service academies by congress people.  Because this is the only way to get into the service academies, it’s important to note that even though women have been admitted for 40 years, the number of women nominated is still very small compared to men.  The most important part of the article was the link to the actual study which had much more detailed information.

Cuttita, Chrissy, 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs.  "WASP Shares Her World War II Experiences."  US Air Force. March 30, 2006.  https://www.af.mil/News/Features/Display/Article/143661/wasp-shares-her-world-war-ii-experiences/ . Retrieved December 8, 2019.

This article was covering an interview with WASP Deanie Parrish, and included her views of her time in the WASP.  In addition to her own reminiscences,  it included information about why the WASPs were ordered to remain silent about their service after WWII, and about how dangerous their work really was.

Department of Defense, Airman Magazine.  "Remembering 'Tack.'"  March 21, 2016.  https://airman.dodlive.mil/2016/03/21/remembering-tack/ .  Retrieved December 12, 2019.

This article published in the official Air Force magazine was an interview and reminiscences about Betty 'Tack' Blake who was the last surviving member of the first WASP graduating class in 1943.  Her memories of her experience and of how people thought of the WASP program showed the challenges the WASPs faced.

Disney, Walt. “Fifinella.” 1943.  http://www.wingsacrossamerica.us/wasp/fifi.htm . Retrieved January 19, 2020.

This page includes information about the “Fifinella” logo used by the WASP, including sharing its origin in a Roald Dahl story and artwork by Walt Disney.  The “Fifinella” image used on the home page was found on this website

Dolitsky, Alexander B. Ed.  Allies in Wartime:  The Alaska-Siberia Airway During World War II.  Alaska-Siberia Research Center.  Juneau, AK.  2007.  https://www.arlis.org/docs/vol1/P/166147448/166147448.pdf .  Retrieved May 10, 2020.

This was a collection of essays all relating to Soviet and American cooperation during WWII.  One of the essays focused on WASPs who ferried planes to Alaska, but were not allowed to continue to fly them to final destinations outside of the United States.  The essay had extensive interviews with WASPs which were very useful to put together this story in their words.

Douglas, Deborah G.  United States Women in Aviation: 1940-1985. Smithsonian Institution Press. Washington, DC. 1990. https://repository.si.edu/handle/10088/2673 . Retrieved January 3, 2019. 

This book covered the opponents and defenders of the WASP program very thoroughly, including a lot of information about the main opponent in the US House of Representatives, Rep. Ramspeck, Chair of the House Committee on Civil Service.  It included quotes, notably his reference to the WASPs as “teen-aged schoolgirls, etc.”

DuPre, Col. Flint O. U.S. Air Force Biographical Dictionary.  F. Watts Publishers.  London, UK.  1965

This biography tells Jacqueline Cochran’s story from the Air Force's perspective before the WASPs were granted military or veteran status and before their service was recognized.  It is noteworthy that the Air Force considered her important enough to be included in this biography of important Air Force figures, even though her main project with the Air Force, the WASP, was not recognized as part of the Air Force at this time.

Erdrich, Ronald W. “Denial of Military Honors at Arlington Stings WASPs.” Military.com, May 29, 2016.  http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/05/29/denial-military-honors-arlington-stings-wasps.html.  Retrieved January 12, 2020.

This article describes how important military recognition was to the WASPs, and what being recognized as veterans means in practical terms.

Ganson, Barbara.  Texas Takes Wing: A Century of Flight in the Lone Star State.  University of Texas Press.  Austin, TX.  2014.

This book had the best description and most useful information about Lt. Col. Tibbets' plan to shame men into flying the B-29 by having WASPs fly it in front of them.  It had good information from the two WASPs who flew the bomber on how they felt about being used in that way.

Gibson, Karen Bush.  Women Aviators:  26 Stories of Pioneer Flights, Daring Missions, and Record Setting Journeys. Chicago Review Press.  Chicago, IL.  2013

Two of the 26 women aviators profiled in this book were WASPs, and this book examined their individual stories in great detail.

Hardy, Jeff. "Black Female Pilot Mildred Carter Was Frustrated in her Effort to Serve in the Skies, but, in Tuskegee, She's Counted Among the Famed Airmen." Alabama Register. Mobile, AL.  http://lestweforget.hamptonu.edu/page.cfm?uuid=9FEC435D-A1F8-161B-AEA75C6150D147D7 . Retrieved May 10, 2020.

This article covered the story of one of the two African American women that are on record as being turned down as WASPs because of their race.  Once I learned that WASPs discriminated against African American women pilots, I knew it was important to include that in their story.

Haynsworth, Leslie and David Toomey. Amelia Earhart’s Daughters: The Wild and Glorious Story of American Women Aviators from World War II to the Dawn of the Space Age.  William Morrow Paperbacks. New York, New York.  2000.

This book focused on issues that faced women pilots, and included a significant section that dealt with discrimination and prejudice faced by the WASPs while they were active.

Henry, Chris.  "The Story of a WASP Flight Instructor." EAA Aviation Museum Website.  September 5, 2019. http://inspire.eaa.org/2019/09/05/the-story-of-a-wasp-flight-instructor/ . Retrieved May 8, 2020.

This article covered Ethel Jones, after the EAA museum received several artifacts from her time with the WASP.  This was before EAA had an exhibit on the WASPs so these artifacts stood alone at the time.  I used the quote from Ethel about why she joined the WASPs as an example of why women would choose to do a dangerous job like flying USAAF planes during WWII when they didn't have to.

Historian, Vassar. “Nancy Harkness Love.” https://vcencyclopedia.vassar.edu/alumni/nancy-love.html .  Retrieved January 10, 2020.

This encyclopedia entry provides more information on Nancy Harkness Love, the founder of one of the precursors to the WASP program, the WAFS, and co-founder of the WASPs. While a lot of information was available for Jacqueline Cochran in the Eisenhower presidential archives, there wasn’t as much for Nancy Love, so this was a good source for more information about her.

Holland, Brynn.  "Meet the Night Witches, the Daring Female Pilots Who Bombed Nazis By Night."  History.com. Website.  https://www.history.com/news/meet-the-night-witches-the-daring-female-pilots-who-bombed-nazis-by-night . Retrieved May 12, 2020.

This website included information on the “Night Witches” who were women that actually flew in combat in the Soviet Union in WWII. This is important context because Gen. Arnold refers to them when he explains why he created the WASP program. This website also included good images of Night Witch fliers for additional context.

Johnson, Caroline. “Women with Wings: The 75-Year-Legacy of the WASP.” National Air and Space Museum, August 5, 2018. https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/women-wings-75-year-legacy-wasp . Retrieved December 22, 2019.

This article provides an overview of the WASP program over 75 years from its founding in 1943 until 2018, providing a historical perspective.

Keleny, Anne. "Lettice Curtis: Second World War Pilot."  The Independent.  London, UK.  August 11, 2014.  https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/lettice-curtis-second-world-war-pilot-9662674.html . Retrieved May 12, 2020.

This article, an obituary for WWII ATA pilot Lettice Curtis, included the image of her entering a British Spitfire in full flight gear.  It also included a concise overview and quotes from women in the early ATA in Britain.  As part of the historic context surrounding the WASPs it was important to show the situation for women pilots around the globe.

Landdeck, Katherine Sharp.  The Women with Silver Wings: The Inspiring True Story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II. Crown Publishing. New York, NY. 2020.

This book included a lot of information on the WASP program, and was focused on the “true" story behind the WASPs.  It relied a lot on personal anecdotes and experiences from the WASPs which I found very useful to include as quotes in my website so I could better share the WASPs experience in their own words where possible.

Lapetoda, April, TSgt. "WASP Exhibit Opens in Arlington." Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs. November 17, 2008. https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/121847/wasp-exhibit-opens-in-arlington/ . Retrieved December 3, 2019.​​​​​​​

This article included quotes from Nicole Malachowski, the first woman Thunderbird Demonstration Team Pilot referring to the legacy of the WASPs and how they have inspired future generations of women flyers.  As a woman pilot who broke barriers herself, Malachowski is part of the WASPs' long term impact, so I included her quote in my website.

Lockwood, Martha. "Hazel Ying Lee: Showcased Asian-American Involvement in War Effort." Air Force News Service.  March 19, 2015.  https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/580998/hazel-ying-lee-showcased-asian-american-involvement-in-war-effort/ . Retrieved May 18, 2020.

I used this article to get background information on Hazel Ying Lee, the first Asian American woman to fly with the WASPs.  Her story shows the extra effects racism had on WASPs who had to deal with it in addition to all the other challenges the women faced.  As one of the women who died during their service to the WASPs, Lee’s story was even more moving.

Lohbeck, Don.  Patrick J. Hurley.  H. Regnery Co. Chicago, IL. 1956.

This biography of Patrick J. Hurley included the letter from President Roosevelt that attacked Drew Pearson.  It was a very good illustration of the feelings the administration had towards Pearson.

Magid, Ken, Director. Women of Courage. 1992. Film.

This movie provides first hand related knowledge on the WASP program, generally through of interviews with WASPs.  This movie was only available on VHS, but we found a copy online and purchased it. 

"Marina Raskova and the Soviet Women Pilots of World War II." Centre for Telecommunications and Information Engineering. Monash University, Australia.  Website.  http://www.ctie.monash.edu.au/hargrave/soviet_women_pilots.html . Retrieved May 17, 2020.

This website included a quote from one of the "Night Witches" who were women pilots that actually flew in combat for the Soviet Union in WWII. This was important context for the WASPs because Gen. Arnold was aware of the Night Witches when he formed and defended the WASP.

Martin, Claire. “Woman Soared as WWII Flier.”  Denver Post.  Denver, CO.  April 11, 2004.

This newspaper shows what the WASPs did in the Air Force.

McVeigh, Alex.  "Army Honors Its First Female Helicopter Pilot."  Pentagram Newspaper.  Ft. Myer, VA. March 27, 2009.  https://www.army.mil/article/18853/army_honors_its_first_female_helicopter_pilot . Retrieved May 13, 2020.

This article covered the first woman pilot to receive her wings since the WASPs, in 1974--Sally Murphy.  As a barrier breaker herself, I wanted to include her in the long term impact of the WASPs.  This article was cursory, but included good information about her story becoming an Army pilot.

Merry, Lois K.  Women Military Pilots of World War II: A History with Biographies of American, British, Russian and German Aviators.  McFarland Publishing.  Jefferson, NC.  2014.

This book was notable mostly for being able to compare how different countries used women in WWII.  It was useful to see how limited women’s roles in the USAAF were compared to Britain, and especially the Soviet Union who even used women as combat pilots.

Merryman, Molly.  Clipped Wings: The Rise and Fall of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) of World War II.  NYU Press.  New York, New York.  1998.

This book was written with an attempt to understand the WASPs and the coverage of them since WWII by getting past gender stereotypes and prejudices that colored many reports on the WASPs in that time.  It was useful to see how biased early reporting on the WASP had been, and was also a very useful resource to learn more stories of discrimination and harassment the WASPs faced.

Middleburg Life.  “Float Like a Butterfly, Sting Like a WASP:  The Story of Dorothea Deane Ferguson.”  Website.  https://middleburglife.com/float-like-butterfly-sting-like-wasp-story-dorothy-deane-ferguson/ .  Retrieved January 30, 2020.

This website collected information about one specific WASP and included pictures from her family's collection.  A picture of a group of WASPs in front of an airplane was used for this website.

Miller, Bill.  "I'll Never Forget That Terrible Flight Path."  Mail Tribune.  Medford, OR. November 11, 2012. https://mailtribune.com/archive/-i-ll-never-forget-that-terrible-flight-path- . Retrieved May 20, 2020.

This article included many excerpts from WASP Paula Loop's letters home.  She was a WASP that died serving with the WASPs, and the overall topic of the article is the discovery of her crash site and the recovery of artifacts from the site to a memorial site for people to pay their respects.

Miller, Bill.  "Yeomanettes and Women Go to War." Mail Tribune. Medford, OR. October 30, 2011.  https://mailtribune.com/archive/yeomanettes-amp-8212-women-go-to-war . Retrieved May 8, 2020.

This article gave a background on the first women in US Armed Forces, the “Yeomanettes" in the Navy in WWI.  It was interesting because I learned that the Yeomanettes were the result of a loophole--the law forming the Navy only used the word “persons” and not "men" for recruits.  It also included quotes from Yeomanettes on how they felt about the program.

Monahan, Evelyn M. and Rosemary Neidel-Greenlee.  A Few Good Women:  America's Military Women from World War 1 to the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan . Alfred A. Knopf Publishers. New York, New York.  2010.

This book had a section on the WASPs, and was the best source for information on gender-discriminatory policies in the military in general.  Information on policies preventing women from flying over the age of 40 (fear of menopause) or during their periods (fear of fainting) was all found in this book.

Myers, Jessica. "Celebrating the First Enlisted Women." Department of Defense News.  US Department of Defense.  March 22, 2017.  https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/1127379/celebrating-the-first-enlisted-women/ . Retrieved May 10, 2020.

This Department of Defense news article included a lot of information about the first women to serve.  It was especially useful because it quoted the secretary of the Navy at the time using the loophole that allowed him to recruit women: that the incorporating documents of the Navy used the term “persons” and not “men” when it referred to who could enlist.

National History and Heritage Command.  "WWI:  Women in the Navy and Marine Corps."  National Museum of the US Navy.  Website.  https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/nmusn/explore/photography/wwi/wwi-womeninthenavy.html .  Retrieved May 10, 2020.

This website, developed by the Navy, has a very comprehensive history of the service.  Since the first enlisted women in the US military were in the Navy and Marines, this was a great source to find more context for women serving in the armed forces.  I also found pictures here of women serving in reserves in WWI, showing them doing clerical work.

National Park Service.  "And There Were Women."  Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site. Website.  https://www.nps.gov/tuai/and-there-were-women.htm . Retrieved May 10, 2020.

This website included information on Mildred Carter, an African American pilot who was turned away from the WASPs because of her race, then worked with the Tuskegee Airmen instead.  This article also pointed out that for her work with the Tuskegee Airmen, Carter was made a WASP in 2009 and received the Congressional Gold Medal with the rest of the WASPs. 

National WASP WWII Museum.  December 27, 2019.  Sweetwater, TX

I visited the WASP museum in Sweetwater, TX and was able to learn and connect with information and exhibits that weren't available online, including artifacts from the WASP program, and stories from several WASP program graduates.  The staff was also incredibly helpful and pointed my research in new directions.

“Nifty 50's.”  The Decades Project.  Website.  https://decadesprojectjm.weebly.com/the-50s.html Retrieved February 1, 2020

This website gave overviews of general cultural norms and sentiments during different decades.  The picture of a housewife from the decade following the disbanding of the WASP program was used to illustrate feelings of women's roles at the time.

PBS. “The Women Airforce Service Pilots.” Public Broadcasting Service, 2018.  https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/flygirls-women-airforce-service-pilots/ .  Retrieved December 22, 2019.

This website provides a month-by-month timeline of the WASP program from its founding through the pilots official recognition as veterans in 1979.

Penzenstadler, Nick. "Last Surviving South Dakota WASP, 'Sexy Rexy,' Recalls World War II service." Rapid City Journal.  Rapid City, SD. Nov 11, 2010.  https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/last-surviving-south-dakota-wasp-sexy-rexy-recalls-world-war-ii-service/article_a61be93c-ed44-11df-8e3e-001cc4c002e0.html . Retrieved May 10, 2020.

This article covered information and an interview with Ola Rexroat, the first and only Native American WASP.  She shares about her role in the WASPs, and also how she felt being Native American and serving in WWII.  It was important to me to include her story, because she was one of five women who broke racial barriers in addition to gender barriers in the WASPs.

Planck, Charles.  Women With Wings.  Harper and Brothers Press.  New York, NY. 1942

This book included information on the Civil Aeronautics Administration's stance towards women pilots before WWII.  It was interesting that they supported training women pilots, but not for flying military planes.

Poe, Juanita. "Black Woman Broke Double-Edged Barrier." Chicago Tribune.  Chicago, IL. March 1, 1993.  https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1993-03-01-9303186264-story.html . Retrieved May 10, 2020.

This article was about Janet Harmon Bragg, an African American Pilot who was turned down by the WASPs.  It was interesting to see that as a black woman, her fight to fly was even harder than the fight of the WASPs.  It was disappointing that the WASPs wouldn’t help her, but inspiring to see that she ultimately was able to keep flying and being a pilot.

Polson, Shannon.  “Excuses Were Unacceptable: A Conversation With WWII Test Pilot Alyce Rohrer.”  Medium.com. August 8, 2018.  https://medium.com/@ABorderLife/excuses-were-unacceptable-a-conversation-with-wwii-test-pilot-alyce-rohrer-2b55f501570f . Retrieved December 15, 2019.

This article was an interview with a WASP, Alyce Rohrer, whose perspective was a little different from a lot of other WASPs.  She emphasized the fact that the time was not as glamorous as it is often portrayed, with training equipment that needed repairs, and facilities that were often not top quality.

Pyle, Michaela. “Women Answered Their Country's Call, Too.” The Sentinel. Carlisle, PA. February 23, 1991.

This newspaper article shows how the WASPs demonstrated that women were also capable and interested in assisting with the WWII effort.

Ray, Michael. “Women Airforce Service Pilots.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., May 31, 2016.  https://www.britannica.com/topic/Women-Airforce-Service-Pilots . Retrieved December 15, 2019.

This encyclopedia entry has information including numbers and statistics from the WASP program and also overviews some effects of the WASPs today.

Riggs, Stephanie. "Remembering the WASPs: Women Who Were Aviation Trailblazers." CBS News.  June 1, 2014. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/remembering-the-wasps-women-who-were-aviation-trailblazers/ . Retrieved May 12, 2020.

This included WASP Barbara London’s story about having to tell families of WASPs who died in service that they couldn't even put a flag on the coffin.  This story made the battle for recognition very personal and moving, so I included it in my website.

Roughton, Randy. "Betty 'Tack' Blake: Only Surviving Member of 1st WASP Class." Air Force News Service. March 10, 2013. https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/109588/betty-tack-blake-only-surviving-member-of-1st-wasp-class/ .  Retrieved January 1, 2020.

This article about Betty Blake, the last survivor of the first “experimental” class of the WASP program gave good insight into what the women who really started the program felt like, and their understanding of their role as an experiment.  It also included her feelings about how abruptly the program was disbanded. 

Roughton, Randy. “First Female Fighter Pilot Continues to Break Stereotypes.” U.S. Air Force. March 1, 2013.   https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/109643/af-first-female-fighter-pilot-continues-to-break-stereotypes/ .  Retrieved January 15, 2020.

This article shares the story of the first US woman combat pilot, Jeannie Leavitt. Women flying in combat was a major milestone following the WASPs who flew warplanes, but never in combat.  I thought it was important to include this in the long term impact of the WASP program since they broke the gender barrier, which gave Leavitt this opportunity.

Schrader, Helena Page.  Sisters in Arms: The Women Who Flew in World War II.  Pen and Sword Publishing. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK.  2006.

This book spent half its time covering the WASPs in the United States, and the other half on the ATA in Britain and Europe.  Helena Schrader is English, and had a slightly different perspective than American authors on the WASPs, and was able to compare the earlier-adopted ATA to the WASPs.  This book also had very personal stories about barracks pranks and the experience of camaraderie the WASPs developed.

Schwier-Morales, Armando A. “Air Force Commissions First Female Muslim Chaplain.” U.S. Air Force, Jan. 10, 2020.  https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2054311/air-force-commissions-first-female-muslim-chaplain/ .  Retrieved January 15, 2020.

This article talks about how barriers in the Air Force are still being broken, this time when the USAF appointed its first Muslim woman chaplain.

Simons, Lisa M. B. The U.S. WASP: Trailblazing Women Pilots of World War II. Capstone Press, a Capstone Imprint.  Edina, MN.  2018.

This book describes what the WASPs did and explains how the WASP program was created.  It is a children’s book, but it is well documented and easy to follow.  It also includes an excellent directory of where to find more information for people interested in the WASPs.

Smith-Daugherty, Rhonda. Jacqueline Cochran: Biography of a Pioneer Aviator. McFarland Publishing.  Jefferson, NC. 2015.

This book was the source of most information about Jacqueline Cochran.  It included official correspondence between Cochran and groups and people including the CAA, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Gen. Arnold.

Smith, Lyn E., Kerridge, Victor Stanley.  "Interview With Victor 'Hal' Kerridge." Imperial War Museum Production Co. Imperial War Museum Archives.  Catalog number 18836. Recorded May 5, 1999.  https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80018219 . Retrieved May 10, 2020.

This is a recording of an interview of a soldier from WWI.  I used it because it included his recollections of how useful women workers were to the war effort then, and how grateful the men were that the women were making enough munitions for them to be able to fight. 

Staff, Airport Journals.  "Lorraine Zillner Rodgers:  But All I Want to do is Fly."  Airport Journals. April 1, 2005.  http://airportjournals.com/lorraine-zillner-rodgers-but-all-i-want-to-do-is-fly/ .  Retrieved May 10, 2020.

This article included a long interview with WASP Lorraine Zillner Rodgers and gave a good perspective on why she became a WASP and the process women went through to become WASPs, including interviews, pilot licensing, and more.

Staff, FighterSweep. “WASPs: Betrayed by the Department of Defense?” SOFREP.  2016.  https://sofrep.com/fightersweep/wasps-betrayed-department-defense/ .  Retrieved January 15, 2020.

This article covers the long term effects of not being considered veterans and the struggles it took for WASPs to receive veteran status.  Being considered veterans includes more than just the name veterans and this article showed how the WASPs still have to fight for their place in history.

Stamberg, Susan. “Female WWII Pilots: The Original Fly Girls.” NPR. March 9, 2010.  http://www.npr.org/2010/03/09/123773525/female-wwii-pilots-the-original-fly-girls .  Retrieved December 15, 2019.

This article includes many quotes from WASPs, providing insight into their thoughts and mindset during and after the program.

Stanton, Heather. "Gender Issues:  Pioneer Program Promotes Respect, Dignity."  U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs.  US Air Force Academy. Colorado Springs, CO.  Website. https://www.usafa.edu/news/gender-issues-pioneer-program-promotes-respect-dignity/ . Retrieved May 15, 2020.​​​​​​​

This article explores a new program at the USAF Academy which helps men and women cadets understand and deal with issues of sex discrimination, harassment, and other biases.  It shows that the Air Force Academy is working to make it a more accepting place for women cadets, and trying to reduce issues of discrimination.

Suchy, Bill, Director.  Silver Wings/Flying Dreams:  The Complete Story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots. Film.  2015

This documentary film included interviews with several of the WASPs who were still alive in 2015.  This film spent more time covering the struggle for militarization and recognition from 1944-1977 than many other sources, so it gave a good perspective on how the WASPs felt during that period of their history.

Sznajderman, Michael.  "Mildred Carter: Tuskegee Airwoman."  Alabama Heritage.  Issue 68.  Spring 2003.  https://www.alabamaheritage.com/from-the-vault/mildred-carter-tuskegee-airwoman .  Retrieved May 10, 2020.

This article gave more background on the discrimination against African Americans that occurred within the WASPs.  It included memories from Mildred Carter on her attempt to join the WASPs, and how she felt when she was told that her race made her ineligible.

“Tammy Duckworth.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television. July 23, 2019. http://www.biography.com/political-figure/tammy-duckworth .  Retrieved January 6, 2020.

This article includes information about Tammy Duckworth, a combat pilot in the Army, and later a US Senator.

Thomson, Gus. "Pioneer WWII Pilot Betty Wood's Fatal-Flight Mystery." Auburn Journal.  Auburn, CA. September 7, 2019. https://goldcountrymedia.com/news/148953/pioneer-wwii-pilot-betty-woods-fatal-flight-mystery/ . Retrieved May 19, 2020.

This article included the quote about the Camp Davis Commander telling the women to go home and knit socks for the troops.  It also described several other incidents of harassment the women went through, up to and including sabotage of their planes.

Tocquigny, Rick. Life Lessons from Veterans. Rowman & Littlefield. Lanham, MD. 2015.

This book was the source for WASP quotes about how the program affected them.  Because part of the short-term impact of the WASP program was on the women themselves, it was important to include this in my website.

Townsend, Adam.  "WWII Female Pilot, 93, Returns to the Cockpit." Orange County Register.  Anaheim, CA. March 4, 2010.

This article included an interview with WASP Violet Cowden who shared her memories of flying for the WASPs and what it meant to her and her life afterwards.  It was useful to see what she thought the WASPs impact has been on America and women in general.

United States Army. “Women in the United States Army.” Website. https://www.army.mil/women/history/pilots.html .  Retrieved January 5, 2020. 

This website includes information about the history of women in the US Army, as well as statistics, and numbers of women serving currently and in the past. This was helpful to show the impact the WASP program has had over time.

United States Navy.  "Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination." Poster.  United States Naval Academy. https://www.usna.edu/PAO/documents/Womens_History_Month.pdf . Retrieved May 13, 2020.

This poster included the picture of the four first women aviators in the US Navy.  Because the Navy trained women pilots before the Air Force did, it was important to include them.

Verges, Marianne.  On Silver Wings: The Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II, 1942-1944. Ballantine Books.  New York, New York. 1991.

This book provided a lot of coverage of the incidents of potential sabotage of WASPs planes.  It was more useful though as a guide to help find more firsthand information because it was very extensively documented and relied on a large number of first hand sources and information from WASPs themselves.

Veterans History Project. “One Woman's War Efforts During World War II.” CommonLit, 2011.  http://www.commonlit.org/en/texts/one-woman-s-war-efforts-during-world-war-ii .  Retrieved December 20, 2019.

This article provides an example of other opportunities for women to serve the war effort in WWII, from the perspective of a Jewish immigrant serving in a civilian role.

“WASP:  Women Pilots of WWII.”  March 10, 2020.  EAA Aviation Museum, Oshkosh, WI

The EAA Museum recently opened an exhibit on the WASP program, and my family and I took a drive to visit it when it opened.  There was material from a wide variety of sources, and included artifacts and quotes from WASPs and women inspired by them.

“What Did Women do on the Home Front in the War?”  BBC Bitesize.   Website. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zqhyb9q/articles/zj8my9q .  Retrieved January 25, 2020

The article concerning women on the home front provided an excellent image of the role some people wanted women to serve during wartime.  It included images of women working in traditionally men’s jobs, but also included the context that even during wartime there were people who opposed this shifting of gender roles.

Williams, Vera S. WASPs: Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II. Motorbooks International.  Osceola, WI. 1994.

This book provides a general overview of the history and work of the WASPs. It includes information on the letters from Eleanor Roosevelt and the conversation she had with the CAA.

Wings Across America. “WASP Interviews.”  Website.  http://www.wingsacrossamerica.org/wasp-interviews.html .  Retrieved February 15, 2020.

This website is run by the daughter of a WASP, and is compiling an audio and video record of interviews with surviving WASPs.  They currently have over 100, but have not uploaded many yet.  They do have current pictures of WASPs and I used several of these to show the human aspect of WASPs where they are quoted.  They also have many quotes by WASPs from their interviews.

Wings Across America, Producer.  “Soundbytes of the WASP.” Film.    https://vimeo.com/60769069 . Retrieved February 15, 2020.

This video included clips from many WASP interviews with WASPs, sharing their stories in their own words.

Wings Across America, Producer.  “Introduction to Flygirl.” Film.    https://vimeo.com/63213898 . Retrieved February 15, 2020.

This includes an interview with WASP Deanie Parrish, and includes stories from her experience in the WASP program.

Wings Across America, Producer.  “Short History of the WASP.” Film.    https://vimeo.com/60769068 . Retrieved February 15, 2020.

This is another short video produced by Wings Across America, containing a good overview of the WASP program especially later on when the WASPs were finally recognized and given the Congressional Gold Medal in 2010.  A significant portion of the ceremony is included in this film.

“Women Airforce Service Pilots Digital Archives.”  Texas Woman's University WASP Official Archive.  Denton, TX.  https://twudigital.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p214coll2 . Retrieved December 15, 2019.

This is the TWU official WASP picture archive. There are many images of WASPs both during and after the program was disbanded, and also includes pictures of WASP gatherings and reunions in the time since the program was disbanded.  It notably also includes the class yearbook photos for all 18 WASP graduating classes.

“Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) of WWII.”  National Women's History Museum Website.  https://www.womenshistory.org/exhibits/women-airforce-service-pilots-wasps-wwii .  Retrieved December 19, 2019.

The National Women's History Museum has an extensive WASP collection, and their website hosts several contemporary audio recordings of speeches given to the WASPs at graduations, and at the termination of the program.  They also have an audio recording of the WASPs singing their anthem.  They also note the long term impact of the WASP program and highlight three women who have earned General rank in the USAF.

“Women Fly the B-29." American Experience, Milwaukee PBS.  Website. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/flygirls-wasp-and-b-29/ . Retrieved May 10, 2020.

This PBS article had a cursory overview of Lt. Col. Tibbets’ plan to have WASPs shame men into flying B-29’s.  However, it did have the best pictures available of Lt. Col. Tibbets and the WASPs he used in the plan.

"Women in World War I."  The National WWI Museum and Memorial.  Website.  https://www.theworldwar.org/learn/women . Retrieved May 8, 2020.​​​​​​​

This website included information on the role of women in WWI and included Alice Dunbar’s quote about what work was now open to women.  It was a good place to start setting the stage for what WASPs faced by WWII.

Yeginsu, Ceylan. "Mary Ellis, Who Flew British Spitfires in World War II, Dies at 101." New York Times, New York, NY. July 26, 2018.  https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/26/obituaries/uk-mary-ellis-dead.html . Retrieved May 10, 2020.

This article included information about one of the women in the British ferrying service for planes, the ATA.  I wanted to include them in the context of the website because they existed before and were a model for the WASP program in the US.  I used May Ellis's quote because it shows that women weren't expected to be able to fly military aircraft in Britain either, but they did it.

Ziobro, Melissa. “Skirted Soldiers: The Army's Gender Integration During World War II.” Military.com, 2020.  https://www.military.com/history/skirted-soldiers-armys-gender-integration-during-world-war-ii.html .  Retrieved December 15, 2019.

This article provides an overview of the integration of women into the armed forces through all branches in WWII.  It focuses especially on the original efforts to involve women in the WWII effort and the WAAC program.

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